Kendo Notes To Self #6

October 6th and October 13th, 2007

So because of intense LSAT studying, I couldn't participate in Kendo until quite recently (end of September). My first practice was obviously very sluggish and bad. It took some time to keep back into the Kendo mentality. Needless to say, I got beat up on my first Thursday practice.

However, because I had a lot of other stuff going on, I had to stop going to practice on Thursday, and went Saturdays instead. It was pretty good to get a different feel of practice times, and to learn from Davidson Sensei. He has a lot of new tips which I found to be very useful (advanced tips, but nonetheless useful).

For the practice on Saturday, October 6th there were a few important things I learned:

• Raymond Sensei while watching me practice saw that I kept moving my left foot forward when springing for an attack. To counter this habit he did the most ingenious thing ever... he stepped on my left foot and I told me to lunge.
• THIS feeling was remarkable. For the first time I felt like I understood what sort of form was required for that attack.
• Ever since this demonstration, I've been trying my best to plant my left food solidly and to just leap from there, only to bring my left foot up in the end.

• Davidson Sensei however showed me an interesting tactic when up close with a Kendoka. He was showing me how to get a "feel" of strength and attention in your opponent by feeling around how hard he/she is resisting you up close when both your kote are in contact.
• He showed me the techniques he would use in "shiai" and they were super effective. He would quickly jolt his hands in one direction (which would push my hands and "shinai" in the other) and he would strike at my "men" in retreat. All of this happened very quickly.
• This stuff is really advanced, but its good to keep in mind when someone else tries to use them on you.

• On a side note, we had a special sensei from Japan come over to practice with us. The line ups were long so I didn't get to fight with him. But seeing such an aged man so alert and quick was very awesome to say the least. He kept fighting all of us in line, and didn't bother to stop. As for me...I need to get in better shape.

As for practice on Saturday, October 13th, I also learned some important things:

• Raymond Sensei was showing the class on how to do an appropriate big "do" hit. It is always a big swing up and down. Almost like a men...it looks like you would be hitting a men. But it only cuts down at an angle instead, there is no slow wide turns to hit the "do". This is for a quick contact and its less obvious.
• At the end of the class, Raymond Sensei told us about the importance of keeping the intensity up in practice. What this does is internalize that quality in us when we are fighting. We always go all out in energy and concentration. So when fighting we don't bring our bad habits along with us. We want to train our body and mind to keep up with the demand and intensity of getting the right hit.
• Raymond Sensei also emphasized the importance of getting ready to explode on the attack right in "kamai". We should not raise our shinai and think about hitting. All of this will show that you are not entirely focused and ready. We should be ready to strike right in "kamai" as this will bring more suddeness and surprise. I already knew, but this just emphasized to me how important timing is in Kendo. It is essentially a practice which focuses on milli-seconds of action. A lot can be determined in that time frame.

• Davidson Sensei once again taught me some more tips about getting into close contact in fighting. He told me I tended to push a lot with my upper body and arms which is not very effective against someone who is taller and heavier than me. What I essentially get out of it is more tiredness.
• What I should be doing is pushing with my core strength around my waist, using my legs as well.
• Up against a bigger person, he/she would just have to lean on me to push me back. So next time I will try to keep my kote and shinai lower, and aim to push at his/her center if he/she is taller.
• While in practice, Davidson Sensei noted that I have a good slippery "do". He told me it was very good that I kept coming in strong with my "men" strikes, it was the smart thing to do. The slippery "do" was mentioned because he kept trying to stop my advances with his shinai aimed at the center of my "do". What kept happening though, was that the tip of his shinai always slipped off.
• It could be my "do"....but it could also be because I sweat a lot =P
• One last thing Davidson Sensei taught me...always keep feet together and pointing outwards when about to engage in practice. Be sure to be in sync when taking 3 steps forward and back, and getting into "sonkyo." Always look very sharp and tentative because not doing so would translate disrespect. A very sluggish attitude would mean I do not perceive my opponent as a threat, and he/she would basically beat me in to show me otherwise....I heart Kendo!

- TL

Kendo Notes To Self #5

Today's class was bit smaller than usual. For the first 45 minutes we worked on some fundamental foot work with the beginners. We did "surisashi" and then various foot work exercises with "men", "kote", and "do" hits. Finally, we did some basic big "men" strikes, and "kote-men" in bogu.

• When doing big "men" strike. Take only ONE step in! Do not take so many steps!!!
• When you do take all those extra steps, your shinai is not going to hit the men at the right place. You will always run in too close.
• Your strike, well only hit with the middle of the shinai. NO GOOD
• Also, do not start from so far when hitting "men". To a sempai, hitting "men" from afar is very very predictable and blockable as he can anticipate it.

• Again, make sure you snap with the wrist when hitting. All I'm doing is slicing downwards, and that is no good. Sometimes I hit down too hard, or there is too much bounce.
• SNAP MY WRIST!!! Only through that can I get a point in shiai!

• When hitting "kote", the tip of the shinai must hit the middle of the "kote". If your shinai is too close, the tip will run into opponent's "bogu" and it will look messy.
• Have appropriate distance when doing this hit.  Again, start from outside, give the tip a few inches back.

• Raymond Sensei's Advice: When practicing on a day as hot as yesterday. Make sure you always have proper form. Back straight, and always ready in kamai.
• Proper form, will force you to focus.
• Try not to let the heat bother you. If you are hitting and looking down at the floor and such, you are not focused and ready. You have no will to strike. So always push yourself to the limit.

Today was an overall poor practice for me. I was all over the place in terms of foot work and placing appropriate strikes with good snap. I dont' know if it was the heat or what. I have to go to practice with a mentality of wanting to do well, not a half-assed approach. I find when I lack the will, I get completely dominated, no matter how hard I try to refocus. I need to start with a straight forward focus in the beginning, and not let that go!

- TL

Kendo Notes To Self #4

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

For today's practice we did the same thing as last week. We worked on big and small "men", "kote", and "do." We also practiced "shiai" again in teams.

• When doing small "kote" go over and push push push in one motion. The hit does not end until you turn around in "kamai" and are ready to go again. So be sure to have good "kiai" and focus throughout the process.
  • When doing big hits, again give space. Use the room you have avaliable, don't stand too close.
  • When hitting big "kote" be sure to swing arms up higher. Also be sure to have the snap of the wrist during the hit. To keep this in mind, keep you right hand a bit loose when in "kamai", and when the hit is imminent, then grip down with your right hand as Naim instructed.
  • Kendoka are not meat butchers! So snap snap snap!
  • When doing small hits, start from the tip of the "shinai" and let your left leg drive you. The motion of driving forwards should closely sync with the raising of the "shinai" for the strike.
  • When being "motodachi" you are responsible for keeping the appropriate distance during practice.

• This time during "shiai", there was more focus and intensity upon my behalf compared to last week which is a good improvement!
  • Be sure to keep trying and trying after the hit. Have better "zanshin" and commitment to the hit in the future.
  • I tried to minimize the "resetting" of the positions by keeping pressure. However, Naim mentioned some of my hits were too close, so do keep in mind of the distance still. In the end I must look for a fine balance between keeping pressure upclose, while not staying too close. Contradictory? Very!
  • Next time, try to sense more of your opponent's "shinai" strength by tapping his. Maybe I can find something to learn through this tactic.

• Raymond Sensei's advice: When in "shiai" be sure to never settle with just one hit. Never just "one", "one", "one". You must diversify your game by going "one two", "one two", "one two", always hitting and always preparing to hit again. This is how you can control the match and dictate the terms of combat. So go on the offensive and strike hard, fast, and straight!
  • Also, not that it applies to me, but while practicing in the dojo, never wear jewellery because first off, it is an issue of safety. Kendo hits can be hard, and hence you can hurt yourself by wearing watches, earrings, and etc. Secondly, this idea adheres to the concept that a "dojo" is different from the outside world in the sense that you go do kendo to practice and tune your focus. Not bringing these objects reminds us of these difference and why we are in the "dojo" in the first place.

- TL

Kendo Notes To Self #3

Thursday, July 12, 2007.

Today at practice we worked on big and small "men", "kote" and "do". Raymond Sensei also taught us the "kote suri-age" strike, whereby you deflect your opponent's kote strike slightly to the right and proceed to hit small men all in one motion.

• When doing small "men", "kote", or "do" also step in from the tip of the shinai. Do not come in from far away. On the contrary, when doing big strikes, make sure you have sufficient distance (i.e. don't be close)
• Make sure when I hit "men", that my arms aren't already fully extended, there should be a slight relaxed sensation. Only after contact is made, do I fully extend and straighten out my arms whilst committing myself to "zanshin" as Raymond Sensei suggested.
• When going in for a "men" strike make sure my left leg is the force of momentum in generating movement and speed. There should be some sort of kinetic flow which begins when I move my left leg forward tilting my body mass upwards. The final piece of execution is when my left leg pushes my entire mass forward.
• When striking, do not hit hard with the shinai like if I'm butchering something. Keep in mind of the necessary "snap". This ensures that my balance isn't thrown forward and that my back is kept straight in proper form.

• When practicing "kote suri-age" the defensive movement should not be two steps, but rather one flow of motion.
• Its a very delicate "waza" which requires immense amount of timing and premonition.
• As soon as you sense the "motodachi" going for "kote", you deflect his shinai by using yours to push his forward and to the right side. This one motion redirects his shinai away while creating an opening for you to hit "men."
• ....This one is very hard, its all about timing, and making sure your own movements are as quick and efficient as possible. It is important not to waste all your focus and energy on the initial redirection because if you do, then the latter half of the waza cannot be completed.
• When being "motodachi", strike "kote" quickly. Up and over as usual.

• When doing "shiai" FOCUS AND BE INTENSE.
• Do not wait for a gap or a resettling position of distance, your opponent will not oblige.
• When opponent comes in crashing hard, do not stand and take the blow or proceed to get pushed backed. As Naim said, "Don't run away." ALWAYS GO FORWARD!!!
• But if opponent is strong and fast and makes contact by running in, you may redirect then by turning your body left or right and pushing them off as Anna demonstrated. Your own force combined with your opponents momentum is enough to redirect a substantial amount of the impact.
• When you push off you may attempted a "hiki-men" if skilled enough or if the opening is very blantant.

• Raymond Sensei's advise of the day: Always practice and keep the basics in mind, because no matter how intricate your "waza" is, they are all meaningless if they do not adhere to proper basic kendo.
• All "waza" are essentially linked to the foundational basics. Something very minute which is misguided can lead to a scrapping of the entire technique.

- TL

Kendo Notes To Self #2

Thursday, July 05, 2007

For today's practice I was given the opportunity to lead the class with the stretching excercises as well as the "seizas" at the beginning and end of class. Haha...needless to say it wasn't as smooth as when the sempai's conduct it. But to overcome in taking these instructions for granted, I tried anyway!

•  First thing to do is gather all kendoka in a circle. Then everyone takes in one step and "sonkyo."
  • Then we begin to stretch. Joanne recommended that its a good idea to start from head to toe, it makes it more easier to remember the parts to stretch.
    • Must stretch head (left to right, and then rotate)
    • Then do the arms (triceps, biceps, and do big circle things)
    • Then do back (left to right and up and down)
    • Then do knees (in rotation and up and down)
    • Then put down shinai and do leg stretches (hamstrings, achilles, groin, and ankles)

• After pick up shinai and do "suburi"
  • 30 times for big swings
  • 30 times for "men" height"
  • 50 times for "high suburi"
  • Then I believe 3 times for the big swings plus big breathes to warm down.

• After the "suburi" yell "SEIRETSU" and wait for all kendoka to line up.
  • Once everyone is in position, yell "SEIZA" and wait until everyone is seated.
  • When everyone is sitting, yell "MOKUSO" and take two deep breathes.
  • After, yell "REI" and bow.

• After practice, yell "SEIRETSU" again, and wait for everyone to line up.
  • Then yell "SEIZA"
  • Then wait for Sensei's to take off their "men" and "kote."
  • Then yell "MEN O TARE" ...wait for everyone to take off their stuff.
  • Then wait for Sensei if he is speaking to the class.
  • Then yell "MOKUSO", and again take two deep breathes.
  • Then yell:
    • "Joseki ni rei"
    • "Sensei ni rei"
    • "Otagai ni rei"
  • Then go to Sensei and bow directly.

• And FINISH!

As for the actual practice itself, we worked on various big men's, kote's, do's, or a combination of them.

• After a hit and pushing through with "zanshin", be sure to turn around quickly to defend yourself, for tricky kendoka will continue to pursue you!

• When doing "debana kote" don't hold your arms and shinai near your chest after the hit. It appears to be a very delicate strike, slightly up and over the opponent's shinai.
  • Be aware of the distance dont' be too close.
  • Let your wrists snap right before impact.
  • Keep arms forward after the strike.

• When hitting "do", don't let shinai drag along. Make sure you pull it back infront of you while continuing "zanshin"  
  • Be conscious about the distance as well.

• For this practice, I tried to implement blocks which weren't overtly high. I tried to keep my arms lower. This helps, but against sempai's they still know how to hit your "do". What actually is a lot better is to go quickly into "kamae" to cover up the targets.

• Raymond Sensei's advice to class: When practicing, keep pushing for the point. Consider to instill a "no-giving-up" mentality and make it an instinctive habit.  

- TL