PUBLIC MARKS from Takwann with tag kendo

As I noted on facebook, in a dojo of 10 sensei you will get 10 different methods of striking men. I know this through experience. Although kendo does have a general ‘set’ method (defined by the ZNKR) it does – in fact – allow for a breadth of style. To exclaim that this or that is ‘wrong’ shows, I believe, not only inflexibility of mind, but potentially of method also. So, even if you don’t adhere to the method explained here, at least realise that many people actually do. What would be nice, however, would be that the people who don’t use this method to actually try it… a bit of research and self study (called KUFU in Japanese) is required in budo after all. As implied by the above, please realise that this is not some ‘how to do kendo properly’ article at all, but is presented for your (and my) study purposes. One of the well-known kendo phrases is: 我以外皆師 ‘Everybody but myself is my teacher’

The prerequisite of beautiful kendo is a beautiful kamae The importance of developing a good kamae is stressed by every kendo instructor that you meet: without a correct kamae, many sensei state categorically, you cannot do correct kendo. Only once your kamae is correct can this lead to execution of correct technique (and thus “beautiful” kendo). It naturally follows, then, that a kamae that is flawed can only lead to flawed strikes, even if the execution is fast and strong.

Back in the days when I started kendo, heavy emphasis was placed on the “shibori action” on completion of each cut. If you don’t know, shiboru is the verb meaning to wring out a cloth or napkin.

In 1906 the Butokukai made its first research into making a set of standardised kata for teaching its students (standardised kata for teaching had already been made in Tokyo shihan-gakko – Takano Sasaburo‘s gogyo-no-kata – and Keishicho – keishi-ryu). 17 members were selected from various ryu-ha, and a set of 3 kata were created called the Butokukai kenjutsu kata (武徳会剣術型). The individual kata names were: TEN (天 heaven), CHI (地 earth), and JIN (人 human). For some unknown reason, the kata were not popular or were not implemented successfully, and they disappeared. The photo below was taken on the 10th of August 1906 and shows the people involved in the creation of the kata. Names are given below.

The lengendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi mentions the three sen (before, ahead) as a method of strategy by taking the lead or initiative. Taking the lead, initiative requires you to see through the opponent's spirit and strategy in order to defeat him. Practicing sen falls into the realm of keiko in which each opponent is different, and each timing and strategy instance is unique.

by David Aguero The dictionary defines seme as “attack.” There are two types of seme the visible and the invisible. The visible seme where one pressures an opponent with a sword movement or a body move. The invisible seme is a pressure applied to an opponent to strike with or without the sword pointing at the opponent. In application seme or ‘attack’ can be thought of as applying an ‘imminent attack pressure.’

Training and Practice Dummy and other kendo Innovations

The principle in most martial arts is that you use your opponent’s force to defeat him. In Judo or Aikido you make him push and then use minimal effort to break his balance and throw him. Many people seem to forget that this also applies to kendo.

Iaido Guidelines Iaido Guidelines Memo: By Masano Suetsugu, Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan, Iaido Kyoshi 7 Dan, Fukuoka Kendo Renmei, Kyushu Japan Suetsugu Iaido Memo Iaido Guidelines Memo by Masano SUETSUGU Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan Iaido Kyoshi 7 Dan Fukuoka Kendo Renmei, Kyushu Japan Note: This text was written in 1993 prior to the introduction of seite forms #11 & #12. 1. Manners 2. Iaido Fundamentals 3. All Japan Kendo Federation Iai

KYO (odoroku) – LA SURPRISE KU (osoreru) – LA PEUR GI (utaga.u) – LE DOUTE WAKU (mado.u) – LA PERPLEXITE Lors d’un combat, il est important de conserver « Hei Jô Shin » (calme permanent de l’esprit). Or « Hei Jô Shin » est perturbé par les 4 faiblesses.

he following essay was awarded the kantosho prize in the Junior High School section of the “32nd kendo youth research seminar.” I am a deshi Written by: Hasuda Tomoka 1st year Junior high school student (approx. 13yrs old) Miyazaki prefecture, Miyazaki city, Shujakukan dojo Suddenly, after keiko one day my sensei said “you are my deshi.” I was surprised at the suddenness of words, but I was also happy that he called me “deshi.” However, I somehow felt strange. Its because I didn’t actually understand the word “deshi” or what being one means or involves. I thought hard about the meaning of the word and searched out information about it in books and dictionaries. I discovered that “deshi” is part of a “teacher-student” relationship (師弟の関係).

En Kendo, le talon de la jambe arrière est fortement relevé ce qui permet d'avoir un déplacement explosif linéaire sur l'avant. Cette caractéristique est parfois pointée du doigt dans d'autres systèmes comme une faute martiale. Elle sert souvent à caractériser les effets du sport sur les pratiques martiales dont est issu le Kendo.

"Even if your foe is greatly evil, don't draw your sword, or let your foe draw theirs. Don't cut and don't be cut. Don't kill, and don't be killed. Help them transform into a good person. If they still won't comply, then send them to the next world."

Supplied by Jumpei Matsumoto Chief National Kendo Coach From the original writing of Noboru Shigeoka Hanshi 9th Dan

By Lorenzo Zago 7th Dan Renshi Translated by Emmanuele Levi In the last few years, through ever increasing familiarity Japanese sensei, we have gradually become more acquainted with kendo terms that describe aspects, attitudes and feelings experienced during the execution of an attack. By attack I mean the phase that precedes and follows the execution of the cut. These terms are quite specific and, therefore, complex. Unfortunately, their “real” meaning often tends to get lost in literal or lazy translations.

Recently I have received some questions in the Q&A area about bullying and other forms of violence in kendo. And I happened to help Blake Bennett with his thesis on the very topic. I hope one day you can read his thesis somehow. After reading the thesis and thinking about violence in kendō, I thought it is very important for every one of us to consider howkendō sould be trained and instructed without losing the core essence of kendō. It is true that in kendō we still have "traditional methods" in training. These look vicious and really violent to itsaudience if they do not know what they are doing.

Je siègeai dernièrement à un jury d’examen et je remarquai que les candidats étaient tous très calmes. Il y en avait très peu capables de produire un kiai vraiment audible; un kiai susceptible de me faire lever les yeux (...)

"when two people come together and fight with swords, the feeling of striking a particular area will arise in your opponent. At that time, you should give your entire body over to your opponent. At the exact moment when they see their chance and attempt to strike you should strike them and win…. this is real victory."

Several years ago, I had an opportunity to speak with Takashi Ezaki sensei, one of the founding members and an instructor at the Kendo Club at the University of Michigan. A few weeks before he left to return to Japan, we were discussing our motivations for doing kendo. Ezaki-sensei made a remark that has stayed with me since. He said, "Kendo in America is very interesting. Sometimes in Japan I find kendo a little boring. But in America it is fascinating to hear Americans try to teach things like "rei", which we don't teach in Japan because its already widely understood."

Kendo-Sport forme une équipe dynamique de Kendokas! Nous savons à quel point il est important de posséder un équipement adapté afin de pratiquer dans les meilleures conditions possibles cet art martial qu'est le Kendo. Hannah Cho-Heinze Steinbüchelerweg 80 51061 Köln Internet: www.kendo-sport.de

(...) L’importance du “Shu “dans le Shu-ha-ri (...) ‘Shu-ha-ri’ est une maxime particulière qui sert de guide tout au long des trois parties de ce processus d’éducation. ‘Shu’ fait allusion au premier stade de l’apprentissage au cours duquel ce sont les aînés qui se chargent de votre éducation et où vous suivez leurs directives sans discuter. Bien que ce soit difficile, à ce stade-là les pratiquants doivent être fidèles à l’enseignement de leurs maîtres et ne pas en dévier.

By Okushima Yoshio (8ème dan, Hanshi) Traduit par Alex Bennett. Traduction française par Agnès Lamon. Kendo World tient à remercier Okushima Sensei et Kendo Jidai Magazine pour leur avoir permis de traduire et diffuser cet article. Article original in Kendo World 4.3 – Décembre 2008. Attachment 817 Okushima Yoshio est né le 3 janvier 1937. Diplômé de l’Université de Hiroshima, il rejoint les services de la Préfecture de Police de Kyoto en 1955 où il étudie sous la direction de Tanaka Kazuichi. Sihan au sein de la section de kendo de la Police de Kyoto, il prend sa retraite en 1996. Okushima Hanshi a pris part à tous les plus grands tournois nationaux. Membre du Comité Directeur de l’AJKF et de la Fédération de Kendo de Kyoto, Okushima Hanshi est également Shihan de la Toray Shiga et de l’Université de Tokyo.

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