Notes taken at 32nd Foreign Kendo Leaders’ Summer Seminar 2007

(7/27/07–8/2/07)
By Tsuyoshi G. Nishiura (USA)

[Note: Definitions of many of the Japanese terms can be found at the Japanese-English Kendo Dictionary.]

The following notes were taken for my personal use, so it contains information that may not be 100% applicable to your specific needs. I have noted those points that seemed most important to me and to my dojo.

I tried as much as possible to take notes every day, but failed to do so. Notes below are separated by date, and not by the main instructor who gave the instructions on that particular subject.

Sato sensei: Daily feedback and area of improvements in general
Asano sensei: Bokuto basic training
Sueno sensei: Kendo kata
Masago sensei: Shimpan sessions

July 28, 2007

Chakuso (manner of dress):
- Do himo: In the front, try to tie the himo so that they are the same length.
- Hakama: Front must be lower than the back.
- Men himo: Use shimpan flag handle to measure for the proper length.
While holding the shinai:
- When sitting down, place the left knee and then the right.
- When standing up, stand like incense smoke rising. When sitting down, sit like a huge rock, with confidence and straight down.
When sitting:
- Place large toes overlapping or side by side and place the hip on each heel.
- Separation of knees: two fists width apart.
- Put all the fingers of both hands together on the middle of your thighs, with your back straight.
- Right thumb lower than left during mokuso (for students) and they should be lightly touching. Bite down on rear teeth lightly.
- Tongue should be touching the front roof of the mouth.
- Eyes should be looking about 1 meter in front of you.
- Ears should be in line with your shoulders.
- Hold head directly above, with nose in line of body center.
When putting on the men & kote:
- Make sure that the characters written on the tenugui are legible (correct side up, properly oriented).
- Make sure to tuck the tenugui tail well into your men so that it does not flop.
- Put the left kote on first. When taking them off, take off right kote first.
The left little finger should hold the shinai end half way. Not completely on the shinai, nor completely off. Thumb, index, and the middle finger must hold the shinai lightly.
The kensen should be at throat height with the shinai extension placed at the center of eyes or center of face.
Start your seme from tou-ma then slowly get into your uchi-ma. When you see or feel you can strike, go in with everything.
You can only strike a good dekote when you are in chika-ma and have complete control of the opponent.
Teach the beginners to use large shinai and body motions, placing accuracy as the main focus. Swing the shinai strongly.
Concentrate on putting the energy into the tip (monouchi area) of the shinai. This is mentioned more in other sections.

July 29, 2007

Basic strike keiko (kihon uchi) using the bokuto then to uchikomi keiko to ji keiko processes are thought as one necessary step toward your kendo progress. Each of the above steps must be thought as one process of its own. Try to do bokuto kihon uchi every day, which requires neither partner nor dojo.
As you are doing the kihon uchi keiko, check your foot work, tenouchi and kiai. Pay attention to what you are doing during each phase of kihon uchi keiko. Try correcting that area you were told to improve or modify by sensei.
After each keiko, when you are outside of the dojo, think about what you have learned. In this way, the kendo training is truly a 24 hours a day learning process.
Don’t think you can pass the promotion test when your kihon uchi is not done correctly. The basics include proper sitting and standing up from seiza as well.
Kihon Uchi:
- From Issoku itto no ma: large men, kote and do uchi
- From touma get into the issoku itto no ma: same as above
- Harai men from the omote and ura
- Harai kote
- Kirikaeshi
- Finish the overall kihon uchi keiko with 50 hayasuburi
Men-uchi must be done the same as done during the suburi keiko. The hand grip (tenouchi) is same as when starting the suburi. Striking force travels toward the kensen as the elbows are straightened out. The more the elbows are bent, the more the striking energy stays closer to the tsuba area.
The tenouchi should be tightened at about jaw height, not at the time of contacting the target. This will strengthen the striking force. Idea of cutting through is evident by this method.

July 31, 2007

Using bokuto, basic keiko done in the following sequence:
- Men, kote, do harai men, harai kote, harai tsuki, kote-men, kote-do then kote-men-do.
Do harai using the nakayui area of the shinai then strike men. Only use closer area to do harai when applying the kaeshi do.

August 1, 2007

The following 6 points are special instructions I received from Sueno-sensei and were not specifically mentioned at the seminar to attendees in general.

Grips:
- At the kamae: kirite
- At the time of strike: kirite
- At the time of tsuki: both fists are flat
Elbows:
- Rather have bent elbows when executing kaeshi-waza. The force/energy on the shinai is close to tsuba.
- Energy/striking force travels toward tip (kensen) as the elbows are extended. The normal men-uchi is executed with both elbows slightly bent.
- At the tsuki execution the elbows are straight and the fists are held flat.
When striking men get the opponent’s center first. Kote should be hit straight at the center line, rather moving your hands toward your left side.
When striking men or kote, your left kote’s height should not change (be higher or lower) after making contact with the target.
When striking, swing from the shoulders but relax both arms and shoulders. Slightly apply the tenouchi at the contact point. Don’t squeeze fists inwardly as the tenouchi is applied. Keep the kirite grip hold at the contact point.
Don’t change the grip from kamae to strike.
Inoue-sensei said:
- Execute each strike with 100% commitment (sutemi)
- Exhibit strong kiai and vigor
Shitachi’s movement when shitachi is positioned on the right side when facing the kamiza, shitachi moves to left rear placing and picking up of the kotachi with left knee down. The normal positioning of the shitachi is left side when facing kamiza.

August 2, 2007

Kihon keiko:
- Kick off and move the body forward
- Quick hikitsuke
- Use kirite
Do-chu-no kufuu (learn when you are active)
Sei-chu-no kufuu (learn when you are still)
Basic keiko with bokuto; did the following sequence;
- Men, kote, do, omote harai men, ura harai men, harai kote, omote harai tsuki, ura harai tsuki, kote-men, kote-do, kote-men-do.
- Mata wari men: 50
- Wide fumiko men: 50
- Alternating legs hayauchi: 50
Left knee during kamae should not be bent deeply nor straight and stiff. It should be slightly bent with comfort and ready to act or react.