Kendo basic skills

ETIQUETTE (REI-GI)

Rei-Gi (manners) is perhaps the most important thing that kendo and iaido can teach us, and it coincides with traditions of old.  Simply showing respect and courtesy in all you do will help you grow as person throughout your life.  Learn it and live it.

THE DOJO:

When entering the dojo, remove your shoes and place them outside the door in an orderly fashion.  After entering the dojo, politely bow to show respect.  Generally, the bow can be directed at the front of the dojo or to Sensei.  

After you bow, find your place along the outer portion of the dojo and place your gear in an orderly fashion.  Generally, seating will follow a progression from highest rank to lowest rank or least tenure in the class.  Remember to respect your gear and your swords; even the shinai should be considered a sword and placed carefully upon the ground and carried in an appropriate manner.

As a beginning student, you will often be asked to help with tasks such as cleaning the dojo, sweeping the floors, setting up chairs, etc.  It is important to be on-time and ready to go at the scheduled class time, so these tasks should be performed in a manner to permit class to start on-time.  Once these tasks are complete, all students should be dressed and ready to go.

PRACTICE (KEIKO):

Our classes typically begin with the study of iaido, the way of drawing the sword, and prior to kendo.  As a member, you are not required to study both kendo and iaido, you may choose either.  It is, however, recommended that you study both, as they will only enhance your learning and are complimentary in nature.

It is customary to join the lineup at the beginning and at the end of the practice, sitting on the left hand side of the person who has a higher grade or more tenure than you.  The command Seiretsu (Line Up) will be given, followed by the commands to bow (Rei) and to start practice (Keiko).  If you study iaido as well as kendo, we will lineup to perform stretching and basic warm-ups to begin the class.  When in doubt, follow a student with experience in the progression of things.

After lining up, practice begins with Za-Rei and the following commands will be issued:

Kyotsuke (Attention).

Chakuza (Take seiza).

Seiza (Sit in the formal position with good posture).  Make sure you are lined up with your sempai (the person to your right in our dojo) and follow their “lead”. If you are standing in the second line, be sure to position yourself behind a senior student, beginning at the far right, and follow them.

Mokuso (mediation-like breathing).

Mokuso Yame (period is finished).

Shomen-ni Rei (bow to front of the dojo or flag).

Sensei-gata-ni Rei (or SENSEI"S NAME-Sensei-ni Rei) *.

Otagai-ni Rei (bow to other participants) *.

* If you wish to thank Sensei(s) or other students at this point in class, you may say “onegaishimasu”, which roughly equates to “Thank you for what you are about to teach me”.

This will be followed by standing, forming a large circle in the dojo, and the beginning of basic warm-up exercises (Suburi).  After basics, students will once again line-up, and the command Men-o Tsuke will be given to place the full armor (Bogu) on, and class will continue. When class ends, students once again lineup for To-Rei, and the following commands will be issued:

Kyotsuke (Attention).

 Chakuza (Take seiza).

Seiza (Sit in the formal position with good posture).

Men-o Tare (Remove the head armor).

Mokuso (mediation-like breathing).

Mokuso Yame (period is finished).

Sensei-Gata-ni Rei (or SENSEI"S NAME-Sensei-ni Rei).*

Shomen-ni Rei (bow to front of the dojo or flag).

Otagai-ni Rei (bow to other participants).*

Keiko Owari (practice is over).

* If you wish to thank Sensei(s) or other students at this point in class, you may say “arigato gozaimashita”, which roughly equates to “Thank you for what you taught me today”.

Sensei will then discuss practice or announcements are made (while in seiza), followed by a command signaling the end of class (dismissed).  If you would like to thank someone who was particularly helpful to you during the class, please do so after finishing the session.

During Sunday’s class, Kendo Kata will commence after iaido.  Kendo kata is a fundamental study of the basics of kendo and is an important part of learning the way of the sword.

Your advancement in kendo and iaido is shown by your movement, behavior, appearance, and attitude, and this begins before you enter the dojo.   Other students, both higher and lower in rank or grade, will judge you on these principles and learn from your example.

GENERAL DO’S AND DON’TS:

Ø  Be committed and come to class regularly.  If not, you not only waste your time, but you waste your instructor’s time and you may keep class progression at a slower pace.

Ø  Be on-time if not early to class.  If late, enter quietly without distracting others.  Dress, prepare, and warm up before joining the session.  Wait until an exercise is complete, step into the group, and bow.  Similarly if you have to be excused before the end of the practice, let sensei or a senior know.

Ø  Never sit or rest without permission unless you feel ill during class.  If ill or injured, bow out and get well.  Only you know your body.

Ø  Make the most of every practice.  Come prepared mentally and physically.

Ø  It is customary to walk behind a kendoka wearing armor and standing or sitting in position. If it is unavoidable, stretch your right arm in front of you, bow slightly, and excuse yourself while passing.

Ø  While instruction is being given by the sensei, sempai, or visiting teacher, do not interrupt, contradict, or be uncooperative. Do not allow your attention to wander during instruction.

Ø  Do not lean against the wall or on a shinai, using it as a cane.

Ø  Do not wear a hat, speak loudly, or use abusive language in the dojo.

Ø  Always place your shinai or sword out of the way, where others cannot stumble over or step on it. Do not rest it against the wall in an upright position.

Ø  Never step on or over a shinai, iaito, bokuto, or any representation of a sword.

Ø  Never kick, step on, or move someone’s bogu; treat them with respect.

Ø  Always bow to your opponent before and after a keiko.  Show respect by saying loud and clear, "onegaishimasu" while bowing before engaging and "arigato gozaimashita" after engaging.

Ø  If your armor becomes loose or untied, raise your right arm to signal you need to stop, step back, correct the problem, then start again with a standing bow.

Ø  Always place safety first.

Ø  Always take the opportunity to practice with higher ranks, and never allow a sensei or senior student to stand idle.

Ø  Always show your best reigi (etiquette), shisei (attitude), and kigurai (pride) wherever you practice.  Not only do you represent yourself, your represent your dojo, your sensei, and your sempai.

ADDITIONAL COMMANDS & TERMINOLOGY:

Kiritsu - Stand up

Kamae te - assume a chudan no kamae position.

Sonkyo - squat down facing the sempai.

Taito - Bring your shinai to your hip as if it was a sword in a scabbard.

Osame to - return your sword to the sheathed position

Reigi-saho - etiquette in the dojo, courtesy, discipline and manners on the whole.

Shisei – attitude.

Kigurai – pride.

Ohki – large motion.

Tobi-komi – practical motion.

Kihon-Waza (basic or promise practice)

Kiri-kaeshi – a basic exercise utilizing a series of men strikes forward and backward.

Kakari-geiko – an exercise that incorporates continuous attacking by creating your own opening.

Uchi-komi-keiko – an exercise that incorporates continuous attacking with motodachi showing openings.

Basic Strikes OR CUTS:

Men (head)

Kote (wrist)

Do (body)

Tsuki (throat)

Counting in Japanese:

1. Ichi (eech)                   

2. Ni (nee)                       

3. San (sahn)                   

4. Shi (she)                      

5. Go (go)                       

6. Roku (rook)

7. Shichi (sheech)

8. Hachi (hach)

9. Kyu (koo)

10. Ju (joo)

Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei – Seitei Iaido

The way of drawing the Japanese Sword according to the All Japan Kendo Federation.

For members of the dojo wishing to study Iaido this guide is a supplement to your study of Iaido.  It will answer some basic questions pertaining to Iaido, and help you become familiar with the terminology and the study of Iaido as a complimentary study to kendo. 

If you have questions, and you will, please feel free to ask any member before and after class, and always put Sensei’s instruction first. We understand that new students may have a lot of questions, but class is not the time to ask questions.  Class is the time to study, learn, and practice.

APSU Iai & Kendo Club studies Iaido as developed by the All Japan Kendo Federation (Seitei).  The first seven forms of Seitei Iai were established in 1969, three more followed in 1980, and two more new forms were added in 2000, making a total of 12.  Advanced members also study Muso Shinden-Ryu, a Koryu or old school set of kata dating back to 1869.

THE SEITEI KATA

1. Ipponme – “Mae” (To the front)

2. Nihonme – “Ushiro” (To the rear)

3. Sanponme – “Ukenagashi” (Take and give back) or (Receive, Parry and Cut)

4. Yonhonme – “Tsuka-ate” (Strike with the tsuka/hilt)

5. Gohonme – “Kesa giri” (Diagonal cuts)

6. Ropponme – “Morote tsuki” (2 handed thrust)

7. Shichihonme – “Sanpo giri” (3 direction cuts)

8. Hachihonme – “Ganmen-ate” (Strike to the face)

9. Kyuhonme – “Soete tsuki” (Companion hand thrust)

10. Jupponme – “Shiho giri” (4 direction cuts)

11. Juipponme – “Sou giri” (Many/complete cuts)

12. Ju Nihonme – “Nukiuchi” (Sudden draw and cut down)

KEY CONCEPTS

Chiburi: cleansing of the blade. Chiburi also has a spiritual meaning of cleaning one’s soul.

Iaito – literally sword for iai, practice sword – unsharpened, typically made of alloy.

Jo-ha-kyu – the rhythm within a kata as slow-to-fast-to-slow movement.

Kesa-giri – the diagonal cut that follows the keiko-gi line. Named after the kesa/lapel that monks wore.

Keito – holding the sword at the hip while in attention.

Ki-ken-tai-itchi - Ki is spirit, ken refers to the sword, and tai refers to body.   Spirit, sword, and body as one.

Kiri-oroshi - cutting down. Usually it is a 2-handed cut down from over the head.

Kokyuu - The act of inhaling and exhaling.

Metsuke – one’s gaze or look.

Mono-uchi - The “cutting” part of the sword.

Notto – returning the sword to the sheath or saya.

Nukitsuke - the cut made, in one continuous motion, from drawing the sword.

Obi – the belt wrapped around the waist/keiko-gi, in which the sword is placed.

Seitei – basic, fundamental. Seitei Gata is fundamental techniques kata.

Seiza – formal kneeling/sitting position.

Shibori – the wringing motion of one’s hands when performing a cut.

Shinken – literally “live sword” – used to describe sharp swords made in the Japanese style.

Tate-hiza – raised-knee position when kneeling/sitting.

Teito – holding the sword loose by the left side.

Torei - bow to the sword.

Zanshin – remaining spirit/heart.

Za rei – kneeling bow.

The layout of a Dojo

First, and in order of importance, we have what is commonly known in the West as shomen, but it is also equivalent to the term “shinzen“. This has to be located at the opposite end of the entrance door of the dojo. Here is where,if the case, the “ kamidana ” or Shinto shrine is to be placed. It is the spot of greatest excellence or supremacy in the dojo. If we see vintage Japanese films, orjidaigeki, we would see that this is where the Tonosama is placed. Bringing this concept to kendo, in the case of events or championships, here stands the Royal Box, among other members of the royal or imperial family will be seated.

On the other hand, we find the kamiza (or “jouseki“). In this regard we will point out for those who may have certain Japanese language notions that the term kamizahas nothing to do with kamisama or “divinity”, but the characters that compose this word mean literally “seat up”. It is a term also used in the Japanese daily life, and it refers to where the “higher grade” person has to be sit. In Japanese daily life there is a complex system about where exactly this place is situated, depending on the type of room or location and the surrounding elements (of what I hope to talk in some offtopic article). Applied to Kendo, and as most of you will have guessed, this is the place where the sensei sits, and it usually refers to right side of the shomen, where the highest grade is located closest to it, and the rest of them are positioned so that the lower grade is in the furthest place from the shomen.

An interesting point, in case anyone has also wondered: “Why do the senseis do not sit on the side of shomen?”. The answer is that if so, it would be entirely disrespectful to show one’s back to the divinity, and equally it would be wrong to turn away from the guests of honor.

Finally, and in contrast to this concept of kamiza is the “shimoza”, which is the place where the person with the lesser degree at that time shall situate, and it corresponds to the farthest spot from the shomen.

This would be roughly the distribution of a dojo, but these general rules can vary to suit the situation and characteristics of each place. As always, what is important is to adapt to the rules existing in each place, and in no case want to impose what we believe is right.

Shinai parts

Kendo Kata

立切 尾形 茂

The idea of it is that you stop thinking and reacting with your body and ego (mind) after the point of exhaustion and cut with "no-mind" which is an ideal that kenshi are trying to reach through practise. Also it's just an incredible character and friendship building feat on it's own. I don't think I would last through it, this guy is extremely impressive as he did it in jodan which is more tiring in the first place. Comment done by andyrogers79 in youtube

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing

Es usted médico?

Una señora, con su hijito de 4 años, está comiendo en un restaurante.

En un descuido, el chico mete una moneda en la boca y se atraganta.

La madre intenta hacerle escupir la moneda golpeándole la espalda, dándole palmadas en el cuello, sacudiéndolo, sin éxito.

El chico ya comienza a dar muestras de asfixia y la madre, desesperada, comienza a gritar pidiendo auxilio.

Un señor se levanta de una mesa cercana, y con pasmosa tranquilidad sin decir palabra alguna, le baja los pantalones a la criatura, toma sus pequeños testículos, los aprieta con fuerza, y tira hacia bajo violentamente.

Al mismo tiempo, le mete el dedo mayor en el culo en seco.

Automáticamente, el niño -ante el dolor irresistible- escupe la moneda, y el señor, con la misma pasmosa tranquilidad con la que se acercó, regresa a su mesa sin decir palabra.

Al rato, la señora, ya tranquilizada, se acerca para agradecerle que haya salvado la vida a su hijo, y le pregunta:

- ¿Usted es médico?

- No señora, soy funcionario de la Agencia Tributaria.. .