Share your kendo exercises...

[supernils]

Hi everybody.

Everyone that been around a bit know that for every country, city and dojo there are exercises that are unique for that place. So I thought that i would be fun if some of you at e-budo liked to share your favourite one with the rest of us. Maybe it is a silly idea, but i'ts worth a shot.

Nils Bjorkegard, Stockholm, Sweden
http://www.stockholmkendo.com

[supernils]

Maybe it is not new 2 U but..

In Shikoku this summer i stayed with a team that did a special kind of Kirikaeshi.
Basically you follow the walls of the dojo when you do Kirikaeshi. This gives you Kirikaeshi forward, left, backwards and right (depending on if you do it CW or CCW). It helps good Ashi sabaki in all directions and strengthens the movements of body center. It is also good fun.

Nils Bjorkegard

[supernils]

Maybe this wasn't such a popular idea as I thought it would be.
Can someone explain to me why?

nils bjorkegrad

[Charlie Kondek]

Hi, Nils! Well, I was out of town, so that's one kendo-ka who wouldn't be replying right away. I wonder, too, though, if most of the people on this particular forum aren't more interested in iai or kenjutsu. I think the gung-ho kendo people here include myself, Fast Ed, KendoShiai, Enfield and some others, including Hyaku, who does not post very often, as I'm sure he's quite busy. But that's probably why there wasn't a lot of response.

As to your question! Can you explain more fully about the kirikaeshi that follows the walls? You mean you go around in a circle as you do it?

I don't know that we here at Eastern have a lot of original exercises. We play "simon says" a lot to test footwork - basically, everybody lines up and follows the leader, who is facing the crowd, with proper footwork. If the leader goes forward, you shuffle back, if the leader goes right, you shuffle left, etc.

BTW, there's a new, more kendo-oriented forum at our club's web-site, if you wanna hook up there. (http://superdot10.tripod.com/easternkendoclub/index.html)
Also, another source is www.swordforum.com.

[supernils]

U means uchidachi, M means motodachi. You start in the low right corner<br>http://www.e.kth.se/~e00_nbj/kendo/misc/kurukuru.gif
Along the short walls you just go sidewise. It is a bit tricky 'cause going left means moving your feet in the same order as going backwards (left-right).<br>
Thanx 4 the links i'll check them out
Nils Bjorkegard

[Earl Hartman]

When I trained with the cops, we would do kirikaeshi like this:

You would face your partner as usual, but after making the first men strike, instead of just cutting yokomen a few times on each side, as seems to be usual in most places, the motodachi would retreat all the way across the floor, reverse gears and go all the way back to the original starting point, and then go back and forth once more. Then the person doing kirikaeshi would make the second men strike and the process would be repeated. (Each of the inital men stikes had to be accompanied by the best tai-atari you could muster, and the motodachi would always play with the distance, forcing you to really pay attention. Also, you had to really pay attention to the motodachi's lead and never move back and forth on your own, but only after the motodachi initiated the movement. This was very good for practicing quick ma-ai adjustments.) The third men strike would complete the process. Thus, each kirikaeshi would consist of probbaly about 80-100 strokes, since you had to go back and forth across the width of the dojo a total of eight times (the size of a regular smallish gymnasium). In addition, the motodachi would often retreat as fast as possible, meaning you had to chase him at top speed, and then come back at you at top speed, meaning you had to retreat at top speed. Finally, it was expected that, insofar as possible, each sequence would be done with a single breath (no inhaling and exhaling between strikes), and you were expected to yell at the top of your lungs. You usually had to do this with about 7-8 guys before regular practice started.

[Charlie Kondek]

Great Caesar's Ghost! Wow, holy...!

Ahem. That's intense, Earl, to say the least.

Nils, if I'm understanding this correctly, then...

You cut men. Cut a few yokomen going forward. When motodachi starts moving to his/her right, you follow, cutting yokomen (left and right) as you move to your left with him. Then backwards, cutting yokomen as you go backwards, then with you moving to the right, until you end up in the same spot? Sounds fascinating. As soon as I'm sure I've got it right, I'll try it!

[Earl Hartman]

Charlie:

Yeah. You're a wreck before practice even really starts. I'm pretty sure only the riot squad guys do this, and they're all top men in their prime, the creme de la creme. This was years ago, and I coudn't possibly do it now. In police kendo, plain old physical conditioning was key, and a lot of their "warm up exercises" were just for that purpose. They really liked kakari-geiko, too (ga-a-a-ackkkk, wheeze, pant, puke). Holy shit is right. I think it's the kendo version of wind sprints.

I never really was able to do an entire sequence in one breath, and I'm sure a lot of guys cheated. But it is remarkable what that kind of kirikaeshi can do for your legs, footwork, speed, stamina, and, most importantly, breath control and hara development. If you breath up high in your chest, you're like a wet rag after about a minute. If you learn to breathe, you can learn to manage it. But like I said, it's for young guys at the peak of their physical condition. And it helps to have a 6th dan ready to kick your ass if you shirk.

[Enfield]

We've done kirikaeshi like that a few times at our dojo, but it's certainly not the norm. We've also begun doing similar exercises (the length of the dojo, as fast as you can) with things other than yokomen. Kote-men is a good one, as the maai changes with each strike, and hiki nidan waza is, well, interesting. Another variation we've done is do-kirikaeshi instead men-kirikaeshi. It still starts and ends with shomen uchi, but the yokomen are replaced by do.

I think I've only enjoyed kakarigeiko once. That was at a summer seminar where we had enough people that you went for about 20 seconds, then got a minute and a half of rest.

[hyaku]

Originally posted by Enfield
We've done kirikaeshi like that a few times at our dojo, but it's certainly not the norm.
I think I've only enjoyed kakarigeiko once. That was at a summer seminar where we had enough people that you went for about 20 seconds, then got a minute and a half of rest.

........................

But both should be the norm. They are for tiny kids in Japan.

Its all hard work but the only way you are going to get the body and mind to associate relaxation with a hard stressfull situation.

Regardless of whatever exercise I do with my old teacher he always but always pushes me to the point that I am so exuasted that I cannot raise my arms above my head. This way those final few cuts are summoned up with naturalness rather that aggression. The only good thing about it is at fifty four the pain does not last so long.

Its a case of go up to the top end of the dojo and get your medicine. I always get up there pretty smartish. If I don't he will sure as hell call me anyway!

The main problem with Westerners is lack of kahanshin (lower body strength). So it means a lot off legwork if they are to improve.

Although Hikiwaza is fun and works very well against people that are too close my Sensei would tear a strip off me if I did it. Oasa Yuji (Judan) always taught people to move forward, challenge and attack only.

Hyakutake Colin

[supernils]

Yeah. That's how you do it. I'n my practise we use to start with one round in slow pace then for each round we go faster.<br>Just follow the walls. The bigger Dojo the better.<br>You can also do it with the Do Kiri Kaeshi.<br>Since we're going on about K.K here's anotherone. Instead of right-left-right-left you do right-right-left-left. It is quite weird but also interresting
Nils Bjorkegard

[Charlie Kondek]

Sensei, which kendo exercises emphasize kahanshin? How can you tell when someone's (or your own) kahanshin is too weak?

[Daigoro]

Hi there,

At the end of last nights keiko we did some enjin-shiai ("circle shiai?") where everyone gets in a circle and there are 2 people in the middle: Ippon-shobu, winner stays in, everybody judges. We usually keep a tight circle and shout at the 2 kendoka a lot !!! Its good fun, especially if someone stays in the center for a while .... you know, every one supports the other guy!

Key to this is after an ippon is scored, anyone can challenge the winner ... a quick kiai and in you go. Usually you wait for the person to respond (there might be multiple challengers) but ive done it a couple of times in my old dojo in nyc where as soon as ippon is in, any (1) person can attack ... even a men-uchi from the rear! Its the closest thing to a melee ive ever been in....... except for the 2 vs 1 combination.....

- George
Seishinkan Kendo Club, Edinburgh, Scotland
http://www.edinburghkendo.co.uk/

[Charlie Kondek]

You've fought more than one person at a time in keiko? I've always wanted to try that.

[Enfield]

Originally posted by hyaku
But both should be the norm. They are for tiny kids in Japan.

Its all hard work but the only way you are going to get the body and mind to associate relaxation with a hard stressfull situation.

Oh, we do kirikaeshi and kakarigeiko every practice. We just don't do the all the way across the dojo version of kirikaeshi, but we usually do it (the 9 step version) about 3 to 5 times, with each set consisting of going forwards and backwards twice, so we get in 60-100 swings during kirikaeshi.

For kakari geiko, we usually finish up waza practice with a couple 30 second sets. (30 seconds attacking, 30 seconds receiving, rotate to new partner, repeat).

Then when doing jigeiko with sensei, each "bout" usually starts with kirikaeshi, and then becomes similar to kakari geiko, as if you don't attack, the sensei will. At my level, being on the receiving end with a rokudan (or sandan) pretty much bites, so I've got to keep attacking.

[hyaku]

[i]Originally posted by Charlie Kondek

How can you tell when someone's (or your own) kahanshin is too weak? [/B]

Lack of kahanshin is visible to the trained eye after a watching for less than a few minutes.

Its not something that applies to just Westerners. Even the Koreans do it.
Almost any exercise that motivates one to attack with the legs and not the arms will help. Cutting with the feet I think is a good expression to use. If something it at a distance it seems to be an automatic response to reach out more with the arms and lean forward rather that use the feet if that object it fairly close. Just all too easy to lean forward.

I usually add Kakarigeiko at the end of Jigeiko the rest of the students have finished and its just me and whoever was last on with me. If the student has given his best its quickly over. If not I shall perhaps be going the opposite way as he goes through to open the gap even more. Feels more like a marathon than Kendo but it pays off in the end. Its far more important to learn how to receive as well as attack. Like the tea ceremony you learn to be a customer before you learn to make the tea. One has to receive but at the same time not hinder the attacker in any way. To move smoothly out of the way to allow the attacker to fly through. If the opposite occurs I have put my hand in the small of the back and pushed people. Some people are not as forgiving as me. A swift swipe across the backside or offending slow back leg adds insult to injury. I remember my Sensei hitting both me and the other guy across the backside as we fought.

Its really a case by case thing. Everybody has their strengths and things they still need to work on and its really up to teacher to work on it.

For some reason taiatari works well. One has to generate a lot of lower power to push. If you move out of the way when someone does this he will go way through. When I go to my old dojo I get placed in Sensei's position to receive and everyone else has to go on the other side for taiatari at the end of practice.

I think its a general rule that we save the worst until last!

Kachinuki a sort of last man standing practice is good. They use to do it as a test non stop for a few days!

Mentioning a teacher that hits a faltering student is I think a delicate subject. I have seen some teachers in Japan doing what I can only describe as brutal. The method of pressing someone to do something by embarrassing them seems to more dominant here in Japan.

My dojo had an incident in 98 where the parents of the students were called in about a questionable incident. Then in 99 we won the All Japan Championships!

Sorry its long

Hyakutake Colin

http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~sword

[supernils]

http://www.e.kth.se/~e00_nbj/kendo/misc/plow.gif
This thing I use to call the plow.
It's a pair exercize where the person doing it (A) has both Shinais to his hips. The Motodachi (B) has the tips of the Shinais on the center of his Tare-belt. Now, without leaning his upperbody forward and keeping eyecontact, A starts doing Fumikomi forward while B offers resistance. Then they do this across the Dojo where they swap. B, of course, have to adjust to the strength of A and it's supposed to be difficult for A to go forward but not impossible.
After doing this ordinary Fumikomi feels like flying.

Greetings Nils Bjorkegard
ps/this weekend is the Swedish Nationals. wish me luck/ds

[Daigoro]

Hi,

I am kind of new to teaching kendo, and it happened by default about a year ago, so its very much a learning process for me at the moment ..... but one thing that I have experimented with to aid in cut-with-your-feet/body thing is, during kirikaeshi, for the motodachi to put is shinai on the attackers mune/do and add some pressure. My rational is that a) it helps the maai and b) stops the upper body from extending too much beyond the hips/feet. It also c) allows you to check that the attacker is hitting the right part of your men. Of-course, its still in experimentation mode! Any thoughts on this?

re: fighting 2 guys at once ... i've done it a couple of times, usually when I have a small class or we've had a tough class or something. Its *interesting* and *fun* (always results in laughter) but I am quick to point out that its an excercise that reinforces certain things rather than orthodox kendo per se. I find that the people who wait get beaten badly :burnup: ..... youve got to take your first guy out fast! Hasnt anybody else ever done this? :look:

- George
Seishinkan Kendo Club, Edinburgh, Scotland
http://www.edinburghkendo.co.uk/

[Charlie Kondek]

Kahanshin:

Thanks, Hyaku-sensei. I don't think you ever have to worry about being too long around here. We appreciate it. What you were saying reminds me of an old saber-fencer's adage that the fencing coach repeated to me. "A good fencer fights with his legs." I must confess I only partially grasp this, but am meditating on it.

Nils, thanks for the cool exercise. I'm going to try it as soon as possible! Also, good luck in the Nationals this weekend. Hey, one of our club-mates is a Swede who, unfortunately, will be moving back to Europe next year (following his dad's job). I'll tell him to look you up; he is a very spirited and commendable young man. I believe he'll be living in Gothenburg (sp?).

Multiple opponents:

Daigoro: interesting about the multiple opponents. I've always wanted to try it, and have loose strategies in my head for how I might do it. (Depending, of course, on the situation.) I think I'd mostly just *go*. We've never really explored this except for screwing around.

In re: your kiri-kaeshi thing; I've seen people doing that before at other dojos, so presumably you're onto a good thing.

[Earl Hartman]

Some good exercises here.

Practicing taiatari is one of the best ways to strengthen your lower body, provided it is done correctly. Men-taiatari-hikimen repeated ad nauseum is good, as is kakarigeiko, so long as motodachi applies taiatari liberally, as opposed to just letting you go through.

To do taiatari correctly, you must learn to strike with the hips. This requires a motodachi who knows how to do that properly. If you just try to strike with the upper body, you will go flying if motodachi uses his hips correctly, since he will be striking you under your center of gravity. To prevent that, you must learn to strike back using your hips and legs. Basically, if you learn to bounce off of each other correctly without getting forced back or losing your balance, you will naturally learn how to use your lower body.

Another practice I saw used was men-kaeshi-do done from sonkyo, as follows:

Both partners face each other in sonkyo, just like at the beginning of a match. As both partners start bouncing up and down on the balls of the feet in time with each stroke, motodachi strikes men, his partner receives it and strikes do. Motodachi strikes men again, and his partner receives it on the opposite side and returns a gyaku-do. This process is repeated until your thigh muscles can no longer deal with it and you fall over.

This is good for strenghtening the thighs and hips, as well as for learning how to maintain a perfectly upright upper body, since you will fall over if your upper body is tense.

[supernils]

We have a thing quite similiar to your (Earls) Do exercize.

Motodachi stands up and do big Men cuts without moving his/her feet.
Uchidachi is in sonkyo position doing jumping Kaeshi-Do. When he goes up he/she does the block and on hes way down he/she makes the Kaeshi-Do cut then he/she does it on the opposite side.
To make it more difficult Motodachi can increase speed and even move around.

Nils Bjorkegard

ps/ thanx Charlie /ds

[supernils]

This is something my coach has invented (i think). It's excellent to get people warmed up in short time. It is called "Killer-Suburi", basically 'cause it kills you doing it for a minute or two.
1. Start in Jodan with feet separated and parallel.
2. Go into crouching at the same time as you do Men.
3. Then rise and lift and do it all over in an accelerating pace.
You can also do it mirrored. Start in the crouching position and Jodan, then rise and cut.
http://www.e.kth.se/~e00_nbj/kendo/misc/killersuburi.gif

[Charlie Kondek]

So it's different than doing men from standing to sonkyo? Interesting! Cuz we've done it the same way except the feet weren't parrallel, they were in regular ashi-sabaki, and as you struck, you lowered yourself into sonkyo and then back up again.

We're big fans of hayasuburi, too.

Nils, where do you keep getting all these great illustrations? Are they on your site?

And how was shiai?

[supernils]

I make them as i go along. (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop).
Thank U very much.
By the way.. i was in the gold team of our nationals. It feels good since it is my first time at the top

[QuikSilveR]

Well Nisse it probably wont be the last time you are in the gold team at the Swedish nationals, however I will be looking forward to seeing you in the individual finals next year... ;-)

By the way all the videos of you and Jun are coming along nicely, I am getting the hang of converting raw DV into Mpeg4 DivX format. I should have them all done and burned onto CDR by the weekend.

Cheers!

Petter

[Ted Bouck]

George,

Yes, I too have done keiko with two opponents at the same time. A very enlightening, and potentially humbling experiance at the same time. Your comments ring true to me, pure kendo is much more difficult at this point and the junior students normally hang back and allow themselves to be controlled. [This often occurs because the inexperianced will be thinking what to do with a partner, and not about you.]

My experiance tells me to keep both kenshi as close to each other as possible, while I float outside and around one or the other. This provides me with the opportunity to attack / defend against just one at a time. When they split, as they should, the tactic becomes one of an overwhelming attack against one with a fast movement by to increase your maai against the remaining kenshi. Or both if your attack fails, though you should still be in a position to have them together again, if only for a moment.

This becomes extremely aerobic very quickly. In the realm of kenjutsu, the tactic would be similar with the leg of the first target being a much greater target. [Assumming only partial armour is being worn.]

Best Regards,

Ted