Break

Hello all,

I thought I would write to see what everyone is doing with their week off from kendo. What do you do when you are away from kendo to keep motivated, in shape ect? As for myself, I find that doing at least 100 suburi a day has always allowed for me to stay motivated and somewhat in shape. I also like to read and reread some manuals and books on kendo to keep the fire there. The most important thing for me is to remained focus on what I was working on before I left and not to change it. Are there any things that you do to keep yourself in the right mental framework? Add it to the comments and let's see if we can keep our minds as sharp as our swords. Cheers!

Last practice before break

It was great to practice with everyone last night and work on some items that were learned at the tournamnet. Second practice was also a great time with everyone watching clips of the tournament and test at the Tower. Over the week off please continue to focus on the development of our motto and your own kendo. Work on suburi and footwork on your own and be sure to keep your stamina up in some way. After the break we only have a short time before the Cleveland tournament so be prepared for some tough practices. Congratulations again to everyone that participated in the tournament and have a great break.

I Bought Flags

Hi, guys. Wasn't sure whether to piggyback onto Eric's last post or make a new post but I thought this was distinct enough I should make a new post. Just wanted to put down in writing some of what I may have talked about with some of you at the tournament and it concerns shinpan.

I had a very good shinpan experience at this year's taikai and it made an impression on me. I think what's happened is that I have been shinpan three or four times now and seen how a shiai court is effectively run and how important that is. It has also been impressed on my that shinpan is a very important skill for the appropriate level yudansha to have, part of one's overall kendo development.

In the past, when I have been shinpan, it's always been in a kind of protected environment (usually at Family Tournament with Tagawa-sensei standing to one side saying "do this, don't do that"). At Detroit this year I was assigned a court and I attacked the task with a very different attitude. I immediately introduced myself to the head judge and the other judges, let them know how inexperienced I was and impressed upon them that I was eager to learn. I got to be shinpan on several matches, including shushen. I was very involved with each and every match and sponged up everything I could from the other shinpan. I asked questions. The sensei I worked with saw that I was eager to learn and gave me suggestions, for which I expressed my gratitude. When we were done, I thanked them. I even had to call gogi (conference) as shushen once, which I did decisively and made a firm decision as a result.

My point is that it inspired my confidence to be a better shinpan. For some time now I have realized how important shinpan is to me personally but also to kendo as a whole (in ever issue of Kendo World there are articles on "Shinpan From Scratch," for example). This past weekend just sort of confirmed that. While I was at the taikai, I went to the Eguchi retailer table and bought my own set of shinpan flags (I did not spring for the very nice carrying case but will make one, give it the ol' personal touch). This to me represents a commitment to develop myself as shinpan and I hope you will all help me.

Jodan at Detroit

This post is a reflection on my competition in Detroit. I had a great time and did well in the team matches with Jodan. Unfortunately I lost to Nomiyami-sensei in the individual section by a kote-suriage-men. This has been my downfall at the last couple of tournaments in my division. Either kote-nuki-men or the suriage gets me. I have determined that my kote either needs to improve or part of my seme needs to control that more. As Sugawara-sensei has told me many times, jodan is about having control. I tell students that everyone should strive to do beautiful kendo and right now I beleive that I need a great deal of work at this aspect of my jodan. The team matches were great fun and I was glad to be able to help the team to advance. The biggest thing for me was to make sure we represented Eastern kendo well, and I believe we did. The journey on the Jodan path continues and the difficulties keep arriving but the challenge and the extreme fun are there as well. See you all at practice. Cheers!

Detroit Taikai and Shinsa

Hello everyone. I just wanted to say what a great time I had at the tournament and test over the weekend. It was a great success for Eastern kendo. This is the first time we really had a plan going in and accomplished every part of that plan. I want to say congratulations to everyone that passed their shodan test. Horiguchi-san, DeBruhl-san and Wakabyashi-san all did extrememly well in their test. For those who did not pass you did your best kendo and should be proud of that as well. The biggest congratulations goes to Perry(William) for winnig 3rd place in the mudansha level. This is great for Eastern kendo. The tournament was a great succes for the team matches as well with Eastern A getting to fourth place and the court final. This was a great thing to be a part of. Thanks to everyone that came out in support as well. From the youngest kendoist to the oldest, everyone had a great time because of your support. It was great to look up between shinpanning to see the large crew of Eastern and UofM folks there in support. Another thing, because of my shinpanning responsibility I do not get a chance to see most of your fights. I think this is bad but am glad you all support one another and was gald to hear details from other people about your fights. In every tournament there are winners and losers and, as Ebihara-sensei stated, no one can lose if they did their best. Tournaments are about meeting people who love kendo as much as you do and we made a great impression and had a great time. We really demonstrated the aspect of compassion, strength and honor. Thanks again to everyone. Hopefully pictures will be available soon. See you all at practice. Cheers!

Valentine's Day Practice

Hello everyone. Thanks to all of the kendoka that came out to practice on Valentine's Day. This was a great practice for the tournament and testing. Everyone should be ready and excited for this weekend. Remember what was written in the previous post and just do your kendo and that's all I can ask. Good luck to everyone and get some sleep before the test and tournament. See everyone on Saturday for the test or Sunday for the tournament. For anyone not participating, please come to the tournament Sunday to support Eastern Kendo and see what Shiai Kendo is all about.

Detroit Taikai

Alright everyone, it's time to focus and get your thoughts together for the Detroit taikai. Less than a week away. Here are some things for you to consider, along with some issues that Eastern Kendo will be focusing on. First things first, remember our focus this year on strength, compassion and honor. Also, be sure to "leave everything on the floor." If you follow this I can not ask anything else of you and you should feel successful at the tournament regardless of the outcome. As for me, I always try to focus on one waza and really strengthen it for the tournament. The waza for this tournament you will see on sunday. Jodan is pretty limited but I have been working on some newer waza and will try to use them in the tournament. As for the teams, this is always the most difficult decision for me but every team that consisits of an Eastern kendoka is representing Eastern Kendo so please be sure that, even if you are not with the "A" team, to do your best kendo and go for the win. Shiai is different from practice and the team matches are different from the individual ones. If you need clarification please discuss this with a sempai. Anyway, the progress of Eastern Kendo has come so far that I hope we can continue to progress in our own kendo. Use strength, compassion and honor and Leave it all on the floor! Gambatte!!!!!!! See you there. Cheers!

Testing

I just wanted to write some items and ideas about testing. The Detroit taikai is coming up and so is the test for kyu through yon-dan. For those of you testing please take the time to consider some of the following items. These will also be discussed during practice but this is just to get my thoughts out. The biggest thing about testing is to do your kendo and nothing else. I know this seems like a simple philosophy and concept but when you get in front of the judges something happens that distracts you from your own kendo. The idea for me is that if your sensei says that you are ready to test than you should not worry about doing or trying new things or different waza in the test, just do the same strong clean kendo that you do in practice. If after the test you can truly say you did your kendo to the best of your ability, I believe that you will pass. Even if you do not pass at least you can hold your head up and be proud that you did your best. In testing I often see people getting locked together and forced to do the aite's kendo. This will lead to a failure every time, regardless of what test you are taking. Be confident that you are at the level that you are testing at and do your kendo without thinking. The other items involved with testing involve not worrying about the test and just being yourself. Before the gigeiko breathe deeply and center your ki so that you are prepared for what is to come. The first men cut can make or break your entire test so do it well. Be confident and show your true kendo. All in all, try to enjoy the test as much as possible and learn from whatever the outcome is. Remember, that if you pass you are just at the beginning stages of that rank and have until the next test to learn everything it is about that rank. See you all at practice. Cheers!

U of M's 9 Rules

Ken Wakabayashi, president of University of Michigan Kendo club, recently added a section to the club's web site consisting of 9 rules for more efficient practice. It's a good read, check it out (scroll down).

UPDATE: Ken added a great and very personal essay on rei here.

Practice: 1/31/06

Good practice last night. Regretably, Eric had to leave after the class portion and I was late but Joe and Jason kept things moving right along. We worked on uchikomi-men and -kote and debana-men and -kote in addition to kihon. Then our good friend Ken Ichki showed up and after some rounds of jigeiko I lined everybody up and made him fight the whole gang. Last to fight him was Jack Ponchart, and as Jack was going up and we were all shouting "ganbare!" I bellowed, "Jack, if you don't beat him, you're out of the club." So what happened? Jack goes for a terrific men and Ichki let him get it and knock him over and we all laughed. Jack gets to stay in the club.

On the men and kote: what we worked on was striking the men or kote as soon as it was open. Then trying to sense when it would be opened and strike just before motodachi opened it. Then against a resisting motodachi - trying to cut motodachi's men or kote before motodachi can take your men. Good practice and something that requires, of course, more work from everyone.

Countdown to Detroit tournament. Getting excited.