 KODOKAN KENDO CLUB
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The seminar was led by Masatake Sumi Sensei (8th Dan Hanshi) who was accompanied by Taishiro Sensei (8th Dan kyoshi) and Kumamoto Sensei (7th Dan Kyoshi). Translation was provided by Sotaro Honda and Geoff Salmon.
Sumi sensei has now led the Kodokan seminar 16 times and has promised to return for next year’s twentieth anniversary. Support and instruction was also given by Yanai Sensei and Holt Sensei The venue for this year’s seminar was the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth. This is now the Kodakan club’s regular venue and is where kendo squad practices are held. The facilities and grounds are absolutely excellent. As always planning and organisation was carried out by Paul Budden. Attendance this year was up to 70, with kendoka from England, Scotland, Wales? Ireland, Holland, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Malta, Macao the United States, Brazil and of course Japan. Sumi Sensei, Taishiro Sensei and Kumamoto Sensei must be publicly thanked on behalf of the BKA, all those who attended the seminar, and all the other Kendoka who will benefit (all be it second hand) from the excellent practices and instruction that were given. Once again they were well thought out and superbly presented. We must also extend thanks to the other teachers/generals particularly Holt sensei and Yanai Sensei and of course Paul Budden and the Kodokan Dojo without whom this excellent event would not take place. |
In this Olympic year Sumi sensei began by highlighting some of the problems by which the sporting world is currently beset: cheating, doping, gambling scandals etc. Sport is becoming more and more driven by money, and as the money is available only for the winners, winning no matter how this is achieved has become the norm. It is also true to say that winning is important in kendo, but Sensei pointed out that this should not be the most important thing, even for those who compete seriously (at international level etc). Kendo has much more to offer than just victory over another person on one particular day. It can offer a way to develop yourself both physically and mentally leading to improved character traits, greater confidence and quality. You can gain victory over yourself.
Sumi then showed us a Tenugui that he has produced showing one of his own personal favourite slogans:
Master and student travel the same path
Finally he promised to give us everything he has during the seminar.
Organisation
As usual a system of groups was employed with generals having overall charge and captains being selected to lead practices and shiai. This gives all the participants the opportunity to ask questions informally in their small groups about what is being taught with the more experienced kendoka present giving instruction and sharing insights. It also gives Sumi sensei and the other teachers the opportunity to circulate and observe how well the practices have been understood. The team system is used also to organise kendoka into teams for shiai and refereeing. This is a major feature of the seminar.
Bokuto Ni Yoru Kihon Keiko Ho and Nihon Kendo No Kata
The kata sessions this year were much less formal than has generally been the case. Each group was sent off to practice kihon keiko ho first, with the generals doing the majority of the instruction and organisation. Sumi Sensei and the other teachers circulated giving advice and asking questions. One key point that I learned was to do with the focus of Zanshin when doing the shikake waza kihon (1, 2, 3, 4, 7). As Kakari Te takes the first smaller step back the sword should be focussed towards the eyes and not as I thought (and mistakenly reported last year) the throat.
Another thing which was not picked up on by me last year was that the kihon forms should be if possible, done in one breath. This makes Kihon Ichi very difficult as the whole of the form Men, Kote, Do and Tsuki are all performed within cutting range.
Other than that the notes which are currently in circulation are correct, I think?
The majority of the first kata session was spent on Kihon Keiko Ho. The second session focussed on polishing up the Nihon Kendo No Kata.
One point of interest that was shared with me was to do with the foot position when assuming Hanmi stances (Hasso, Waki and the Kodachi stances). In each case the front foot should be pointing straight at the opponent. The back foot is turned and remains turned as you move forwards towards the opponent.
A point was also made about the position of the bokuto in Roponme. When Uchidachi moves diagonally back as Shidachi takes Hidari Jodan many people lower the point too far. Uchidachi must maintain some dignity even though defeated, it is not appropriate therefore to assume a totally passive stance. The point should be somewhere between the height of the knee and Gedan No Chamae. It should still be pointing forwards in roughly the direction of the uchidachi's front foot.
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Kihon We began the first 1 hour evening practice with a series of kihon exercises that lasted 20 minutes. This pattern was then repeated in Asa Geiko and for the remaining evening practice sessions. Some of the practices included were: 1. Basic Cuts - From chudan at Chikaai Maai (close distance) step in and strike Men with okuri ashi. - Step in again to tsubazeriai position (touch lightly) - Step back and strike with hiki waza: Men, Kote, Do. - Step back to chikaai maai (chudan). This was first done with sliding footwork and without touching the targets, then sliding footwork and a full striking action and finally with stamping footwork. |
- Kakari Te steps in and cuts shomen then moves forward in a controlled manner to tsubazeriai
- Kakari Te cuts to the left side of motodachi’s men as motodachi steps back to the correct maai, and then continues as normal through the nine cuts.
- After the ninth cut Kakari te separates to toma.
- Motodachi moves forward towards Kakari Te who cuts as soon as the maai is correct. After cutting shomen Kakari Te moves forward once again in a controlled manner to tsubazeriai
- Kakari Te cuts to the left side of motodachi’s men as motodachi steps back to the correct maai, and then continues as normal through the nine cuts.
- Kakari Te cuts to the left side of motodachi’s men as motodachi steps back to the correct maai, and then continues as normal through the nine cuts.
- The previous 2 steps are repeated.
- After the ninth cut Kakari te separates to toma.
- Kakari Te steps in with effective seme and cuts shomen continuing past motodachi.
- Kakari Te turns sharply and maintains zanshin.
NB. Kiri Kaeshi was first done with sliding footwork and then repeated with stamping footwork
One of the more memorable practices was “chameleon’s tongue” Kote. In this practice the Kakari Te stands still at close range and simply strikes the Motodachi’s kote. We were trying to develop a Kote cutting action which flicks out sharply rather than chops down. The practice was very effective and everyone drastically improved the quality of their kote cuts. This was even evident in the shiai practice that took place later.
We also worked on basic cutting where kakari te makes as many cuts as possible in one breath (men, kote men, men nuki do etc.).
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Finding Your Attacking Distance, Making a chance. Sumi sensei noticed that everyone was fencing at too short a distance. This was particularly the case in shiai. He pointed out that when you close in on your opponent they are likely to become tense and defensive. It is very difficult to strike with quality when the opponent expects your attack. They start to duck and sway or jump back. For a quality attack a wider range is needed (ISSOKU), of course this is actually the most efficient striking range anyway and the distance that we use when practicing. Young, old, tall, short, everyone has their own attacking range and this is something that we all have to find for ourselves. With constant training we can improve our range. Next sumi sensei spoke about the moment to attack. Once you have found the range and developed an efficient cutting action you must then develop an understanding of how to unlock the opponents defenses we discussed the following methods of doing this: |
2. Feel out the opponent from Toi Maai. Step into cutting range with strong seme. Keep the pressure on, then when it is almost unbearable step back or soften the centre. This almost always confuses the opponent and draws a response (chance for Debana waza or Oji waza).
3. The opponent steps into cutting range with strong seme. You keep the centre and apply even more pressure (use osae or Fureru). In this case their spirit often breaks first and they have to step back or make a desperate attack giving a chance for Hikibana, Debana or Oji waza.
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The Conditions of Ippon Uchi During shiai geiko everyone is expected both to fence and to referee. This leads to some quite interesting events during matches and occasionally opportunities for discussion. This year after the first shiai session Sumi sensei explained the conditions for Ippon Uchi (men and kote). If a point is missed/not awarded by the referee and they are then asked to justify not awarding the point we often here answers such as: “Not enough zanshin”, “Didn’t go through enough”, “Too far down the shinai”. Whilst all of these are valid answers they are not always appropriately used. Sumi sensei made the following points: 1. Zanshin:If you strike the target correctly and remain in a live posture this is sufficient zanshin. Its not necessary to run around the shiajo shaking your shinai and shouting your head off. 2. Cutting Through:Ippon should be awarded if the strike lands accurately even if the attacker does not move towards the opponent after the strike at all. We need only think of a powerful nuki men to know that this is true. When striking kote if the posture is maintained and the shinai directed towards the opponent this is sufficient (no extra steps are necessary). However stopping in front of the opponent is generally considered unwise so a step into tsubazeriai is sensible. In oji waza there is generally insufficient space to step forwards so a step to the side (hiraki ashi) or backwards is sufficient. |
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IPD Lecture
This year’s theme was “mental management”. This is becoming an increasingly important element in sport, with top level performers developing more and more sophisticated ways to get into the zone. The kendo parallel could be labelled MUSHIN, that all too elusive state of mind where one is able to effortlessly respond to the opponents attacks in effective ways and without conscious thought.
I think that the key point for me was expressed right at the start of the lecture: it is important to have a dream. Once this is established we must identify the gateways that will allow the dream to be fulfilled. When we have identified the gateways along the path we can begin to focus on specific points of performance: Technical, Physical, tactical, Mental and even lifestyle. Without single minded determination how can one expect to achieve an ambitious dream.
Key elements in mental management:
Concentration; irrespective of distractions, Confidence; no matter what the occasion, Control; of one’s own emotions, Commitment; through training and lifestyle regime.
In conclusion Ian provided several questionnaires that would; he assured us, enable us to identify some of the barriers to our own personal mental management.
Physiology Lecture
This year’s lecture was presented by Steve Bishop and was about hydration and nutrition. Any one who knows Steve will have noted the strange appendage that seems to be permanently attached to his back. The platypus is the way that Steve keeps himself hydrated. This bag of water and supplements (or lager) allows convenient drinking throughout a training period/course. During the process of Gi Geiko a kendoka is likely to get very warm. We wear a thick jacket and trousers to prevent heat escape, and even a very thick cotton cap (the Men). The only part of our bodies that are not covered with thick warm clothing are the tops of our feet (this is not the most efficient part of the body for dissipation of heat). Due to this set of circumstances the usual process of sweating to cool us down simply doesn’t work therefore we continuously sweat throughout a whole practice, losing anything up to 2 Litres of fluid in say 2 hours. This is very bad for the body: muscle efficiency is impaired and concentration suffers (i.e. ability to learn and perform waza). In extreme cases poor hydration can lead to kidney problems. So; the catchphrase is “Are you drinking enough water”. Perhaps it is worth looking at your own training regime? Do kendoka have sufficient opportunities to take on water?
Steve is currently in the process of researching and writing a dissertation about nutrition requirements for kendo but what so far seems clear is that kendo is an activity that relies largely on glycogen as its energy source. This means that the typical “balanced diet” that many kendoka enjoy: bacon and eggs, chips, curry will not efficiently provide the energy needed, particularly on a long seminar.
Before training we should try to eat a light meal of mainly carbohydrates. There was some discussion of the availability of power bars and gels that many athletes are now using. These have their value for elite and amateur athletes alike but are typically expensive to buy and not particularly enjoyable to eat. If they work for you great stuff.
In conclusion then; it is clear that nutrition and hydration play a very important role in the training of elite athletes. The difference between Gold and Silver at the Olympics can be 1/100 of a second. Clearly impaired concentration or lack of energy can easily be the reason for this difference. In kendo where matches between elite players can last for over twenty minutes and where the difference in performance is almost always down to a lapse in concentration we can see here also the importance of energy levels and efficient hydration.
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Armour Lecture As usual Taishiro sensei impressed and bamboozled everyone with his skill. He repaired Kote palms and replaced the loops on a Do tying the leather into a complex and difficult knot. Many questions were asked and answered and we all left better informed of how to care for and maintain our armour |
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Shinsa The grading went well apart from a few organisational glitches during the kata presentations (I blame myself for these, mostly). All those taking Ikkyu Shodan, Nidan and Sandan passed. For Yondan and Godan the pass rate was 50%. Only a very few disappointments and overall there was a very constructive feeling about the grading. The candidates did what they had been shown to do and the Sensei looked for reasons to pass them. Gavin Murray-Threipland and Trevor Chapman did a sterling job handing out grading sheets and collating the results. Well done! Congratulations to those who were successful, condolences for those who were not. Never give up! Next year Sumi sensei is set to return for the International Kendo Enbu Taikai 2005. He will once again be accompanied by Chiba Sensei. Sumi sensei’s Kodokan international seminar will reach a landmark 20th anniversary next year. The leader of the first seminar Jumpei Matsumoto (7th Dan) has promised to attend as has the second sensei Shoji Enemoto (7th Dan). I for one am already looking forward to taking part |
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