On the other side

Now that I have actually attended several practices sitting on the sensei side, I must say the oddest thing so far to me is hearing "Sensei ni" and seeing a bunch of kids in front of me.

4 dan!

On my fourth try, I finally passed my kendo 4 dan exam. It is both a relief and a stepping stone forward. Many thanks to all my senseis and people who practiced and tested with me. And a big thank you for my wife for letting me attend all of those practices.

I must admit that my kendo now feels much more solid than the first time I tested 2 years ago. Although, I think I was in better cardio shape back then, my kendo now is much steadier and I think my eye for reading an opponent has improved significantly. However, I am still prone to being reactive than proactive. Never going to run out of things to work on, I guess. :p

Bigger men strike

Tonight, Tanaka sensei reiterated that I wasn't raising my hands up enough before striking men (面), sashi men (さし面), in particular. I didn't understand him the first time but I think I see now. Because of all the pressure to get faster, my form has been changing and deteriorating. This advice, raise up and hit from above, was what I used to tell beginners in Illinois. I feel kind of ashamed when I realized that I was no longer following my own advice. -_-

Kendo practice - 20100604

Rather hot practice tonight. I thought I did fairly well. Got some good advice tonight.

Yamaguchi sensei - Don't rush. When I rush I hit and reach with my right hand. Need to stay straight.

Kim sensei - Reach forward more and then hit men (面). Don't cock my right hand and tip back too far. Kim sensei was picking off my kote (小手) with ease. I used to hit this way a while back, but I have been swinging bigger lately because I felt my tenouchi (手の内) has not been enough. The strength of the hit hasn't been there. I think it is time to reevaluate, yet again. :p

Gen Mikuni sensei - Need to commit, especially when I strike kote (小手).

Nishiura sensei - Don't hit too much hiki waza (引き技). I was trying to be more aggressive, and went too far I think. Especially when trying to do shinsa keiko (審査稽古).

No more coasting

At kendo practice this Thursday, I realized that I've been coasting too much at practice for a while now. I realized this when Kim sensei pointed out during suburi (素振り) that my step size should be bigger.

I should be putting in more effort. I've been hiding behind my elbow discomfort, telling myself I'm trying to establish confidence, etc. I need to return to the roots of kendo and push myself instead. The senseis, Tanaka sensei in particular, have been pushing me still. But on my own, I feel I have not been putting in the same amount of dedication.

Time to change.

Oh yeah, and I failed my yondan (四段) test again, for the 3rd time. >_< :(

Kendo practice: 2009-12-04

Got many comments at today's practice. Figured I should write them down so I remember.

Matsuda sensei: Timing of kiai (気合い) and strike. Need better ki-ken-tai-icchi (気剣体一致). A more complete cut. Start with a sharper kiai.

Yoshida sensei: Push-pull w/ the left hand. Relax the right hand onto the left hand. Raise the kensen by pushing forward w/ the left hand and then strike by pulling, while pushing forward w/ the right hand at the end.

I remember trying this before and wasn't happy w/ the results, but it may be time to revisit it.

Nishiura sensei: He was watching my practice after practice and then asked me to try a couple men strikes in front of him. He reminded me to push with the left foot, kicking the floor, and move forward with the hara (腹).

Waaahhhh!!!! So much to work on... T_T

(Thank you to all of the sensei-dachi (先生達) for their advice. ^_^)

Kendo

On my recent trip to Japan and Taiwan, I was able to practice kendo once in Japan at the Noma Dojo at its new location and once in Taiwan. Both times I was told the same thing by sensei, so I should probably, probably, write it down and work on it. :p

After I go for men, I am too rigid and tense and unable to strike again if my opponent steps back and I miss.

Sigh >_<

ため。ちょっと分かるかな。

今週の金曜日の稽古でいい攻めて面を打っていました。左右田先生も思いました。しかし、一回、二回だけ打っていました。：P　まだまだ勉強しなければなりません。

上個星期五的劍道練習的時候我有打了不錯的面。連左右田老師也同意。可惜只有打出一兩次而已。:P 還得在更加磨練。

At the kendo practice last Friday I was able to hit a good seme men. Even Souda sensei stopped me to comment on it. Unfortunately I only did it once or twice. :p Need to keep practicing. The footwork actually felt awkward... >_>

ため。。。

ため。剣道によるとどんな意味かな。僕ができるかな。。。

四段が取りませんでした

今回五月の審査でまだ四段が取りませんでした。本当に難しいでした。今回が十一月の審査よりいい稽古をしたと思いました。だがまだ「四段を取った』と思いませんでした。やっぱりまだ駄目です。もっと練習しなければなりません。先生達、先輩達、とみんなの稽古感謝しました。また四段のチャレンジをします。

Well, it's official. I did not pass my yondan test this May. I thought I did better than my previous attempt last November, but I did not have the feeling of "I got it!" during the test. It really is difficult. I need to practice more, which I plan to do now that I no longer have soccer on Saturdays. I must also thank my senseis, my senpais, and everyone at the dojo for their practices. And the challenge continues.

On a separate note, Tanaka sensei told me during kata practice yesterday that I'm too stiff. Kata needs to have emotion, but also needs to look smooth and beautiful. I am focusing so much on displaying emotion that my motions are jerky and unpleasant. I think my keiko is being affected in a similar way as well.

Black eye from kendo!!

That's right, I actually got a black eye from kendo. Hopefully it will be my one and only, ever. It was from practicing kata.

It happened on shoutou ipponme (小刀一本目). I was shidachi (仕立ち) with the shoutou (小刀). I was a little late with my sidestep and my block wasn't strong enough, so the uchitachi's (打太刀) strike knocked my shoutou (小刀) into my face. :p My left eye teared up but I finished the rest of the kata (形).



The next morning my coworker asked if I had a black eye, which really surprised me. It's not very noticeable, but there is a bruise on my left eyelid. So yeah, I got a black eye from kendo. ^_^

Update: Another picture, this one is 2 days after, on Tuesday. The bruise is even more apparent. :p

Mushin (無心) Or kendo is not a flowchart

I received a very good advice from one of my sensei recently. He commented that it seemed like I was thinking too much, and I was lacking mushin (無心). (Lacking mushin, does that make sense? :) His follow-up was that kendo is not a flow chart. ^_^ That is very true, and unfortunately I tend to approach kendo with the "pressure, observe reaction, then attack" mindset. I have received a lot of good advice since failing my 4 dan exam, but I think I am trying too hard thinking about them and trying to do them, and not following the flow of the keiko (稽古) itself. 

More things to work on... :p

気迫 (kihaku)

Well, it's official. I failed my 1st attempt at 4 dan. :p It wasn't a surprise because I myself felt that I did not do too well. 

Tanaka sensei gave me some advice at today's practice. He said that I lacked kihaku (気迫). [Translators say "Spirit." I've always thought "Presence."] I should be ready to fight from the moment I stand, before the bow. And all the movements afterwards should show my determination to fight. And first movement from getting up should be forward. He said that I moved sideways, no good.

I've noticed lately, more during kata practice, how Tanaka sensei's kiai has a presence that mine doesn't. My kiai is just noise. His... well, all I know is it startles me. :p

He also said I'm attacking too much. I'm doing 2-3 dan kendo, which is ok for tournaments. But I need to have an actual opening before I strike. For the shinsa I only need to strike about 4 times, he said. I need to be ready, and then strike just as my opponent is coming in. Or break my opponent so I can make a strike (崩して). Something I've been trying to work on but still not effective yet.

I think it's not my natural instinct, unfortunately. For example, when I'm playing video games, I usually go for the automatic, rapid-fire, large ammo, large spread weapons. I rely on coverage fire. I am usually adverse to the other extreme, such as sniping. 

Well, time to start working on my kendo again. ^_^

My loofah

That's a picture of my loofah. It started out white, w/ a slight blue tinge. Now it's an uneven light blue. Why? Because I wore a new gi and hakama today for kendo.

That is why I want everything in the bathroom to be blue, not just because I like blue. ^_^

写真は私のルファです。ルファは最初に白いでしたけど、今は青いです。理由は剣道です。今日のごど稽古で私が新しい着と袴を着ました。そしてシャワーを浴びて後でルファが青いになりました。だから、私が青いの浴室が欲しいです。^_^

Kendo since coming back to Northern CA

I think my kendo has progressed quickly and greatly since coming back to Northern California. Part of it is the two grueling and rewarding summer camps. ^_^ However, it is also having the pleasure of being around high level sensei on a regular basis. Having people to push me and advise me. This is something I missed in Champaign.

On the other hand, without my foray to Champaign I would not have my current hunger for advice. I probably would be content to be yet another person practicing kendo. I would probably not be brave, or needy, enough to constantly approach sensei after practice for more details. I also would not have had the opportunity to teach and reflect upon my understanding of kendo.

Ah life...

掛かり稽古 (Kakari keiko)

I received a very interesting piece of advice from Nishiura sensei (西浦) on Thursday. At the end of jigeiko (地稽古), we were basically doing aimen kakari keiko (合面掛かり稽古). I... didn't do too well. :-p At the end of practice, he commented that I need to be ready to attack right after my attack. And if I'm able to do that, then I can do the regular setup, seme (攻め), and attack.

I have often felt that I reset too much and take too much time getting settled before beginning my attack. I never seemed to possess the mentality and ability to be able to attack at any moment. And I have often wondered how I should fix it but never got around to it. -_-;; Hopefully this time with a concrete advice and plan of action, I can make this change.

Notes from keiko

Two important comments from tonight:

1) From Tanaka sensei: Don't waver in my feeling (気持ち) and attack. Even if I miss. I have to commit and not waver. 自分の気持ち。I think of doing this all of the time and I never do it. :-p

2) I should be practicing w/ Tanaka sensei at every practice until the exam. I can't believe I didn't realize this one... -_-;;

AUSKF Summer Camp 2008

Some notes from the AUSKF Summer Camp that I can still remember. :p They are from Terachi sensei (寺地) from Tokyo Metropolitan Police (警視庁).

Krikaeshi: dai kyo soku kei  (切り返し：大強速軽)

The priorities of kirikaeshi are in that order. First it's big and correct. Second is power. Third is speed. And finally it's lightness.

Kote men: Not just speed. Having 'impact' on your opponent. (Like how it feels from Arnold and other sensei.)

Kata

#3 uchidachi: The blocks are more pressure. Don't hit. Keep the hands in the center of the body and tip to shidachi's throat. Slight turn of body as you step back.

#7: Uchidachi's tsuki is to the shoulder level

Uchidachi's tsuki in #3 and #7 is not flat, only slight turn. Uchidachi's tsuki in #4 is flat. #4 is aiming for in betw ribs for the right lung. #3 is the solar plexus, #7 is to the shoulder in an aggressive move to intimidate the shidachi.

#6: While responding to shidachi's pressure from gedan, uchidachi keeps the blade straight up-and-down. Don't turn. There is a brief turn for kodachi #2.

懸待一致と捨て身 (kentai icchi and sutemi)

Lately I've received similar advice from different senseis. I am too aggressive. Rather than seme 100% offense all of the time, I need to have some give and take. I need to lessen my seme from time to time to invite my opponent to attack so I can utilize ouji waza. I think this falls under the concept of kentai icchi.

I've been experimenting with this and I think I have been able to do this a bit better. However I got another piece of advice at practice on Tuesday. Tanaka sensei said I am not committing 100% to my attacks. I think I am lacking sutemi. In an attempt to have a more balanced kendo my commitment to my attacks have deteriorated. :-p

Ahhh... hurray for trying to simultaneously fulfill conflicting desires and requirements... ^_^;;

私が最近先生達から同じようなアドバイスを聞きました。いつも１００％前に攻めては駄目。時々攻めをちょっとリラクスして、相手が攻撃できると思います。その時応じ技を応用します。私がこれは懸待一致とおもいます。

稽古の時この概念を練習しました、ちょっとできるかなと思いました。だが、この火曜日の稽古で、田中先生からほかのアドバイスを聞きました。私が打てるの時に、全部を出してませんでした。私が捨て身が足りませんと思います。もっとバランスいい剣道を欲しくでも、打てるの時は１００％しなければなりません。

難しいな。。。 ^_^;;

First practice back at San Jose Dojo

Last night was my first practice back at San Jose Dojo. Went fairly well. I forgot my San Jose zekken though. :-p

Talking to Tanaka sensei after practice he told me that keiko is for practice and improvement. It's not shiai. And I should keep that in mind. I'm not exactly certain what he's trying to tell me. I think he's saying that I'm trying too hard to win, or maybe I'm looking not to loose. The other thing that went through my head was "Do I know what I am, or should be, practicing?" :-p Maybe I was spending too much time in tsubazeriai, looking for opportunities, and he would rather I not spend so much time on that. At least he said my kendo is straight. ^_^

昨日は私がサンホーセに帰った第一回の練習でした。いい稽古でしたと思うけど、ぜっけんが忘れちゃいました。:-p

田中先生のフィードバックは稽古は練習と上手になるのためです。試合じゃありません。そして、私はそれを覚えなければなりません。それはどういうことはよくわかりません。多分私が「負けいけない」の気持ちが強すぎると思います。または鍔ぜり合いの時間が長すぎると思います。少なくとも、先生が私の剣道は真っ直ぐと言いました。^_^

So... I guess I will continue to concentrate on the following 3 things for now:

1) Seme (攻め): I still need to be able to pressure my opponent better, and have a smoother transition into the attack. I want to also practice the backing-off to invite my opponent technique that Sugawara sensei suggested. I tried that last night on Kikunaga sensei with mixed results.

2) Zanshin (残心): My lack of zanshin after certain strikes and not being ready to strike at any time has been pointed out to me repeatedly. This is something I should be able to fix but have not done so. :-(

3) Hikiwaza (引き技): I want to improve my hikiwaza.