Encouraging beginners – or how to be a successful motodachi

Motodachi illustration by Katsuya Masagaki from my new book

My local dojo is looking at ways to help new kendoka make the transition from beginner’s course to taking part in regular keiko sessions. To this end I am running several motodachi training sessions for the more experience members so they can help and encourage their newer colleagues.

Many people who start kendo do so through structured beginners’ courses where they have the comfort of learning new skills as a group and where they are are not expected to go one-on-one in competition with experienced players. After graduation from a brief period of learning basics they are trussed up in unfamiliar bogu and left to take their chance in jigeiko, often with inexperienced motodachi, who are more concerned about improving their own technique than helping the newbie.

This invariably results in loss of confidence and adds to kendo’s exceptionally high attrition rate. The kendo diary of many aspiring kenshi runs along the lines of: week 1 -start  beginners course, week 6 – buy bogu, week 7- decide not to go to dojo, week 8 –advertise bogu on Ebay.

Thinking about the effort involved in starting such a challenging hobby as kendo it seems a shame that we lose so many students through our own lack of empathy or knowledge of how to best develop them. Traditionally in Japan, most kendoka started as children and there is a natural progression through the school system. Teaching adult beginners is a relatively new aspect of kendo, but it is particularly important in the west where people begin kendo at all ages.

For new kendoka kihon drills in or out of bogu are not particularly threatening. It is when they begin to line up for motodachi geiko against their more experienced dojo mates that the experience can make or break them. One of the biggest problems is that most of us are not taught to be motodachi and we learn through trial and error. There are correct ways to receive kirikaeshi, uchikomi geiko and kakarigeiko and we need to learn these to get the best out of students. Most importantly we need to learn that jigeiko is not a “one size fits all” activity and that we can break it down into gokakugeiko, which takes place between partners of equal level and hikitategeiko, where a senior leads a junior .

Here are a few simple motodachi tips:

• For kirikaeshi make sure that you receive the strikes close to your men. This way you encourage kakarite to attack the correct target.
• In uchikomigeiko wait until kakarite enters the correct distance and try to build “mind pressure” before making the opening. If you show the target when he is out of distance he will develop the habit of running in, rather than learning to make one step one cut.
• In kakarigeiko keep a relaxed , soft chudan and allow kakarite to make his own opportunities.
• In hikitate geiko try to keep  only half a dan’s difference in level between you. Keep your own seme and pressure and by all means go for the first ippon “shodachi”, but encourage kakarite by allowing good strikes to connect.

Acting as motodachi is not just a one sided act of charity, you can develop your own kendo whilst helping others, please see my earlier post on the subject http://wp.me/ptBQt-gx .

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Sutemi and shishin

Most kendoka have heard the term sutemi. Whilst usually translated as sacrifice, the literal meaning is “throw away the seed”. The concept refers to a poem describing a horse chestnut in a fast moving stream. If left whole, it would sink. If the kernel is abandoned, the husk would float with the current. In kendo, sutemi means committing yourself one hundred per cent to an attack without fearing the consequences.

Shishin on the other hand is the state where the mind is preoccupied or dwells on a particular aspect of your or your opponent’s kendo, which makes it impossible for the body to move freely. No prizes for guessing that sutemi is regarded as a desirable element in kendo and shishin is not.

Correct tobikomi men is a practical illustration of sutemi. We enter our opponent’s distance and launch ourselves forward with full spirit and no thought other than hitting men. If our opponent moves away or counters, it doesn’t matter. Once you start a technique you should complete it with all your energy.

In uchikomi-geiko or kakari-geiko it is easy to take this do or die attitude, in shiai or jigeiko  it is more difficult. Very often we worry about our opponent’s reaction to our attack. For some people this causes a general fear of attacking. For others, it results in them stopping mid-technique rather than giving away the point. This “stopping” is my pet hate in keiko. Not only does it strangle many potentially successful shikake waza at birth, but it also robs the stoppers opponent of the opportunity to practise oji-waza.

Many people take the view that shiai is about not losing, but surely the reason for taking part is to win. It could be argued that both equate to the same thing, but the mind-set of winning is about courageously exploiting any opportunity with all your mental and physical power.

In keiko we talk about utte-hansei, utarete-kansya (reflection on how we made a successful strike and gratitude for being hit). This does not mean that we are masochists, but that we learn as much from our opponent’s success as we do from our own.

Of course we do not start any keiko with the intention of being hit. Our objective is to strike first or to break our opponents attack with a successful counter attack, but we can only do this if we have an attacking spirit from the outset

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Kakarigeiko and man-flu

With Uegaki sensei

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I am a keen advocate of the value of kihon training. I also believe it is unreasonable for any instructor to prescribe activities that he or she is not prepared or able to do personally.

Now in my 60’s I am hugely impressed by some of the Japanese sensei of my generation who refuse to act their age. Yamanaka sensei and Uegaki Isao sensei immediately come to mind as role models. I have had the pleasure of training with Uegaki sensei several times in his dojo in Yoshino. He invariably includes kakarigeiko in training sessions for kenshi of all ages and grades, including himself.

I recently resolved to add more kakarigeiko to my own training schedule and if I am going to suffer, so should everyone else.  At last Thursday’s practise in my local dojo, we concluded with 5 or 6 repetitions of kakarigeiko and I felt not only more virtuous but physically better for it.

I had the best of intentions to include kakarigeiko in yesterday’s morning practice at Mumeishi. Unfortunately I woke up with a case of “man-flu” and feeling unable to live up to my own expectations, I kept to the usual kirikaeshi and waza geiko routine before taking my place for motodachigeiko. I am determined however to get back on track as soon as I have stopped coughing and snivelling.

Following Uegaki sensei’s advice and example, I realise that us senior citizens can get as much benefit from kakarigeiko as do our younger, fitter colleagues. The elements that do not change are total commitment and big correct technique. Additionally we oldsters need to pay even more attention to producing strong kiai and seme, correct posture and good zanshin. So albeit slower than it used to be, kakarigeiko can still be a vital component of our training plan.

Whereas in hikitate geiko with less experienced players there is a tendency to rely on ojiwaza, kakarigeiko ensures that you make strong effective shikake waza against every partner. As such, it ensures that you constantly use your whole repertoire of kendo techniques and do not forget the value of making good seme men. The other benefits of this kind of training are increased appetite for a post-keiko beer and the ability to sleep like a baby.

So like any good male cold sufferer, I stopped off at Superdrug on my way home from keiko and collected a carrier bag full of vitamin C tablets, paracetamol, linctus and lozenges. I now plan to retire to bed with these and my Kindle. I will of course be keeping in touch with my wife by phone, sending frequent requests for soup and hot lemon and honey drinks. I should hopefully emerge by Tuesday, like an energised butterfly from a chrysalis ready for more kakarigeiko.

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Back to basics continued

Thank you for completing my poll. As the graphs show, we are quite a conscientous bunch,most of us practising suburi and kirikaeshi at every session. We are less enthusiastic about kakarigeiko and oji waza drills, but overall we like kihon-geiko and want to do more. My supposition that there were lots of fat cats out there who only turned up in time for jigeiko was entirely wrong. What made the results even more interesting is that the bulk of my respondents have at least 5 years experience.

As always, you made some interesting and valid comments. I was particularly interested in Dillon’s thoughts from a “training in Japan perspective”. From my own experience of living and training in Japan, and of still visiting quite frequently, I agree that the onus for adult kendoka is on organising your own kihongeiko if you feel you need it. In the majority of town or city machi dojo that is the case and often the only way to get basic training is by joining the kid’s class.

In university clubs and in police kendo academies such as Tokyo kesicho or Osaka fukei, training consists predominantly of kihon drills, but in many dojo where there kihon training is less formalised, adults still do it either with motodachi, or in the case of some senior kendoka with each other on a “one-on-one” basis”. I have quite frequently been to open keiko sessions and had 15 or 20 minutes of kihon with a friend before joining the jigeiko.

The other option is to seek out sessions taught by sensei who are known to teach basics. Uegaki sensei in Yoshino, although in his mid 60s, survives on a regime of kirikaeshi, kakarigeiko and semegeiko, as of course do his students. I went with him to an asageiko session in Sakai where his teacher, the late Furuya sensei was in charge. The average age of kendoka there must have been over 60 and the average grade 7th dan, with several 8th dans taking turns as kakarite. We did kakarigeiko for an hour!

In Japan, you have access to the best kendo in the World, but that does not mean that everyone there trains to the highest level. There are many dojo where you can turn up once a week and enjoy your jigeiko, relying on the basics you developed in junior high school. There is clearly nothing wrong with this. Kendoka who make an appearance as and when they can, and enjoy their training, are the backbone of Japanese kendo.

Those that make it to the kodansha ranks however, particularly those who reach 8th dan, seldom do so without repeatedly reviewing and polishing their basic technique. And the only way to do this is through repeated kihon practice.

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Zanshin

 The kendo referee’s rulebook describes zanshin as one of the necessary elements of a successful yuko datotsu. In simple terms zanshin is the mental state and physical posture that allows you to respond to a counterattack after you make a strike. If zanshin is not present after an attack in shiai, the point is either ignored by the referees or results in tori keshi, where ippon is awarded and then taken away.

Typically zanshin is the process of going past your opponent after an attack and once you are in safe distance, turning to face him or her in chudan. If you are unable to go through then you need to have the tip of your shinai pointed firmly at their throat or centre.

Most kendoka are aware of the need for zanshin, but many of us do not incorporate correct zanshin into their basic kihon training or in some cases jigeiko.  To work it has to be practiced an essential part of each technique and not occasionally switched on when required.  I often see examples where after a good men strike, the attacker will relax as he or she moves through after striking. You can almost sense a feeling of relief as chudan is dropped as they move past their opponent. I have even seen players release one hand from the shinai after striking.

More often this lack of zanshin is manifested by a slowing of pace and loss of posture after the attack. Another clear indication that zanshin is not present is where a player takes a number of steps forward past their opponent, turns and takes chudan kamae whilst stepping backwards. This is obviously a weak position and he could be easily overwhelmed if his opponent made a strong forward attack at this time.

To ensure that zanshin is there when you need it, you should practice it as an integral part of each technique, even in the most basic of drills. So for example in men uchikomi geiko you should step forward into your opponents distance, strike men, take 3 or 4 steps past your partner, keeping the tip of your shinai forward, then turn, stepping forward in chudan into correct distance. This forward movement should be assertive to the point of becoming your next seme.

Correct kakarigeiko is a great way to develop zanshin as you work on a pattern of seme, strike, go through with correct zanshin, turn, move forward into seme and strike again. If practiced this way zanshin becomes an integral part of each technique, not an additional element for use in shiai or grading examinations.

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“Speak when you are spoken to!”

On my occasional visits to one or other of the kendo message boards, I often see requests for advice or clarification, to which someone invariably posts the response – “ask your sensei”.  This seems to me to be the most logical and accessible way to have questions answered, but obviously many people find it a more daunting option than referring to wiki style resources or asking their peers online. Surely not all kendo instructors are ”grumpy old men”, (no personal comments please), who fill students with fear.

Reflecting on this situation it is worth thinking about the roots of kendo pedagogy. As an essentially Zen martial art, traditionally the onus has been on the student to find his or her own path to enlightenment. Stories of potential disciples sitting for days outside the dojo door begging for admittance are common as are accounts of the uchi-deshi (in-house student) spending months or years just occupied with cleaning and cooking, before being allowed to pick up a weapon. Even post war, there are numerous accounts of beginners spending up to a year on their own practicing suburi before being allowed to join the class.

Certainly during my experience in Japan in the 70s, many high graded teachers were reluctant to hand out advice. Whilst their intentions were obviously benign, their approach to teaching was to act as motodachi for kakarigeiko; allowing correct technique to connect and punishing poor attacks by breaking kakarite’s posture. Some were more approachable than others and were prepared to pass on a few words of encouragement when I waited to thank them personally after the final rei. Others were polite but less outgoing.

The world and kendo with it, has however changed. Kendo is no longer one of two choices for compulsory physical education in Japanese schools, although reintroduction is being discussed. Globally it competes not only with other martial arts, but with a whole range of sports and pastimes. In parallel we have seen a new breed of super-hanshi, people like Chiba sensei and Sumi sensei who are not only superb kendoka, but also great teachers who are happy to explain and coach as well as acting as training partners. Those of us lucky enough to spend time with them are likely to receive a quick, accurate analysis of our kendo strengths and weaknesses and tips on ways to improve.

It is however important that this openness is not abused. Remember that their time is limited; and if they have some advice for you they will tell you. When you cross the dojo to thank them, “arrigatou gozaimashita”, is sufficient. When you are part of a queue to bow your thanks, the last thing you should do is confront them with a list of questions; and never, never stop to ask a question during keiko. If sensei wants to tell you something he will; and you may be lucky enough to be part of a longer discussion later in the pub.

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Kakarigeiko and uchikomigeiko

Most kendoka know the difference between uchikomigeiko and kakarigeiko – in theory. Very few of us do enough of either to be able to perform them correctly. Both form an integral part of Japanese school, university and police training sessions, but in the UK we may do the occasional bit of uchikomigeiko, but seldom push ourselves to do kakarigeiko.

Just to remind ourselves, uchikomigeiko is the practice where motodachi offers kakarite the points to hit, either at his own discretion or in a pre arranged sequence. The objective of the exercise is to build the ability to attack correctly, immediately an opportunity arises. Kakarigeiko on the other hand requires motodachi to stay in chudan, forcing kakarite to make his or her own openings. Kakarigeiko calls for rapid, continuous attacks and if done correctly, cannot be sustained for much more than 30 seconds to a minute.

Motodachi’s role in kakarigeiko is to allow only effective strikes to hit. This can be done just by maintaining and relaxing kamae, or motodachi can take a more proactive stance by punishing unsuccessful attacks; normally using your own harai or osae techniques to knock or push the attackers shinai down, or to the side. This tough-love can be ratcheted up by the use of tai sabaki (moving the body out of line) as kakarite attempts to strike, or by responding to some of the attacks with ojiwaza. Other options are the introduction of taiatari (butsukarigeiko) and the ultimate tactic of responding with your own full on attacks, turning the practice into aikakarigeiko.

Both uchikomigeiko and kakarigeiko can be done in mawarigeiko format, with similarly graded players taking turns as motodachi. The other option is to make them part of shidogeiko where teachers or seniors continue to take the lead role throughout the session.

In Japan, free practice sessions between junior grades and senior instructors invariably finish with uchikomigeiko or kakarigeiko. The rule used to be that as the junior, you do your best to take a creditable ippon or two, but once sensei has swatted you four or five times, it is your signal to move into hyper mode and attack non-stop. Teachers do of course use discretion over the intensity and length of these sessions and will push a young fit advanced player much harder than they would a less experienced or older player.

Whereas in my twenties I was expected to exhaust myself before the end of every keiko, the hachidan sensei that I am now occasionally privileged to practice with me, let me off with a few token men-uchi.

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Is less more?

Mochida sensei

Recently watching Sumi sensei teach a series of drills where kakarite makes a rapid succession of attacks as motodachi blocks, I started to think about the apparent contradiction in kendo where we train to make multiple strikes but seek the perfection of a single perfect men cut.

Most of the sensei who have written about kendo have prefaced their thoughts with the fact that kendo evolved from “life and death” sword fighting, where one strike made the clear difference between victory and defeat. We are advised in preparation for the higher dan examinations that we need to make only one or two successful men attacks. In shiai or enbu the ideal is to continue to exude pressure and patient confidence, and then attack just at the right, and possibly only opportunity. If you scan Youtube for videos of the late 10th dan sensei, you can see some perfect examples.

Often however there are examples of full-on kendo where the winner achieves his objective through a constant barrage of strikes. I have seen this happen regularly in shiai and in grading examinations, including those at which I have been on the judging panel. I can also recall post grading wash-up discussions with other judges who felt that a candidate had “done too much”. However, there is no logic in penalising someone for making numerous attacks, particularly if timing and form is correct.

My own rationale on this dilemma, is that in an evenly matched shiai where both players have strong physical kamae and equally strong attacking spirit, it is difficult to find an opportunity to attack. There are numerous examples in high ranking kendo shiai where nothing happens until late into encho and then the contest is won on a momentary chance. If one opponent is obviously more skilled or mentally stronger than the other (the two elements often go together), then there is more chance of seeing someone battered into submission.

In terms of our day to day training, it makes sense to practise to attack quickly and constantly. The only word of warning is not to go so fast that we lose correct balance, posture and ki-ken-tai-ichi. Instead we should aim to build up speed so that we can attack any given opportunity. This is why we practise kakarigeiko.

If we can train to a level where we are ready to instantly strike, it does not matter if we overwhelm our opponent with a rapid burst of energy or make the opportunity for the single perfect strike.

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Learning to love kakarigeiko

I am taking my first tentative steps back into kendo after time off nursing my broken wrist. I still do not have a full range of movement and it hurts if I put too much pressure on it or try to extend my hand in anything more ambitious than an up and down motion. However having reached new depths of boredom and frustration through lack of practice, I decided that there must be something I can do in the dojo.

Whilst I have always found kendo practice much more enjoyable than going to the gym, trundling along on the treadmill has at least given me some cardio-vascular exercise during my time away. Bobbing up and down on a machine whilst watching MTV is still, to my mind, no replacement for keiko, so I am itching to get back to my normal kendo schedule.

It is easier to list the things that I can’t do than the things I can.  I can’t risk receiving tai-atari,  I can’t turn my wrist to receive kiri-kaeshi or perform kaeshi waza and I can’t hit dou, which is especially frustrating as my favourite technique is kaeshi-dou. Tsuki is also not feasible, so I am left with the options of attacking kote and men. Under the circumstances, jigeiko is not possible, so it is a good chance to get back to basics.

The most obvious way to do this is through prearranged yakusoku geiko type men and kote drills, which I would incorporate into any session, injured or not. The bigger challenge is – what to do when the rest of the class are enjoying jigeiko. I can still be of some use as motodachi, offering opportunities to hit in controlled uchikomigeiko, but when it is my turn as kakarite, I am dependant on the experience of my opponent to stretch me, but not take me out of my safety zone. As many of my dojo mates are less experienced, it is unfair to give them this responsibility, therefore my best strategy is to perform kakarigeiko.

As I am sure you know, whereas in uchikomigeiko motodachi offers you the opportunity to attack, in kakarigeiko, you make your own opportunity and timing. Typically too, kakarigeiko is harder, faster and continuous. Of course you need to make allowances for age and physical condition in kakarigeiko, but to be of value it has to be done with full commitment and spirit. Thinking back to my time as a young kendoka in Japan, I can remember gritting my teeth and praying for the drum to signal the end of each kakarigeiko session. Now I can only think how much more fun it is than watching MTV from a treadmill.

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Making the most of motodachi!

Motodachi’s job is to enable kakarite to practice technique correctly in the best timing and distance for his or her level. Whether receiving kirikaeshi, uchikomigeiko, kakarigeiko or waza geiko, motodachi should  dictate the opportunity, making clear sharp openings for kakarite to attack.

It is impossible to do this without maintaining strong mind contact and building up pressure between you and the attacker. Only when you are in tune with each other should you give openings for your opponent to strike. These should be obvious and consistent but subtle. Move the shinai point to the right to receive men and to the left for kote. Raise the shinai slightly for dou.

Timing is crucial. Do not stand around showing a target when kakarite is out of distance. Meet his shinai pressure with stronger pressure and open quickly as he reaches distance or makes seme.  If you are acting as motodachi for a partner trying oji-waza, you should attack with total commitment.  A lazy motodachi is no fun to practice with. Unless you give it 100 per cent, kakarite soon loses momentum.

One of the biggest challenges for motodachi is knowing how hard to stretch his opponent in kakarigeiko. In this situation the receiver can throw in countless variables, escalating the practice from acting as a target, to employing oji-waza and ai-uchi, making tai-atari, through to breaking technique and posture by knocking down the shinai at the point of attack. All of these are valid and useful when used appropriately. The key is that you should aim to encourage and not destroy kakarite’s kendo. This may sound contradictory, but treatment that would confuse and deflate a less experience player will normally make a strong kendoka stronger and more determined.

My own method is to step up the pressure against experienced younger, fitter partners, generally giving the hardest time to national team members. In all cases the exercise should be short and dynamic. When kakarite starts breathing hard, it is time to stop. Kakarigeiko should always finish on a high with kakarite making a final, successful ippon.

So what’s in it for motodachi? I often hear senior people complain that they can’t improve because they are perpetually on the high side. I have asked higher ranked teachers about this in the past and with their advice come up with my own formula to get my own benefit from receiving. As well as the obvious opportunities to occasionally try my own oji-waza, I try to conduct each exercise with full spirit. I constantly think about seme, so that the moment I release pressure to allow an opening could equally be a chance for my own shikake-waza. When I allow an attack to succeed, I mentally make a counter attack.

 I also try to work on my own distance and zanshin by keeping in good contact distance throughout the session.  Perhaps it is not as personally gratifying as three minutes with hanshi, but it certainly beats hanging around like a sandbag.

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