Small steps!

The principle in most martial arts is that you use your opponent’s force to defeat him. In Judo or Aikido you make him push and then use minimal effort to break his balance and throw him. Many people seem to forget that this also applies to kendo. Because in kendo we set out to strike [...]

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Thoughts on ki and seme for Guilherme

The most recent comment  on my blog was from Guilherme, requesting that I use some of my injury induced free time to talk about ki and seme. I have touched on these a number of times already in posts on Tame, Breaking Through, Kiai, kigurai and Kihaku, but separately or together they are subjects that [...]

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Tame

The two comments on “tame” received in response to my post about Chiba sensei’s seminar were in line with the reaction of many people at the event, who had difficulty in understanding the concept of “tame”. I mentioned this to Chiba sensei at the meal after his farewell practice and his reply was that “you [...]

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Breaking Through

Inspired by my recent trip to Kyoto, I taught at the two day Watchet Seminar. The theme of the weekend was “Breaking through your opponents centre” and I was lucky enough to have the senior group to teach. This consisted of candidates for 3rd dan up to current 5th dan holders and rather than look [...]

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4th and 5th dan grading examinations

I have just returned from the annual European Zone Kendo Referees Seminar in Brussels. At the end of the final day, a grading examination was held and I was invited to be part of the panel for 4th and 5th dan. As an examiner, I of course had the opportunity to watch all the candidates [...]

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Stepping Back

I have always found that the easiest time to hit someone is when they step back. This is normally because in the act of doing so, they break concentration and lose their kamae. Theoretically, if your chudan is correct it is impossible for an opponent to strike you. However when you step backwards, particularly when [...]

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Seme in grading examinations

Freshly inspired by Chiba-sensei’s thoughts on seme, I taught at a pre-grading seminar over the weekend. I made sure that every shikake and oji waza drill we practiced, started from making the appropriate opportunity, either by breaking the opponents centre or by inviting him to attack and taking away the point. Many of the students [...]

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Pearls from Chiba sensei!

I have not posted for 2 weeks as I was busy preparing for and then enjoying Chiba sensei’s latest visit to the UK. As always, he imparted a lot of information in a short time, covering correct basics and a whole range of techniques. With such a variety of teaching, I imagine that different people [...]

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Seme

Seme is one of the most complex issues in Kendo and as such I would not presume to try to explain it in detail. For a clear understanding of seme, I would refer anyone to Dr Sotaro Honda’s article on tactics, published on the BKA official web-site. http://www.kendo.org.uk/pmwiki.php/Main/Tacticsinkendo I am aware however, that seme is [...]

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