I have written on several occasions about the benefits to be gained from practicing kirikaeshi. This time I wanted to share some thoughts on just how much kirikaeshi can tell others about your kendo.
I got home last night after the Watchet kendo seminar and grading. In the past in the UK, it was only necessary to include kirikaeshi in grading exams up to third dan. Now to align with other European kendo countries, its inclusion has been extended to 4th dan examinations. With this in mind we did some work on kirikaeshi over the weekend and then as a grading panellist I watched 3 hours of it on Sunday, so as you can imagine, the topic is fresh in my mind.
It really is a very good indicator of an individual’s overall kendo level. A demonstration of kirikaeshi is not affected by the relative strength of your opponent, it is a simple showcase for your kendo basics. It gives examiners a clear view of your ability to cut correctly with tenouchi, your footwork and ki- ken- tai-itchi and the strength of your kiai.
When as an examiner you watch kirikaeshi the first thing you notice is whether or not the candidate is demonstrating “full spirit”. A big kiai and the ability to make successive strikes in one breath will immediately get the panel on side. It is also easy to see whether the attacker is making correct cuts to the target. For yoko men this should be a a 45 degree angle to the temple and the right arm should be extended and the left hand should remain in the centre of his or her dou mune.
Many kendoka get into the habit of aiming at the opponent’s shinai rather than really trying to hit the target. When they are practising in their own dojo, they should get motodachi to receive the strike as close as possible to their men to encourage a correct cutting action and hasuji. It is also obvious if correct distance is being kept. This is usually a good indicator of someone’s ability to control their footwork.
One question I was asked several times over the weekend was whether tai-atari should be included in kirikaeshi in gradings. There are various schools of thought, but the simple answer is include it if you have to and don’t if you don’t. For instance if motodachi offers strong resistance, make tai-atari, if he goes back after your first strike, then there is no need.
Of course there are other elements of kendo such as timing, opportunity, seme and the understanding of riai that are not visible in kirikaeshi, which is why we go on to a jigeiko demonstration, but kirikaeshi certainly gives the panel a quick overview of a candidates level of competence with kendo’s fundamentals.
kendoinfo.net 
Sensei, besides the UK, what other countries (that you know of) include kirikaeshi in their dan gradings? Until now, I have only seen this being done in the UK.
The EKF requires kirikaeshi to be performed in gradings up to 4th dan. I have been involved this year with the exams in Brussels and in Clermont Ferrand and this was the case, as it was at the grading following this years Sugo Cup in Malmo.
Brazil includes kirikaeshi too in the dan gradings up to 3rd dan
I wish there was an agreement in relation to tai-atari, it’s difficult to keep up as every dojo does it differently.
Although we practice it vigorously, kirikaeshi is not included in grading examinations above ikkyu in the U.S. (at least in the three regional Federations that I have participated or watched shinsa).
I keep seeing the idea that tai-atari is not completely important in kirikaiesh, but I know from personal experience, I really dislike when motodachi steps back straight after the first men cut. This leads to what I’ve experienced in the past where motodachi steps back before the men cut lands. If you are doing a full speed men cut towards motodachi you will continue forward therefore I always thought that the tai-atari was there to stop you or attempt to stop you. I also was under the impression that not only is the attacker being graded on their cuts, motodachi is being graded on their ability to receive and act as a good motodachi. If not, why is there a grading question for nidan specifically on the subject?
I know that there are some things that are dojo specific but being as kirikaiesh is a fundamental grading requirement, should there not be a definite description of what is being looked at for both motodachi and kikarite?
I’ve seen lots of articles talking about not doing tai-atari in kirikaiesh and speaking as a relative noobie, this just creates uncertainty and doubt amongst the kendo community.
Thank you for the very interesting article!
I’d like to note that while a demonstration of kirikaeshi is not affected by the relative strength of your opponent, it is affected by his performance as a motodachi. For my 2nd dan exam I got an opponent who received my strikes rather far from his men and as if he was striking my shinai down with quite some power. You might have experienced this “striking down” in drills when you continue kirikaeshi until motodatchi gives you a stop signal by receiveng the last cut a little harder. It was extremely diffucult for me to execute a proper tenouchi and saying the truth I was pretty annoyed. The jitsugi part was a lot more easier.
This is a very interesting essay. I believe that kirikaeshi should be required for all grading examinationss because it contains almost everything one needs to see/hear/know with regard to individuals’ abilities and their understanding of kendo or other martial arts. In atarashii naginata (which I studied for a number of years), the analogous practice is called uchikaeshi geiko. By observing the individual’s hasuji, use of ma-ai, hyoshi and choshi, and listening to their kokyu and kiai, it becomes pretty clear what their level is in the art.
In Western Canada we do kirikaeshi up to 5 dan. If I’m on the panel I am watching quite closely for ikkyu and shodan. If they don’t have a good kirikaeshi then their jitsugi is not likely to be good either. Frankly I could do ikkyu on kirikaeshi alone.
If kirikaeshi is to be the complete exercise I’ve been led to believe over the last 15 years then tai atari should be a prerequisite not a choice.
For the Southern California Kendo Federation, kirikaeshi is required for Yondan exam only (except for yonkyu exam). The spring shintsa resulted in 1 pass out of 14.
Thank you sensei. Do you have advice for practicing kirikaesi by yourself, out of the dojo?
It’s not easy to do without a motodachi, but if you have the space you can imagine an opponent, otherwise just practice naname suburi.