In one of the first weeks, after I just had started practicing jodan, I went up to thank a teacher, as per usual, after finishing a practice and he gave me the following advice:
“It’s a brave path you are starting on and a difficult one. If you really want to learn it, you have to commit to it fully and not just play around.”
He continued: “In order to fully understand whether this kamae is suitable for you, you have to practice it for 4 years, before you can truly judge whether it’s for your or not.
You have to be brave, proud and never show any fear, pain or frustration. If they hit you (and they will), maintain your posture, maintain your kamae and shake it off and do it again. After 2 years, you will be able to score a proper ippon”.
Now, back then, in my almost-nidan mind, I was already scoring ippons, although in hindsight the only reason my shinai got anywhere near peoples head, was probably because my swing was so wobbly that it threw their timing off. But still, I didn’t pay too much attention to the time-line thing, although the rest of the advise was very helpful and I still use it today.
I quickly realized that this was a lot harder than it initially looked and once people became used to me being in jodan, even hitting kyu-grades provided a major challenge and suddenly I started to understand that ’2 year plan’, although I had happily forgotten the ‘ippon’ thing. (Of course I was scoring ippons!)
A few months later, I moved to New Zealand for 13 months, and when I returned to London, that teacher wasn’t around regularly any longer. Some 6 months later, he turned up at Wakaba dojo and I was having a good day. During ji-geiko with him, suddenly this highway of an opportunity appears as I step forward, *Whammo*, I score one of my best men-cuts ever. As I turned around, I realize “Hang on, it’s been 2 years, hasn’t it?”.
Thinking that he has forgotten all about his little speech, I put the thought away again and focused on the practice, but when I went up to thank him, he also went “That was a nice men. It’s been 2 years, hasn’t it?”. When we got the dates worked out, it turned out to have been exactly 2 years.
Now, the 4 years has been and gone and I’m still doing it. I still often have to revert back to the original advice, because it is often a frustrating journey, more so than the ‘chudan journey’, which I also try to keep progressing on.
I will use the this blog to express some of those experience I’ve had with having to learn jodan without a dedicated jodan teacher. This has made it a journey full of detours and maybe by sharing some of my experiences, others can cut their detours short.
Nice one Jakob.
Hello Mr. Schmidt! I find myself in a position similar to that which you describe for the beginning of your ‘jodan journey’: almost ni-dan, without a dedicated jodan teacher and determined to go on no matter what. I am looking forward to reading more from you and listen to some good advice, like I just did. Thanks.
Nice article Batman. I hope the Shodai wannabees read this.
I sometimes do jodan (and nito) in jigeiko, but I don’t focus on them specifically. For a while I felt guilty, like I was being a dilettante. Bu the other day I realised that I’m actually most interested in itto chudan, and am drawn to the other kamae as research for my chudan kendo. For instance a while back I did a whole training session using (sei)nito and found that the biggest difficulty for me was lack of right arm strength: holding that sucker above my head for all that time really took it’s toll. By then end I couldn’t score with it even if I wanted to. This insight is not one I could have come to from just watching nito. b
@Ben Sheppard
Glad you liked it.
I think it’s different in your situation. Once you reach 4th/5th dan, you have a much better idea of what your body is doing (and is supposed to be doing) and are to a larger extent, able to correct yourself.
There’s also a difference in ‘playing in jodan’ and ‘playing with jodan’.I think you can easily play ‘with’ jodan and use the variation in distance , posture and presentation as research for your ‘other’ kamae. (Once you get a decent understanding of what your kamae means).
I will expand more on ‘starting jodan’, but it will mainly be aimed at lower levels.
Dear Jakob,
Thanks for your honest and open insight into the beginning journey of Jodan. As I’ve mentioned in my (lengthy!) response to George’s well-written piece on Jodan renaissance, I have only just begun the Jodan transition some 8 months ago. I would very much appreciate your further insights as I am resolute in my attitude to travel this difficult path and always keen to hear from seasoned campaigners. Like Juandiego says above – teachers and experienced Jodan Kenshi are few and far between… That said, after 6 years of Kendo I am enjoying the journey immensely and after most trainings, I look at my reflected brusied and battered image in the mirror and grin like a fool at having them as a badge of determination!
Thanks again and await the next installment.
Regards,
Nick
PS Say Hi to Big Dave Banbury for me!
Good article Jakob! I;ve always regarded jodan as a, pardon the lack of a better word, “cool” kamae but as a nidan i’ve never felt that i was in any position to start on anything beside chudan. A chronic left calve injury finally pushed me to try jodan. I enjoy learning new kamae but never felt comfortable with it mentally as I’m only 165cm and I often perceive that I’m the odd one out (even though my jodan instructor is a multi time Australian kendo champion) and “who am I to want to do jodan anyway”. Now that my injury is getting better, I’d still like to continue with jodan. Did you have any particular mental issue that you had to overcome?