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kendo theory

Applied theory

In the last post on the site I discussed about what the term ji-ri-itchi means to me personally on a more macro level, and now I want to discuss a particular example of a theory applied to physical practise. Ken-chu-tai, tai-chu-ken AFAIK the first reference to the teaching of Ken-Tai appears in Yagyu-shinkage ryu’s Hyoho […]

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kendo theory

Ji-ri-itchi

An updated and revised version of this article is available in the kenshi 24/7 publication “Kenkyu and Kufu: reflections towards personal development in kendo” published in June 2014.

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kendo theory

SEME #5: Arimitsu Masaaki

The following is a short translation of a famous sensei’s description of SEME. Seme #5: SEME #5: Arimitsu Masaaki “Kamae with the centre line (the extension of your shinai) being around the area between your opponents chest and throat, all the while energetically pressuring your opponent. However, don’t intentional show this spirit at the end […]

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kendo theory

Ishihara Tadami hanshi’s Important point’s for keiko

The following is short semi-translation of a small introduction piece published from the ZNKRs official kendo magazine Kenso (August 2013). I say only ‘semi-” as there wasn’t much explanation behind the points in the magazine so I’ve liberally translated what there was and then freely added in my own explanations. Feel free to interpret the […]

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kendo theory

SEME #3 and 4: Nishikawa Kiyonori and Sueno Eiji

The following is a short translation of a couple of famous sensei’s description of SEME. SEME #3: Nishikawa Kiyonori “With the extension of your kensen aimed between your opponents throat and chest area keep your kamae in the center. Without hitting or striking the opponents shinai, lightly stick your shinai to theirs. If your opponent […]

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kendo theory

Kendo kotoba

I wandered into the dojo a week or so back, and overnight my sensei had written and taped some kendo-specific kanji to the wall (see picture above). The terms are very commonly used when talking about or describing kendo, but I thought I’d use this this opportunity to go over them here. As an added […]

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kendo theory

The overall construction of modern kendo

The following is a presentation of a couple of charts found in the book ‘Nihon kendo no rekishi’ (The History of Japanese Kendo) that I found interesting and my commentary on them (apart from the charts themselves, this is not a translation). To read more about whats discussed here in more detail, including the background […]

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kendo theory

Seme #2: Sakudo Masao

Already well known in Japan, Osaka sports universities Sakudo sensei is becoming more and more well known outside of the country nowadays, so I thought I’d dig out a piece of kendo literature by him to share with kenshi247 readers. Here is a translation of a short description of ‘seme’ that was originally published in […]

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kendo theory

Two points for daily practise

1. By the time you are in sonkyo you should already have your strategy in place: ‘As soon as you stand up, 1 – seme, 2 – seme, 3 – seme… pressure, pressure, pressure.’ ‘If you want to strike me men go ahead, do it! When you attempt to I will strike your dou.’ ‘Just […]

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kendo theory

Tenouchi for men cutting

Editors comment I have a load of kendo books and magazines at my desk at work. In amongst these I have a couple of kendo-specific scientific sports conditioning and training books. I use these as reference and pick them up for a leaf through quite regularly. Last December I randomly took a picture of a […]