As a followup on the article on the Transition of Kendo, I present another of Takizawa Kozo hanshi’s charts. This is different from the one before and works from the bottom-up and shows you what you need to do to in order to acquire great kendo. Again, I offer no explanation, simply a translation. Please […]
As a followup on the article of Takizawa Kozo hanshi a while back, I present a translated chart of his that shows how kendo has transformed/evolved over the years. I wont attempt to explain it, I will simply present and translate it; I leave any conclusions to yourself. Please click on the chart to see […]
This is the final part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 5. 4. The essential mechanism for striking Lastly, I would like to discuss […]
This is the fourth part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 4. 3. Mai (間合) and ma (間) MAI is the physical space between […]
This is the third part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 3. (2). From “technique kendo” and “power kendo” to “spirit kendo” The steps […]
This is the second part in a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo. To see the rest of the published series plus a bio on Morishima sensei, please click here. 心の修行と現代剣道 Pursing the spirit and modern kendo PART 2. 2. The road to regenerate kendo (* due to length, this section […]
This is the start of a five-part series that translates a lecture made by Morishima Tateo sensei in December 2007. The speech was made to senior kendo sensei and its theme was about the state of modern kendo, and what can be done to change it. A brief bio of Morishima sensei can be found […]
Ippon (n.) The act of successfully scoring a waza in kendo. The act of striking with ki-ken-tai-no-itchi.See ki-ken-tai-no-itchi and yuko-datotsu. Ki-ken-tai-no-itchi (n.) A term which expresses an important element in moving for offense and defense; it is mainly used in teaching striking moves. Ki is spirit, ken refers to the handling of the shinai, and […]
(a.k.a.Kendo and you: what it means and how you approach it at various points in your life) I started kendo at the comparatively late age of 19 (I’m 35 now) and, with only 16 years of practise under my belt, I can say with no false humility that my experience is pretty shallow… considering that […]
The tale “Neko no Myojutsu” is from an old budo fable written by the samurai Niwa Jurozaemon Tadaaki (pen name Issai Chozanshi, 1659-1741) in 1727. To quote William Scott Wilson: “Little is known about the man.. but he was clearly acquainted with swordsmanship, philosophy, and art, and had made an extensive study of Buddhism, Confucianism, […]