The Concept of Kendo 

Kendo No Rinen, AJKF 1976

“Kendo is a way to discipline the Human Character through the application of the principles of the Katana.”

The Purpose of Practicing Kendo 

Kendo Shuren No Kokorogamae, AJKF 1976

“The purpose of practicing Kendo is: to mold the mind and body, to cultivate a vigorous spirit and through correct and rigid training, to strive for improvement in the art of Kendo, to hold in esteem human courtesy and honor and to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself, thus one will be able to, love his country and society, to contribute to the development of culture and to promote peace and prosperity among all people.”

• Bowing
  • Standing (Ritsurei- When bowing to an opponent you stand straight, keep arms at the side of the body, and bend forwards from the waist at a 15 degree angle while maintaining eye contact.  When bowing to the shomen you bend forward 30 degrees with eyes focusing on the floor.
  • Sitting (zarei- While sitting in seiza on the floor, place both hands in front of your knees.  Your hands will form a triangle with the thumbs forming the base.  While maintaining proper posture, bow forward until your elbows almost touch the ground, then return to original sitting position.
  • Use the springing back power from left little finger to enliven the Kensen. The Power of the left little finger comes from the Seika Tanden. Like holding a slightly open umbrella, Kensen should point towards the opponent’s center line from between the eyes through nose to the solar plexus (pit of the stomach.
  • Like looking from a third person perspective, capture your Maai and correct direction of Kensen. Do not measure the Maai only by crossing of Kensen. You will error due to height and angle.
  • With energy (Kiai and body movements (Taisabaki, ride onto the opponent’s sword.
  • Do not go in and out of Maai as in Shiai. Thrice have a sense of attack (Seme and once sever (break the Maai then again attack.  To come into the striking Maai then to momentarily hesitate or wait is Manuke (blockhead, literally means to drop off of interval.
  • Obey the process of Kendo. It is not Kendo if you omit steps in the process.
  • Bring out voice from the abdomen. Change voice to Kiai. Change Kiai into Spirit/drive (Kihaku. Attack (Seme with spirit, then win. Build your courage (Hara to encroach into Maai until ready to render a Waza. Unless you have superior Seme, do not enter the Issoku Itto no Maai. True Seme is when your opponent senses that he will be slain if he does nothing.
  • Kokoro is the blooming flower, Ki is its scent or an expression. Ki is spiritual power. Face the opponent with vigorous spirit and overwhelm the opponent with Seme that captures the opportunity/opening (Sen.
  • Don’t think “I want to hit, I want to hit.” Have a clear, ordinary, open, composed, alert and unwavering heart. Even when your Shinai is slapped or pushed off center, do not return it right back.
  • Overwhelm with Seme, then capture the instant for Datotsu. It is because the proper moment is not captured, you do unnecessary and wasted hits (Muda Uchi. Do not even once do such wasted hits of hitting afterwards (Ato Uchi. When you think in you head that it is a good time to hit, it is already too late. Rather than knowing “where the good opportunity is,” know “how to create or capture the opportunities.&rdquo
  • Aim for opponent’s start (Debana.Ultimately it’s your instinct. Instinct is based on experience and a clear state of mind, like a polished mirror (Meikyo. For an opponent who does not come out, tempt him to come out. If he still does not come out, lure him by showing an opening. If he still does not come out, attack (Seme him from left and right sides, force in and strike by stepping forward.
  • Do not hit by faking. Do not feint. Pressure the Omote (front and strike the Ura (back. Pressure the Ura and strike the Omote. Pressure the upper and strike the lower. Pressure the lower and strike the upper. For a large opening strike large and deliberately and for a small opening strike small and quickly.
  • Do not think to strike without being struck. It is unsightly to bend the neck when hitting or being hit, or to squat down to block a strike. When opponent captured a good opportunity, do not panic and try to recapture hastily. If you got hit, just think “you got a good point.” and remain dignified. Do not think to hit skillfully or by faking but think to win admirably.
  • At the start of Keiko, say Onegai Shimasu” from the heart and at the end of Keiko say “Arigato Gozaimashita’ truly from the heart. Aim for pleasurable Keiko of Ko Ken Chi Ai (crossing the sword, appreciate the values having a sense of feeling that you want to Keiko with the opponent again.
  • Against someone of lower rank, do not get hit even though you may let him hit.
  • Hit not with the Waza of power but with the power of Waza. Render Waza until it is effective. Attack with all the strength and if unsuccessful, without breathing, immediately attack next, if this is unsuccessful, strike the next… Endure even if it’s hard. When in Aiuchi, do not let a moment pass by and hit next to render the finishing blow.
  • Ouji Waza is skill with form (Yukei, Nuki Waza is a form-less (Mukei skill. Consider both Yukei and Mukei Waza during Keiko.
  • Chikama (near is not always bad. Attacking and defending in Chikama give rise to a variety in Waza. Cultivate a Chikama Keiko. Not just the pushing cut (Oshi Kiri but also do pulling cut (Hiki Giri.
  • Do not block blows out of timidity. Do not just block. There is no blocking Waza. To hit in Suriage Men is to hit while doing Suriage. Kiriotoshi Men means to hit the Men while doing Kiriotoshi. Do in one motion the two steps of Uke and Uchi as in “one is two.” Receiving sword is the striking sword, striking sword is the receiving sword. Lightly receive and strike large.
  • At Tsubazeriai, stretch the back (Koshi and look at the opponent’s right hand.
  •  Against Morote Hidari Jodan, place the Kensen on his left eye.
  • When striking, have the image of the quickness that the moment the Shinai is swung up to strike the Men, it is already hitting the Men. When you are unable to render Men Waza, your Kendo is finished. At Shomen Uchi, direction of the blade (Hasuji must be correct and left fist stopped at breast height. Do not hit Shomen half-heartedly. As if there is the Men Gane (metal grid several cm in the back of the actual Men Gane, throw the body forward to attack/raid (Seme that far.
  • After striking Kote, put the Kensen at the opponent’s throat.
  • When hitting Kote or thrusting Tsuki, do not use as much power as Men or Do Uchi.
  • Use the left shoulder to do Taiatari.
  • When you sense that the opponent is about to thrust Tsuki, keep the Kensen at his throat and move half step forward to the right.
  • When standing Motodachi, do Keiko that will tire you more than the student.
  •  Kirikaeshi is like returning home. At whatever Dan or age you should strive to Keiko splendid Kirikaeshi.
  •  Match the body movement with breathing. Move the body with Ki. Breath with the navel. Think as if the navel protrudes about a foot in front. Place that navel on the Tsuba.
  • Be humble and obedient when trying to understand a good teacher’s instructions. Even if you are taught, it might not be possible to change your heart or body movement in your lifetime. In order not to be so, try your very best to the end without regards to the amount of time needed or continuous effort.  Do not foolishly mistake that just because the teaching is correct and appropriate you are able to master it immediately. There is a saying “If one learns at an old age, one will not rot away even after death.”
  • There is a verse “In Kendo, hit by not hitting, as the water flows.” To hit is not to hit, to not hit is to hit. Being conscious of the hands that hold the Shinai or feet or body, you cannot so easily hit the opponent’s opening quickly. There is not much difference in people’s movements/ability. But, when you forget the hands, forget the feet, forget the body and you are able to reflect the opponent’s heart on to your own, and if you are able to render the Datotsu as the water silently flowing from high to low, it is truly a movement in the state of  “Mu.” This Datotsu is the true Kendo. It is so far away and the road is long but I wish to near it even a little.