slav
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Post by slav on Feb 18, 2008 5:14:41 GMT
Hey all, Well there's finally going to be a shinsa event held in my area for Kendo, so I will be going for my kyu exams on Saturday!! Everybody wish me luck, and I'll keep you all posted! slav
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 18, 2008 5:15:28 GMT
Oh, and I just built myself a kodachi shinai and ordered the Nito Principles DVD from e-bogu, so pretty soon I'll be messin around with two swords on the off days... ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 5:49:10 GMT
Nice one slav, give us all a link if can get one to the actual event. If not mate you could always just post loads of photos or a YOUTUBE link or something.
I love watching kendo, it is good to pick others strengths and weaknesses from observation. It's a great learning experience you should fare well. Good luck as they say.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 12:50:22 GMT
good luck Slav. Definitely let us know how you do. Vids or pics would be great too
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 13:08:30 GMT
Good luck, have a great time.
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 18, 2008 15:35:45 GMT
I'll try to get some video of my sparring and kirkaeshi. One of the guys on the team videos every match any of our players are in. I'll see if he will do that for my shinsa. If not, I'll just get my girlfriend to do it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 16:35:40 GMT
Good luck good buddy.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 17:24:44 GMT
Good luck slavia
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2008 3:31:15 GMT
Good luck, sounds like fun
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 25, 2008 3:39:36 GMT
Well, yesterday was a full day of Kendo; including preparing the gym (since our team was hosting the event, my sensei had us mopping the gym floor and directing traffic outside in the cold wearing our gi and hakama!), followed by several hours of joint-practice, followed by kyu and dan shinsa, followed by a huge Kendo party at a local Chinese reataurant (with all you can eat sushi!) Many kendo players from the area were in attendance, and about 50 were there to undergo promotional exams. During practice I got to spar against a 7th dan player (Ariga-sensei, uncle of the owner of e-bogu.com), which was very...challenging. My examination consisted of a demonstration of performing and receiving kirikaeshi (a common practice drill), followed by two brief sparring sessions (keiko) with two different players. I demonstrated all of this in front of a 6-person panel of high-ranking judges (all Japanese; my sensei is the judge on the far left in the photos/video.) I ended up receiving the rank of 3rd kyu. I was informed that this is quite an accomplishment for a beginner like me. I am very proud! I was able to get some pictures, as well as video of both of my sparring sessions during shinsa: me. my beautiful kamae. (right) performing kirikaeshi. me receiving a men (head) strike during kirikaeshi. And finally, the video. Shown is the majority of both of my keiko sessions. I begin on the right side both times. During the first session, I was concentrating only on good posture and form; whereas during the second I was more focused on my spirit and assertiveness. Notice that I NEVER take a backward step. Note: we are not being scored for points, form is all that matters. The goal is to use the other guy to "show off" your form to the judges, not beat him. I ended up ranking above both of my opponents: Comments appreciated. Thanks for all of your support!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 4:52:02 GMT
Outstanding, Slav. I am glad the day went well for you. Very nice pics and vid. I am hoping to be able to see all the video before my primitive computer connection has a stroke and quits working. I have always wanted to know more about kendo. I have never had the opportunity to visit a school. I did quite a bit of sport fencing and when i look at a kendo match i always want to ask questions about it. could you explain how a kendo match unfolds? This is the only things i know about it (these cold be really wrong so please correct) 1 you have to make the attack with the cord side of the weapon to count 2 you have to call the target area as you attack to count the hit i think that is all i have learned about it so far. It is interesting observing and it looks really different from what i am use to. the opponents stay relatively high and parry and a cut through attack is preferred. any info would be really interesting.
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 25, 2008 5:29:15 GMT
Well, like any other martial art, there is a lot to learn. but basically, a Kendo shiai is a first-to-two-point match. A point is made only when a strike comprises mind and body as one. A point-scoring hit is characterized when a player's shinai strikes the target, his front foot hits the floor, and he calls the target SIMULTANEOUSLY. In other words, accidental strikes do not count, and the strike must be 100% deliberate. Also, the strike must be made with the top 1/3 of the shinai, and with the edge opposing the cord-side. Valid targets in Kendo are the head (men), the wrists (kote), the sides of the body (do), and the throat (tsuki). Notice that in the video, I mainly go for men strikes because this is the most fundamental strike in Kendo, and is most indicative of one's form. Though I do make a good wrist strike at 0:46.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 5:40:46 GMT
thanks for the information. front foot hits the floor at the same time for power in form i suppose. very interesting. There are no such things as cut overs etc where the weapon bends over the parry to hit but doesn't count ? It is a very foreign for to me so excuse me if i ask simple questions. do you use an action against their blade going in for the most part to clear your target for the hit? What is a basic strategy in a bout for you?
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slav
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Post by slav on Feb 25, 2008 6:04:17 GMT
Umm...well there are many different styles and philosophies in Kendo. But generally, the idea is to either strike before the other guy or wait for him to commit to a strike and then make a quicker one yourself. There is some parrying, but most of it is deflection rather than blocking. Basically, you wait for or create an opening and then strike with everything you've got. If you can hold the center line and get your oppponent's sword/stance even the slightest bit open or off-center, you will likely make a good hit. Of course, both players are simultaneously trying to do this so it is much, much harder than it sounds. Not to mention that once you commit to striking, it must be a perfect combo of the three things mentioned above. It's a fight for that perfect inch of distance and a fraction of a degree of alignment, realized within a nanosecond of opportunity. Much easier typed than done. I have a long way to go.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 6:26:14 GMT
Thank you, again Slav. I would love to find a dojo some day to have a close look. Very interesting how styles are particular to the weapon and how it is almost imposible to be universal when it comes to swordsmanship. Other than generally maybe time, distance, speed and power.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2008 7:33:13 GMT
In other words, accidental strikes do not count, and the strike must be 100% deliberate. Also, the strike must be made with the top 1/3 of the shinai, and with the edge opposing the cord-side. Valid targets in Kendo are the head (men), the wrists (kote), the sides of the body (do), and the throat (tsuki). Oh the rules, the rules, the rules ;D. You looked very confident slav, and you had great form mate. There is a kendo class after we train in the same dojo, once one of my fellow Jodoka challenged a kendoka in full armour to come at him. Well this made the semprini hit the fan I tell you, one of the head sempais from my school banished him from ever training with us again explaining quite carefully, " The skills we show you are never to be used in attack, while in our art we train to kill and maim. Kendo is a sport, it is not to the death and therefore you have gone against all our teaching's principles". And do you know what, I never saw him again. I really admire you slav, you practice what you preach and you take an active role in your swordsmanship. All the best in the future mate, please keep us posted.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2008 16:13:45 GMT
Lookin' good there Slav!
makes me want to find a Kendo dojo next and try it. I like the idea of actual contact like that. Controlled and precise.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2008 22:08:58 GMT
Awesome Slavia! I'm happy that it went well , kendo looks so fun, I wish there was a dojo around my town .
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Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2008 17:53:07 GMT
Very nice. Was this your first shinsa? How long have you been practicing for you to get 3-kyu?
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slav
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Post by slav on Mar 6, 2008 8:58:25 GMT
Yes, this was my first shinsa. And I have been training 3-times a week since September.
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