Been a while since my last blog post and lots of things have happened kendo-wise.
We've had a lot of visitors to our club, attended many tournaments and had a successful influx of beginners to our club.
One thing i've been reflecting on lately is the fact that I have taken Kendo a lot more seriously and have been taking out my stress/frustrations from my own personal life to vent in Kendo.
This is not the way it should be... I need re-evaluate my way of kendo and also put 110% into training.
One thing useful for everyone to think about is; to not be too sad about little failures and don't be too happy about little successes. They mean little in the long run and are just aims to help you find your way along your kendo career.
Last parting message that I need to personally work on is this:
The most important thing is your eyes. Don't just look at your opponents and react to their movements, but look into their heart and exploit their weakness.
With that - I bid you adieu till next time.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Constant improvement
Well. Since my last post not too many things have happened; however a lot of things for me to reflect upon.
Main things to point out is:
- Attended my first shiai since starting Kendo again; the USYD Cup - Kendo for a cause
- Had Jigeiko with people I had trained with previously
- Beginners at the UWS Kendo Club have now started to wear bogu; so more jigeiko at training! And also having a lot more visitors from other clubs as well; including SKC, USYD & UTS.
My performance at the USYD Cup left a lot to be desired for. I was out of practice; that was clear. My gauge of distance has deteriorated, zanshin isn't as good, and my seme as well ability to control the match has decreased.
Comments from the UTS Sensei was that with my debana kote's, I was fumikomi'ing down into the ground, rather then forward which is why my zanshin was lacking and why I was getting hit a lot. My timing is ok. Distance needs to be worked on but my zanshin with the cut needs to go forward.
I also found that my cuts were not that 'crisp' and clear which is why I didn't score any ippon besides the one against my first match. I need to do more suburi, relax my shoulders and develop my tenouchi more.
After seeking for more advice about what to focus on and what I can improve on; it's a long list but I have nothing but time:
- Become more fierce with my seme rather than my sword.
- Become more in charge of the fight. Rather then being dictated in the fight.
- Need to work on my kiai; more Hayasuburi with one voice is needed I think.
- Need to believe in my own cut. Many times where my cut fell short because I was cutting for the sake of cutting and didn't think that I would be able to hit.
- Zanshin
- Do not wait too long before striking. Take & make openings.
- Relax shoulders.
- Focus on footwork; foot position in kamae (ashigamae); physical and mental balance in Kamae.
- Focus on weight distribution and the explosiveness of the cut (cutting with the hip rather than arms) to improve zanshin.
- More suburi, Kihon cuts, kakari-geiko, uchikomi geiko.
I've got a long list to focus on. But one thing at a time.
I guess one training session I'll focus on one issue, next on the other, etc. That is what mokuso is for. Meditating on what we are going to focus on in training. And to gauge how we have done. To settle the mind and spirit before and after training.
Main things to point out is:
- Attended my first shiai since starting Kendo again; the USYD Cup - Kendo for a cause
- Had Jigeiko with people I had trained with previously
- Beginners at the UWS Kendo Club have now started to wear bogu; so more jigeiko at training! And also having a lot more visitors from other clubs as well; including SKC, USYD & UTS.
My performance at the USYD Cup left a lot to be desired for. I was out of practice; that was clear. My gauge of distance has deteriorated, zanshin isn't as good, and my seme as well ability to control the match has decreased.
Comments from the UTS Sensei was that with my debana kote's, I was fumikomi'ing down into the ground, rather then forward which is why my zanshin was lacking and why I was getting hit a lot. My timing is ok. Distance needs to be worked on but my zanshin with the cut needs to go forward.
I also found that my cuts were not that 'crisp' and clear which is why I didn't score any ippon besides the one against my first match. I need to do more suburi, relax my shoulders and develop my tenouchi more.
After seeking for more advice about what to focus on and what I can improve on; it's a long list but I have nothing but time:
- Become more fierce with my seme rather than my sword.
- Become more in charge of the fight. Rather then being dictated in the fight.
- Need to work on my kiai; more Hayasuburi with one voice is needed I think.
- Need to believe in my own cut. Many times where my cut fell short because I was cutting for the sake of cutting and didn't think that I would be able to hit.
- Zanshin
- Do not wait too long before striking. Take & make openings.
- Relax shoulders.
- Focus on footwork; foot position in kamae (ashigamae); physical and mental balance in Kamae.
- Focus on weight distribution and the explosiveness of the cut (cutting with the hip rather than arms) to improve zanshin.
- More suburi, Kihon cuts, kakari-geiko, uchikomi geiko.
I've got a long list to focus on. But one thing at a time.
I guess one training session I'll focus on one issue, next on the other, etc. That is what mokuso is for. Meditating on what we are going to focus on in training. And to gauge how we have done. To settle the mind and spirit before and after training.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Return to Training
Well. It's been a while since I have blogged here - and also a while since I have done Kendo.
But since 2009 the following things have happened:
- 2010; I have gotten a full time job as a Junior Client Manager at a Tax Accounting Firm.
- 2011; Went to Japan during the Christmas holidays for fun
- 2012; Put down the money for an investment property (BROKE NOW! T_T); got transferred into the Tax Compliance division for 4 days a week (so working for 2 divisions at this point)
- 2013; Started to lift weights with friends, Finished my CA studies, getting my qualifications in a few weeks and going back to kendo : this time training at UWS Kendo Club.
I was introduced to UWS Kendo Club a few weeks back which is a relatively new club that started back towards the end of 2012 and has Colin Minter as sensei. I am still ungraded, despite going to Kendo for about 2-ish years prior to my 2 year break; I am a bit ashamed to admit that to people when they ask for my grade. As to my actual level of skill - I am unsure where I stand.
After the few weeks in training in relearning basics, putting bogu back on, having a mock shiai with UTS Kendo Club, I have realised that I need to improve my level of fitness so that I won't get tired that easily.
Key things I have picked up that I need to personally improve:
- My general health and fitness (need to do more cardio)
- More suburi at home
- Maintaining centre when cutting; as well as when cutting, do not lift in anticipation. Push the shinai through the centre so that they can feel the seme and my intention to cut through the kensen which would make them open up or attack themselves. Also maintaing centre in cuts through doing fumikomi on their right foot using your right foot
- Maintaining proper distance
- More suburi at home
- Cutting with my body instead of with my arms/shoulders.
At the mock shiai in UTS Kendo Club, it was ippon shobu with no time limit in a Pool of 3.
My first opponent got ippon on my men relatively quick.
My second opponent, Adrian Walker, had scored a Men after knocking my shinai out of my hand and I was unstable/stumbling. It was a great experience though. I had lasted a lot longer than I actually thought I would and just gave it my all. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Adrian's general fitness level was a lot better than mine, strength in his cuts, technique and oji-waza where he flicked my shinai out of the way to do hiki men, kote, etc was just simply better than me. There were times where I thought he had scored men on me; but I just kept on pushing because I didn't hear 'Hajime!'.
I had a few attempts at debana kote which didn't work and didn't feel too clean. I just have to improve my kendo! No excuses for me :)
It was a good reintroduction for me to familiarise myself with shiai again. I did get some compliments regarding my posture and kote (for some reason I do get compliments regarding Kote); but interested in the critiques as well. Which basically I think is - more training is needed.
I'm intending to compete in this weekend's USYD Cup - Kendo for a Cause (All profits will be going towards The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative.)
And then Founders Cup is in August. So I shall finally be doing grading in Founders Cup as well as competing with fellow UWS Kendo Club members!
Until next time - Figh Oh!
A special shout out to the UTS kendo club for having us in their Fukuda Cup! Was a great experience and met a lot of great people!
But since 2009 the following things have happened:
- 2010; I have gotten a full time job as a Junior Client Manager at a Tax Accounting Firm.
- 2011; Went to Japan during the Christmas holidays for fun
- 2012; Put down the money for an investment property (BROKE NOW! T_T); got transferred into the Tax Compliance division for 4 days a week (so working for 2 divisions at this point)
- 2013; Started to lift weights with friends, Finished my CA studies, getting my qualifications in a few weeks and going back to kendo : this time training at UWS Kendo Club.
I was introduced to UWS Kendo Club a few weeks back which is a relatively new club that started back towards the end of 2012 and has Colin Minter as sensei. I am still ungraded, despite going to Kendo for about 2-ish years prior to my 2 year break; I am a bit ashamed to admit that to people when they ask for my grade. As to my actual level of skill - I am unsure where I stand.
After the few weeks in training in relearning basics, putting bogu back on, having a mock shiai with UTS Kendo Club, I have realised that I need to improve my level of fitness so that I won't get tired that easily.
Key things I have picked up that I need to personally improve:
- My general health and fitness (need to do more cardio)
- More suburi at home
- Maintaining centre when cutting; as well as when cutting, do not lift in anticipation. Push the shinai through the centre so that they can feel the seme and my intention to cut through the kensen which would make them open up or attack themselves. Also maintaing centre in cuts through doing fumikomi on their right foot using your right foot
- Maintaining proper distance
- More suburi at home
- Cutting with my body instead of with my arms/shoulders.
At the mock shiai in UTS Kendo Club, it was ippon shobu with no time limit in a Pool of 3.
My first opponent got ippon on my men relatively quick.
My second opponent, Adrian Walker, had scored a Men after knocking my shinai out of my hand and I was unstable/stumbling. It was a great experience though. I had lasted a lot longer than I actually thought I would and just gave it my all. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Adrian's general fitness level was a lot better than mine, strength in his cuts, technique and oji-waza where he flicked my shinai out of the way to do hiki men, kote, etc was just simply better than me. There were times where I thought he had scored men on me; but I just kept on pushing because I didn't hear 'Hajime!'.
I had a few attempts at debana kote which didn't work and didn't feel too clean. I just have to improve my kendo! No excuses for me :)
It was a good reintroduction for me to familiarise myself with shiai again. I did get some compliments regarding my posture and kote (for some reason I do get compliments regarding Kote); but interested in the critiques as well. Which basically I think is - more training is needed.
I'm intending to compete in this weekend's USYD Cup - Kendo for a Cause (All profits will be going towards The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative.)
And then Founders Cup is in August. So I shall finally be doing grading in Founders Cup as well as competing with fellow UWS Kendo Club members!
Until next time - Figh Oh!
A special shout out to the UTS kendo club for having us in their Fukuda Cup! Was a great experience and met a lot of great people!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ippo Furyu - A single step without Stopping
Here I write again, after friday training at USYD.
It was quite a different training regime, with the upcoming Uni Games & ACT competition. I would compete, but I have other committments i'm afraid.
Anyway, we started off training with warm up, lasting about 30 minutes or so, and then we had Shiai practice while the beginners sat down and watched us.
Matches came and went in a maximum of 2minute bouts, which was enough for me to work up a sweat. When my match came, I was pumped up. I wasn't thinking of anything, just attacking and showing my spirit, in which both my opponent and I received compliments about from a Sempai. However, one thing that was apparently lacking was zanshin, in respect to our kote strikes.
One thing i'm not sure about what my opponent did, was not maintaining chuudan. I have encountered this technique before, and mainly it was a technique to induce the aite into going for men and then countering that with a debana kote usually. I generally kept my distance where I noticed him creeping closer when employing this technique.
Eventually, I scored a kote off him, and he got a point off me in which the match ended in a draw.
After our shiai practice, it was followed up with Ippon Shobu for 30 seconds with hayasuburi as punishment. I did hayasuburi every rotation unfortunately- mainly drawing but also losing to a person or 2.
This was followed with Free-jigeiko.
One thing that I tried to practice during both Ippon Shobu & Jigeiko, was kote-nuki men. I was able to avoid their kote hits, but wasn't able to push off to complete a good, clean men cut. Oh well, more practice.
This sums it up for now.
My current focus atm is:
- Posture
- Zanshin
- Men cuts (I have been focusing too much on kote cuts lately, so best to go back to the fundamentals)
It was quite a different training regime, with the upcoming Uni Games & ACT competition. I would compete, but I have other committments i'm afraid.
Anyway, we started off training with warm up, lasting about 30 minutes or so, and then we had Shiai practice while the beginners sat down and watched us.
Matches came and went in a maximum of 2minute bouts, which was enough for me to work up a sweat. When my match came, I was pumped up. I wasn't thinking of anything, just attacking and showing my spirit, in which both my opponent and I received compliments about from a Sempai. However, one thing that was apparently lacking was zanshin, in respect to our kote strikes.
One thing i'm not sure about what my opponent did, was not maintaining chuudan. I have encountered this technique before, and mainly it was a technique to induce the aite into going for men and then countering that with a debana kote usually. I generally kept my distance where I noticed him creeping closer when employing this technique.
Eventually, I scored a kote off him, and he got a point off me in which the match ended in a draw.
After our shiai practice, it was followed up with Ippon Shobu for 30 seconds with hayasuburi as punishment. I did hayasuburi every rotation unfortunately- mainly drawing but also losing to a person or 2.
This was followed with Free-jigeiko.
One thing that I tried to practice during both Ippon Shobu & Jigeiko, was kote-nuki men. I was able to avoid their kote hits, but wasn't able to push off to complete a good, clean men cut. Oh well, more practice.
This sums it up for now.
My current focus atm is:
- Posture
- Zanshin
- Men cuts (I have been focusing too much on kote cuts lately, so best to go back to the fundamentals)
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Good training
Yesterday was my first training in a while, I forgot how it felt to train.. I missed it.
It may have been because of the good streak that I had this week, but I felt training was good training for me. My cuts in basic training felt crisp (all except my dou cuts >_>) and I apparently haven't regressed from the time I last played.
A lot of people have improved though, guess it shows through their training. haha, while me and my suburi at home. ;(
Some interestingly new thing we did (well for me) in training today. Seme-ing and fighting for center, and once you feel the pressure of their shinai fighting back, lift up and go for kote as your shinai would be gone, leaving nothing but air as resistance against the aito's shinai, hence opening up kote. Much more efficient than harai waza in my opinion. I tried to use it several times during jigeiko with no avail, but I guess I can always practice it more.
Another thing is Penalty Ippon Shobu. Pretty interesting - I knew what it was from a sempai's blog post, but it was nice to try it out. Albeit, i lost/drew every round so I had to do hayasuburi every match. Oh well, no pain no gain!
Short post today. Anyway, until next training,
Happy training!
- Kent
It may have been because of the good streak that I had this week, but I felt training was good training for me. My cuts in basic training felt crisp (all except my dou cuts >_>) and I apparently haven't regressed from the time I last played.
A lot of people have improved though, guess it shows through their training. haha, while me and my suburi at home. ;(
Some interestingly new thing we did (well for me) in training today. Seme-ing and fighting for center, and once you feel the pressure of their shinai fighting back, lift up and go for kote as your shinai would be gone, leaving nothing but air as resistance against the aito's shinai, hence opening up kote. Much more efficient than harai waza in my opinion. I tried to use it several times during jigeiko with no avail, but I guess I can always practice it more.
Another thing is Penalty Ippon Shobu. Pretty interesting - I knew what it was from a sempai's blog post, but it was nice to try it out. Albeit, i lost/drew every round so I had to do hayasuburi every match. Oh well, no pain no gain!
Short post today. Anyway, until next training,
Happy training!
- Kent
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Ash like snow
I haven't been training for a while, missing last weeks training due to sickness, going to Blue Leaf Dojo a fortnight ago, and not training 3 weeks before that.
Needless to say, I was quite anxious to go training tonight - despite the cold weather. There wasn't much of a big turn out. There were 4 of us including the instructor as he likes us to refer to him. (Whom I must congratulate for obtaining Shodan in Iaido).
Anyway, due to the cold weather, (and to my disappointment being psyched up for training) we did Kata. I wasn't unhappy with doing kata, but I would've preferred Jigeiko/waza training. But all is well, as training is training.
There are several points that Kata and reinforced during tonight. Mainly:
- Control [relating to me mostly, as for some reason I bursted into fits of laughter]
- Zanshin
- "Presence" - This related to projecting one's ki onto the other person. Due to the the lack of physical contact in kata, this would (I Believe) improve one's ability to seme in kendo.
- Distance
- Footwork
I have no idea why I bursted into fits of laughter, but it is something that I will have to correct. I don't believe that the judges, when i'm grading for Ikkyu [as corrected by Don], would appreciate my laughing during Kata.
Zanshin - speaks for itself. Was illustrated several times during the night when one of us did something wrong, we sometimes stopped, instead of going on. Is related straight into kendo. You go for kote but miss. You would attempt another cut (ie, Nidan waza) such as men or any other opening. Why? Because if you have awareness that you didn't make the cut, the aite would also know. However, his guard may let down for a split second and in that split second, you may be able to take that point if you were on guard all the time.
Presence - kinda relating to seme & intention to cut.
Distance - a prevailing problem getting all of us. The differences in height between people during rotation is noticeable. Ie; if they take too much of a big/not big enough step. As has been reiterated many times, Kata is a 'partnership' of trust. There needs to be compensation between the Uchidachi & Shidachi - they need to work together.
Footwork - must I say? haha. Footwork is the fundamentals of kendo and any martial art. Relates to distance as well as presence - depending on how you move (ie; with the shoulders or hara) effects your presence and ultimately, Seme.
These are some of the things that was picked up on tonight. There are more, but I don't have the time to write about all of them.
Anyway, until next time, Happy Kendo-ing!
Needless to say, I was quite anxious to go training tonight - despite the cold weather. There wasn't much of a big turn out. There were 4 of us including the instructor as he likes us to refer to him. (Whom I must congratulate for obtaining Shodan in Iaido).
Anyway, due to the cold weather, (and to my disappointment being psyched up for training) we did Kata. I wasn't unhappy with doing kata, but I would've preferred Jigeiko/waza training. But all is well, as training is training.
There are several points that Kata and reinforced during tonight. Mainly:
- Control [relating to me mostly, as for some reason I bursted into fits of laughter]
- Zanshin
- "Presence" - This related to projecting one's ki onto the other person. Due to the the lack of physical contact in kata, this would (I Believe) improve one's ability to seme in kendo.
- Distance
- Footwork
I have no idea why I bursted into fits of laughter, but it is something that I will have to correct. I don't believe that the judges, when i'm grading for Ikkyu [as corrected by Don], would appreciate my laughing during Kata.
Zanshin - speaks for itself. Was illustrated several times during the night when one of us did something wrong, we sometimes stopped, instead of going on. Is related straight into kendo. You go for kote but miss. You would attempt another cut (ie, Nidan waza) such as men or any other opening. Why? Because if you have awareness that you didn't make the cut, the aite would also know. However, his guard may let down for a split second and in that split second, you may be able to take that point if you were on guard all the time.
Presence - kinda relating to seme & intention to cut.
Distance - a prevailing problem getting all of us. The differences in height between people during rotation is noticeable. Ie; if they take too much of a big/not big enough step. As has been reiterated many times, Kata is a 'partnership' of trust. There needs to be compensation between the Uchidachi & Shidachi - they need to work together.
Footwork - must I say? haha. Footwork is the fundamentals of kendo and any martial art. Relates to distance as well as presence - depending on how you move (ie; with the shoulders or hara) effects your presence and ultimately, Seme.
These are some of the things that was picked up on tonight. There are more, but I don't have the time to write about all of them.
Anyway, until next time, Happy Kendo-ing!
Friday, May 22, 2009
The Flavour of Life
I haven't been training for the past few weeks, nor have I picked up my shinai for an extended period of time. It feels like everything is starting to fall apart; University is getting busy, work wants me to work more hours, need to apply for Graduate jobs, injury is preventing me from training, and just general problems in my life that don't seem to be worth thinking about.. yet I do.
It feels like i've reached one of many plateaus that I'll experience in my life. It doesn't feel nice, where nothing feels like it's going right. I feel that I've changed from the person that I was a few years ago. I was carefree, had little to nothing on my mind, stress-free, etc. Now, it seems like i've regressed into a person that I didn't want to become. Being afraid of making decisions in life.
I guess I need to re-evaluate my position in life... re-prioritise some things. Because, somethings don't seem to be important enough to be worth the hassle it is (no I'm not going to quit kendo). Just something in my life that has gotten me acting weirder & changing. Changing into this person I don't want to be..
Currently, it seems that I'm taking a lot of things on that I may/may not be able to handle. Overloading the number of subjects I take at uni, Working part time, Kendo.. just doesn't seem to have enough time for me to just relax and take a breather. I don't know how everyone else does it. Guess i'm not as great as I thought I would be.
I'll probably resume training again next week depending on how busy I'm going to be; with all the assignments i've got to do.
Until next time, I promise you that there won't be an emo post in the future to come. Hopefully I'll resolve my problems by that time and become a person that people have came to befriend.
Until then,
ciaossu
It feels like i've reached one of many plateaus that I'll experience in my life. It doesn't feel nice, where nothing feels like it's going right. I feel that I've changed from the person that I was a few years ago. I was carefree, had little to nothing on my mind, stress-free, etc. Now, it seems like i've regressed into a person that I didn't want to become. Being afraid of making decisions in life.
I guess I need to re-evaluate my position in life... re-prioritise some things. Because, somethings don't seem to be important enough to be worth the hassle it is (no I'm not going to quit kendo). Just something in my life that has gotten me acting weirder & changing. Changing into this person I don't want to be..
Currently, it seems that I'm taking a lot of things on that I may/may not be able to handle. Overloading the number of subjects I take at uni, Working part time, Kendo.. just doesn't seem to have enough time for me to just relax and take a breather. I don't know how everyone else does it. Guess i'm not as great as I thought I would be.
I'll probably resume training again next week depending on how busy I'm going to be; with all the assignments i've got to do.
Until next time, I promise you that there won't be an emo post in the future to come. Hopefully I'll resolve my problems by that time and become a person that people have came to befriend.
Until then,
ciaossu
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