12th November Kyusha Seminar: Through the eyes of a beginner

We all managed to turn up to the dojo extra early (for once) despite the lingering cold of the morning chill. The nerves caused by the impending grading created a sombre mood in the changing room, particularly among those of us who hadn’t yet experienced a grading day. The worried frowns and fidgety hands were uncalled for though, as the day turned out to be educational and good fun for all.

As a beginner to kendo I had been looking forward to my first grading, impatient to test how far I’d advanced since taking up this all consuming activity of the both the body and mind. The majority of the beginners from Kashi No Ki Kenyu Kai were present and were no doubt experiencing the same emotions as myself. A couple of faces from the recent Takizawa seminar came along as well as other kendoka who had traveled from other parts of the country to attend. Sensei Trevor Chapman put us all at ease from the beginning, explaining to us that we should regard the seminar and grading process as a typical practice session and not concern ourselves with the idea that we were being constantly judged, for this would only make us nervous and take the enjoyment out of our kendo (surely the one of the most important aspects). Sensei Dennis Smith from Liverpool and Graeme Dockwray from Durham were also in attendance as examiners, helped by Phil Whitfield from the Kashi No Ki Kenyu Kai club.

We began with standard men, kote and do cuts, forming teams and attempting to complete as many cuts as possible within our individual fifteen second time periods. This got the blood pumping and provided a healthy bit of competition between the three teams (the team of youngsters won!). After watching us frantically whack each other on the head at high pace, sensei Chapman pointed out to us that we had a shinai and not a 2 by 4 in our hands. Consequently, he broke down the men, kote and do cuts to their individual parts. He told us to focus on the technique of the cut, particularly the footwork and the area to strike with the shinai. I always find that it helps to be reminded of the important basics, as it’s easy to forget and slip into bad habits. Once sensei had reminded us to concentrate on the technique, we continued practising our cuts and applied (or tried to apply!) what we had learned to our kendo. By building, refining and then applying the waza to our kendo, sensei assured us that our level of skill would continue to improve; it certainly made me think about how I approach the varied kendo techniques.

The last hour of the seminar was bokoto practice and an attempt to match the correct technique with the Japanese instructions (difficult for some of us beginners!). Both Dean Wormall and Phil Whitfield of the Kashi No Ki Kenyu Kai club took this practice and assessed us on our competence. By the end of the four hour seminar we had received detailed instruction on building and refining the waza, correctly applying fumikomi, adapting the do strike for opponents of varying sizes and maintaining the correct distances for strikes. All in all, an informative and useful seminar that I’m sure gave all those who attended something positive to apply to their kendo.

At the end of the seminar we were all given our grades and certificates to applause from all who were there. We were all pleased to either advance our grades or receive our first grading as kendoka. We were reminded by sensei Chapman that essentially a certificate with a grading is just a piece of paper, and that we should constantly strive to improve our kendo no matter what level we reach, be it 6th Kyu or 7th Dan. I guess there is always more to learn or improve on in kendo, as there is in all aspects of life. What the grading means to us beginners, in my opinion, is the sense of recognition that we have learned something since the first day that we stepped gingerly into the dojo, staring wide eyed at the screaming madmen in skirts whacking each other with sticks. It also acts as a form of acceptance and a building of brotherhood amongst newcomers who have become hooked on this fascinating and always enthralling art form. We all left with a sense of achievement and a further fuelled desire to improve on what we have already learned.

On behalf of the beginners I would like to thank Sensei Dennis Smith and Graeme Dockwray for taking the time to travel to our dojo to teach us. Many thanks also to Sensei Trevor Chapman, Phil Whitfield and Dean Wormall from Kashi No Ki Kenyu Kai for their instruction.

BY DANIEL LAVERICK