Kendoka from Birmingham, Halifax, Nottingham and Stoke attended, looking forward to a good morning session.
The day started with a kata practice with sensei emphasising various points in each of the forms and as everyone knew the kata there was no time wasted on basic instruction. Sensei's explanations on when and why the AJKF had changed some of the points over the years was informative.
After the kata session Sensei took us through the new bokken forms recently introduced. Here I reproduce Sensei's notes:
Bokoto ni yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho (Training Method of Basic Kendo Skills with Bokuto)
The purpose of this training method is to develop the basic Kendo hitting skills for Beginners. Also it is useful to confirm the correct hitting way for experienced Kendo-ka.
Rei-ho (Courtesy) and Sho-sa (Carriage) of this training method are in accordance with Nippon-Kendo-Kata.
Kakari-te in this training method corresponds to the learner. Moto-dachi corresponds to the instructor.
1. Kihon Ichi, Ippon-uchi no Waza
1) Sho-Men
A strike to the centre of the Men from Issoku-itto-no-ma(medium distance) within one Okuri-ashi footwork.
2) Kote (right Kote)
A strike to the right Kote from To-ma (a bit long distance) within one okuri-ashi.
3) Do (right Do)
A strike to the right Do from Chika-ma (a bit short distance) within one okuri-ashi.
4) Tsuki
A thrust from Chika-ma (a bit short distance) within one okuri-ashi. In this skill, Moto-dachi should step back with one okuri-ashi.
2. Kihon Ni, Ni-san-dan no Waza(Renzoku-waza)
Kote-men
Continuous strike to Kote and Men from To-ma(a bit long distance) within two okuri - ashi.
In this skill, Moto-dachi should step back with two okuri-ashi.
3. Kihon San, Harai waza
Harai-men (Omote-harai-men)
A strike to the Men with deflecting Moto-dachi's Bokuto up to the Moto-dachi's right side from Issoku-Itto within one okuri-ashi.
4. Kihon Yon, Hiki-waza
Hiki-do
At first, Kakari-te strikes Men from Issoku-Itto within one okuri-ashi. Then, Moto-dachi defends the attack with omote-suriage technique (without footwork). Next, Kakari-te closes to Moto-dachi and makes Tsuba-zeri-ai position within one okuri-ashi. After that, Kakari-te pushes down Moto-dachi's Tsuba. If Kakari-te does that, Moto-dachi shall raise up his/her hands and arms. Thereupon, Kakari-te strikes right Do within one okuriashi stepping back.
5. Kihon Go, Nuki-waza
Men-nuki-do
Motodachi strikes Men from Issoku-Itto within one okuri-ashi. At the moment, Kakari-te strikes Moto-dachi's right Do with avoiding the attack within a bit okuri-ashi to the right side (Kakari-te's body and toes should face towards Moto-dachi) .
6. Kihon Roku, Suriage-waza
Kote-suriage-men
Moto-dachi strikes Kakarite's right Kote within one okuri-ashi. Then, Kakari-te deflects the Moto-dachi's striking with using the right side of Kakarite's own bokuto, swinging it upward from below as if drawing an arc (Ura-suriage technique), within one okuri-ashi stepping back. Next, Kakari-te strikes Men within one okuri-ashi. These two Kakarite's movements (suriage and striking) should not be separated.
7. Kihon Nana, Debana-waza
Debana - kote
Moto-dachi raises up his/her bokuto a bit as if he/she is going to strike Men. At the moment, Kakari-te strikes Moto-dachi's right Kote (small movement) within one okuri-ahi.
8. Kihon Hachi, Kaeshi-waza
Men-kaeshi-do
Motodachi strikes Men from Issoku-Itto within one okuri-ashi. Then, Kakari-te defends the attack over his/her head with omote-suriage technique and strikes Moto-dachi's right Do immediately, within a bit okuri-ashi to right side ( Kakari-te's body and toes should face towards Moto-dachi).
9. Kihon Kyu, Uchiotoshi-waza
Do-uchiotoshi-men
Motodachi strikes Kakari-te's right Do. Then Kakari-te strikes Moto-dachi's
Bokuto diagonally downward to the right within one okuri-ashi stepping back to the left side. Next, Kakari-te strikes Men within one okuri-ashi.
In the case of Shikake-waza (offensive skills, Kihon 1-1,1-2,1-3,1-4, 2, 3, 4 and 7), After striking, Kakari-te should show Zan-shin posture (pointing Moto-dachi's throat by the tip of Bokuto within a bit Okuri-ashi stepping back). And then, Kakari-te should step back with one more okuri-ashi to the original position. Also Moto-dachi shoud synchronaize the movement to get back to the original position.
In the case of Oji-waza (defensive skills, Kihon 5, 6, 8 and 9), it does not need Zan-shin. After striking, Kakari-te and Moto-dachi should step back largely and straightly to the Issoku-itto distance each other. After that, if necessary to get back original position (Kihon 5, 8 and 9), Kakari-te and Motodachi should step back between one and three step.
23 Sept 2003 Susumu Nagao
Again I was glad that everyone seemed to have done these before and it proved to be a worthwhile practice.
Next session was devoted to the role of Motodachi.
Sensei explained this very well and we had the opportunity to practice several exercises where Kakari-te first took the role of a less experienced Kendoka then that of a more skilled Kendoka while Motodachi adjusted his role to suit either in accordance with Sensei's instruction. This practice was valuable from the point that I believe it is the duty of all yudansha to help the development of less experienced people and this session was a helpful insight in how to do this.
Finally came 45 minutes of ji-keiko where everyone had the opportunity to fence each other.
I'd like to thank Trevor Chapman for hosting the day and Nagao Sensei for some excellent instruction and I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.
Steve Plimbley, Kagami Shin Kendo