13 Kendo Basics II: How to Take the Basic Stance of Kendo: Chudan

[@nephraret542]

I tend to choke the sword and hold at the very end of the hilt, my sparring partner usually dual wields and doesn’t do traditional kendo, so I have to accommodate to that. But I usually choke the sword like I do because when needed, it will give me extra length to break through my partners defense. I loved this video, it gave me lots of helpful tips, I didn’t realize how many mistakes were in my posture till now. :)

[@KendoGuide]

Glad to hear that!

[@twig4661]

i have always been fascinated with the stances and look and feel of the Japanese swordsman. thank you for posting an easy to understand video so i can learn kendo.

[@hamzaahmad1345]

to all those who have dojo to practice swords..................... YOU ARE LUCKY to have one. Appreciate it.

[@fatherpucciofficial]

I have a dojo....its called my bedroom

[@Jo_Spri]

Thank you so much !Finally i have found something,where i can learn Kendo.That is so nice of you!!!

[@kucing_abu-abu8loon]

Somehow his method remind me of my karate teacher at my high school. Yes he is strict, very strict method of teaching that not tolerate even a single mistake (commonly to avoid his pupil making a bad habit of doing a wrong stance, block/ strike, etc) but with just simple example and few word from him are enough to make us understand well what he tried to tell to us both for kata team/ kumite team. Sorry for my bad english.

[@metatronyt]

Thank you very much, fatanstic video, I subbed

[@KendoGuide]

You're very welcome!

[@metatronyt]

Hey there thank you for responding. On my channel I have recently made a video about Jōdan no kamae and in that video I also show my Chūdan and my Hassō gamae. I would be honoured if you checked my video out and if you let me know what you think ofthe points I draw on that video and if you think the way I do my kamae is correct, my posture, so to speak. I have only 3 years of kendo experience, so it would be fantastic to have some advice from someone as knowledgeable as you. To express my gratitude I would of course mention you and your channel on one of my videos, and considering the size of my channel, I think it could be beneficial for you as you could get some exposure/visibility, which you surely deserve. Thanks

[@KendoGuide]

Sure! Please direct me to the right video for me to look at. And thanks for your kind words. You have a LOT of subscribers. I certainly appreciate your help. It will definitely help me with introducing the kendo I learned from my great senseis :)

[@metatronyt]

I'm glad to hear that. The video in question is called "Jōdan no Kamae/ Vom Tag/ Posta di Donna/Falcone - HEMA/Kenjutsu Upper Stance Discussed" it's the latest video on my channel. I also do a lot of videos in samurai armour as I own a tosei gusoku samurai armour and I have recently started a whole series on the teaching of Miyamoto Musashi in the go rin no sho, the latest video of which is called "the wind scroll" and it's one I strongly suggest :D Thanks and I hope my shout out will help you, I will make it next time I talk about something Japanese related on my channel.

[@KendoGuide]

Thank you! I will make sure to review your video tomorrow. Unfortunately I am not living off making contents I like so I have another work to deal with. Planning to get back to you with some reviews! Thanks!

[@Demka03]

Greetings, Hiro-san. Thanks alot for your videos. Will you make videos like this one on jodan?

[@KendoGuide]

Demka03 You're welcome! Thank you for your kind words! I am not an expert in Jodan but I might be able to share something. So stay tuned!

[@JulioCesarTinoco]

Thank you Shihan! Very instructive!

[@KendoGuide]

Julio Cesar Tinoco You're welcome! I am not shinan. Shinan is the head of the dojo or school I am not any of them. Plus I do not think Shinan is something we can "call" ourselves. It has be earned and passed on to from the former shinan or the dojo/school.

[@fuzzyninja6496]

Wow I’m glad I rewatch this video, was practicing Sonkyo and realized I was putting my left foot in front over right. Glad I caught this before it was drilled into my head.

[@sebitecs69]

Thank you!

[@RunBlock247]

Are there any videos on fluid attack sequences?

[@Eule153]

Hi sensei I have a question, If I am left-handed do I do the opposite steps

[@KendoGuide]

A short answer is No, you don't do the opposite. A long answer is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6mQkoywZb2SjqM

[@Eule153]

@@KendoGuide okay, thank you for swift answer!!

[@kentkirbymasillones2385]

Thanks nice tutorial I'm a Filipino and I want to learn at least basic cause I think it's good for self defense but can u give me tips how to defeat using a dual wield and how to counter them nice video

[@aikidotrek125]

👍🏾

[@elijahoconnell]

Alright, im right handed but i keep my left hand on top of my right one and lead with my left. I have been doing this for as long as i have been practicing (on purpose) is this fine or absolutely wrong and i should stop? Ive been doing this for about 4 or 5 tears now

[@KendoGuide]

If you want to do kendo, you should stop doing that even though there are no rules about the hand positions.. But if you are doing that for yourself, then there is nothing to stop you. Please read "Why is the left hand more dominant in kendo?" for cultural and historical reasons why we shouldnt switch our hands at www.kendo-guide.com/reasons-why-the-left-hand-is-more-important-in-kendo.html#Can I be left handed and still study kendo?

[@Ladakh]

Hi ! I'm holding the shinai like you. A small part of the tsuka is visible in my left hand BUT... a sensei told me that it's not the proper way I'm lost ! :)

[@KendoGuide]

Ladakh Just a little bit is fine but not a lot. There are always multiple ways to do things so do not get stressed out. I will make a video on this shortly. I was just released from a hospital yesterday evening because of my severe asthma attack. It won't be too long til making the video. But the most important thing is to listen to your sensei!

[@hioniyome30]

Hi I am familiarising myself with the kendo techniques in your videos before signing up for a class. are you teaching Kendo in any dojo in Tokyo?

[@themassacrecat5653]

hi sir.your vids are awesome.i have a question.is it possible to learn from an instructional dvd at home?i dont have time for dojo.thank you

[@KendoGuide]

+theMassacreCAT It is possible to learn the basics. Especially if you are good at copying then the movements can be learned well. But as you may be aware, you need someone to check you because you don't know if you are doing it right or not. And of course, you need a partner one day. Kendo is really to learn to control yourself through sparing with others.

[@themassacrecat5653]

Hiro Imafuji can i do the sparing thing on a punching bag?thanks for the reply

[@KendoGuide]

***** It is not a sparing, isn't it? Punching bags won't hit you back. Through sparing, you can learn how your techniques work on others and how the state of your mind affects your judgement.

[@themassacrecat5653]

Hiro Imafuji thank you very much

[@KendoGuide]

***** You're welcome. Sorry to disappoint you. There are things you just cannot learn without training partners.

[@juragantelor8096]

Today 7 august 2021. Leaving mark sir Still here sir

[@TheMeJustMe75]

What is the hobaba for Jodan? For the style of Kendo I do, Chudan is one to one and half foot lengths between the front heal and back foot toes. So does the hohaba change from style to style? I just found this interesting.

[@KendoGuide]

+TheMeJustMe75 Thanks for your comment and question. What do you mean by "the style of kendo I do"? Do you mean it is the kendo you learned? Or do you do something other than kendo? I hope you mean that the kendo you learned. :) Anyway, hohaba (stance, step, stride) should be different from person to person. I am 178cm (5′ 10″) tall but I place my left big toe is where the right ankle is. Of course, it is not right next to the ankle. :) That is my stance in chudan. It might change in the future but at the moment it is my hohaba. For jodan as well, "the basic" hohaba for jodan should be the reversed stance of your chudan. But again, it should be different from person to person. You should find your own stance that feels comfortable and from learning from senseis. Hope this helps.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Hiro Imafuji Thanks for the reply. I actually study Toyama Ryu/Shinkendo. Our Chudan is one to one and half foot lengths from the front foot heal. The stance will be different from person to person because of an individual's foot length. Our Jodan is what your chudan would be per the hohaba. I am just pointing out a different and find it interesting.

[@KendoGuide]

TheMeJustMe75 Great! Kendo has changed a lot since it took its own course but it is derived from samurai swordsmanship so we share a lot too.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

Hiro Imafuji I definitely agree. Just found the difference in stances interesting.

[@KendoGuide]

TheMeJustMe75 Definitely interesting and we can learn from each other :)

[@rantzntirades1104]

right foot being in front is assuming that the person is right handed, not left handed, right? Edit: I'm also trying to build my own marshal art from the ground up. Been working on it for a couple of years, but not close to where I need to be. I'm gonna study various other marshal arts and incorporate favorable elements into the one I build. I've taken some jiu-jitsu classes, and studied other forms, but I need to study more, preferably marshal arts of chinese and japanese origin.

[@KendoGuide]

Thank you for your comment, masterk6011!😀 The very question about the left handed and kendo is a very common question! That question is frequently asked so I made this video: "South Paw Kendo!?" kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6mQkoywZb2SjqM. Please watch it and when you have questions, let me know! Do you have any experiences in martial arts? I would suggest you should do one particular martial art first as the foundation. I think you can do whatever you want for your personal interest like creating your own style, but unless you are really experienced in one martial art, you would end up with making up the very useless fighting system. My suggestion is to choose one martial art and train yourself until that becomes your second nature.

[@Ladakh]

how is your right knee in kamae ? very bend ? or slightly bend ?

[@KendoGuide]

Ladakh It should be straight. But don't lock it. Naturally straight. Relaxed. Hope this helps!

[@raeskywalker9377]

can you learn more than one martial art at a time? for example can I learn kendo, while I am already doing bojutsu?? I've heard it's better to only practice one but I am a dedicated person to whatever I practice

[@KendoGuide]

+Rae Skywalker Well, it depends on you. It is true some people can and others cannot. We have people who do kendo and iaido or kendo and jodo. Some people do all at once. Others do kendo and koryu (classical martial arts). The important thing is for you to learn them so they can help each other in techniques and understandings of the way. If you get confused, then you should learn one by one until you can figure out how to cope with multiple martial arts at the same time.

[@raeskywalker9377]

+Hiro Imafuji (Kendo For Life) thank you for your response! your videos and advice are very helpful

[@KendoGuide]

Rae Skywalker You're very welcome! Glad that my videos are helpful!

[@TheMeJustMe75]

+Rae Skywalker Yes, you can study more than one style at a time. I study Kendo, Isshinryu Karate, and Escrima. The important thing is to practice so that you have muscle memory. I have found that in the beginning different styles of mess each other up. What I mean by that is you can easily mix up your stances. If you are interested in Kendo, keep in mind that there is Federation Kendo and there is combat Kendo.

[@KendoGuide]

+TheMeJustMe75 Thanks for sharing your opinion. I have a question. What do you mean by federation kendo and combat kendo? Do you mean two different organizations? Please specify. This might confuse many people and it is confusing me. Thanks!

[@dominicsowards487]

I was taught to tuck the pinky of the left hand under the bottom of the sword. But I'm training with a bokken, that might be why.

[@KendoGuide]

Dominic Sowards So your pinky is off the end of the tsuka (handle)?

[@dominicsowards487]

Yes. Tightly tucked under. I've tried both ways, the tucked pinky helps in my opinion.

[@KendoGuide]

+Dominic Sowards Can you send a photo of your grip? I am still not sure what you mean by "tucked under".

[@dominicsowards487]

Sure. I'll take it after work. Could I get you email?

[@KendoGuide]

+Dominic Sowards Cool! I'll PM my email address to you!

[@sephangelo4603]

I use knives, but this is interesting stuff.

[@Eule153]

Lol

[@callouttogod7788]

Is it hard to move with such a stiff stance? shouldn't the feet be further apart?

[@KendoGuide]

+Call out to god It is hard. In kendo, basically we don't train to fight multiple opponents, so we don't need to have our feet apart. When we need to, I am sure that having wider stance would be more useful.

[@callouttogod7788]

+Hiro Imafuji (Kendo For Life) Ok

[@bichlien9533]

​@@KendoGuide ahh.. according to the book of five rings, if I get it well, it is recommended to move in fights as our daily/relaxing walkings. Obviously, such things are far from Kendo and sort of very two different styles/schools/subjects. I learnt that smaller stances in boxing in order to be flexible/fast and save energy for more sessions/heads' defenses, more exaggerated stances in Kendo (I believe), quite wider in Karate-do/Judo because you need such stiff balance in every kicks/throws, yes?

[@mikeyburgin5374]

I came here after watching some guys play irl fruit ninja with a katana

[@mariewolfzorn1787]

This didn’t help me what-so-ever! I asked for Kendo forms not what ever this is!!😠

[@KendoGuide]

Hi Marie. I am so sorry to hear that. I am not sure what you are saying here. Did you ask me to upload videos of the kendo forms? When and how did you ask me? Did you email me or did you leave a comment on KZbin?

[@mariewolfzorn1787]

Hiro Imafuji. Sorry if I came off harsh. It’s just that I had my test the next day so I want to be prepared. And I don’t say anything to ask you . I just looked up Kendo forms and this was what popped up. My sincerest apologies.😶

[@KendoGuide]

I see. You could simply ask. How was the test? Anger and frustration won't solve problems usually :) Here is a playlist of my kata videos. I know it it too late for you but as long as you study kendo, you might find them helpful. kzbin.info/aero/PLmdvM8fwuCxjqowBBvUr2ghwnHzzkp6ej

[@mariewolfzorn1787]

The test went well. Thanks anyway for the kata videos. I will study them. Thank you again.

[@uwurainbow3551]

This was so non toxic which was very surprising for the internet lol

[@juragantelor8096]

Today 7 august 2021. Leaving mark sir Still here sir