Kendo Basics : Kendo Footwork (Ashi Sabaki) - The Kendo Show

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In this episode of The Kendo Show, host Andy Fisher takes us through the basics of Kendo footwork.
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[@eljuano28]

I've known about the existence of Kendo for some time, but only in passing. For the past few days I've been randomly enjoying your videos and reading a lot. I'm an old U.S. Marine Veteran and I can't help but notice a lot of the muscle memory exercises are very similar to close quarters battle fundamental movement drills. Not precisely, but there are nuances shared between them at least at the most basic level. Movements of the lower body smoothe and isolated from the solid upper body platform, direct movement and body/foot alignment toward the target/opponent, movements are deliberate purposeful and fluid, etc.. more just an observation than anything else, but it's still interesting. I'm probably too old to start something like this and a quick search in my area hasn't given me a lot of hope to find a quality club or community nearby, but the combination of discipline, philosophy and controlled violence of action makes me think I would have enjoyed this if I had had the opportunity in my younger life. Thank you for the information.

[@lonefluteplayer]

Ιt's never too late!

[@victorisanski795]

Going to the park to practice what I was taught in my first Kendo class..this video has reminded me exactly what I was told in class. Thanks!

[@coltemory7822]

i know Im kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@bjorndouglas6905]

@Colt Emory I watch on Flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@ellisjoel6109]

@Bjorn Douglas Yea, have been using FlixZone for since april myself :D

[@coltemory7822]

@Bjorn Douglas thank you, signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I really appreciate it !

[@bjorndouglas6905]

@Colt Emory You are welcome =)

[@konradmackowiak6274]

I just started learning iaido, but I do alot of suburi and wanted to learn some adequate footwork and this video helped me alot a gave me an energy shot to do some more training. Thank you very much for being out there !

[@jazzysk8rgirl]

I also study iaido as well as kendo and this is very true !

[@joshuakelley548]

I took my first Kendo lesson today, I absolutely love it, But I definitely respect the people who can move smoothly and fast, because the movements of walking in kendo is so different than “normal” walking , I was having difficulty in the dojo, sliding my front foot forward when advancing, that tissue paper trick really helped, thanks.

[@johnnyhope696]

You make it look so easy, but that is from years of practice. took my first formal class today and man its hard to keep your balance and actually being able to get your right foot to slide forward. my feet are too soft and moist. I need to be more barefooted in my wooden floor house in order to dry and callus my feet, so I can slide on the floor better.

[@joshuakorbut239]

Hey! So I have watched a good amount of your videos. I am new to kendo but not new to kenjitsu or martial arts. Thank you so so much for these videos. You are helping me not feel like such a noob at the dojo, as you may know footwork and posture are very different with kendo opposed to various sword styles. You are Killing it man. Killing it.

[@christianmonroy8753]

Thanks from México

[@EyesLoveyou22]

Thank you for this video, i just started kendo, and this is very helpful for me to practice for my sessions.

[@gleymangyubertjaramilloaba213]

Thank you again, good fundamental video to learn Kendo, most of the people told me that the key of kendo is not swinging the shinai, the crucial thing is footwork (Ashi Sabaki and Fumikomi)

[@AdriDelPino]

Great video, as always! Thanks a lot!

[@Ghostylikes]

Just got into Kendo. I greatly appreciate these videos! Great job and keep em coming!

[@shimakaze798]

So how it going weeb?

[@aeortiz2004]

Clearly well explained...Thank you!

[@lanskyenterprisellc9490]

Thank you million times. Very helpful for improve my skill

[@michaelspyrou1784]

perfect. a natural coach. excellent.

[@bushimotter]

This is so helpful, thank you!

[@mouhsinemeghraoui5159]

Very important, thank you so much.

[@rubentovar1722]

Very educational thanks!

[@WRKF0RAMMO3]

Just found your channel. Awesome videos

[@andizukifoo]

Hi Andy! As a beginner it's a very helpful reference. I'm feeling a bit rushed into keiko as don't know any of the diagonal steps and they are crucial. Again, very helpful! Thank you

[@fsantos50]

Great training video

[@problem-reactionsolution8426]

Great channel

[@dat_toonie]

support you!

[@dangleshockey5475]

Thanks for the videos they are a big help! How far apart do the two feet have to be in terms of horizontal distance? Shoulder width apart or less?

[@pikardo22]

Hi andy, i love your channel! Can you make a video about more advanced wazas, like debana and kaeshi? Greetings from Spain

[@silviaroxana4740]

Me pareció clara la explicacion. 👍

[@erikscoins]

Hi. Thank you for your videos! Im left handed and foot. Is this a problem training Kendo?

[@mori021hz]

Perfect shihan❤

[@saidimrani7420]

شكرا

[@WaybackFencingClub]

Nice and it has a fair bit of similarities with classical European fencing but more square in the shoulders with the 2 handed grip. Is there a lunge?

[@adamwhite4246]

nice vid

[@dtabr]

index 3:00 tissue ashi 4:00 okuri ashi 9:23 ayumi ashi

[@carloscolmenares4054]

hi andy, can you make a video about proper fumikomi and the common mistakes beginners make :) thank you

[@TheKendoShow]

Thank you! I'll add it to the list of videos to make!

[@alejandrogonzalez7129]

I totaly suport this sugestion! :)

[@ichigosedge]

Hi Andy! Thanks for the tipps! Saddly i cannot do the footwork properly. My sensei tolds me that i am using the right leg for the push motion when going forward. I am trying to push with the left foot. But when i raise the right foot in cannot push with the left One. Also i raise up my left heel to high. I am really frustrated, i dont get how to do it right. I really want to learn it but at this point i am thinking about leaving kendo because i am unable to understand to Do the basic footwork D:

[@yewsoonfatt]

hi, what do you shout when your sensei tell you to step backward? it's "Ko" or "Toh"?

[@Yvesyew]

hi! i am curious, when we do ashi sabaki, ushiro means rear right, what do we actually shout? "Ko" or "To" ?

[@TheKendoShow]

In some Dojos they say 'To' - like in the Nihon Kendo Kata, and in others they use the word 'Ato' ;)

[@user-cc3zw8ez9z]

So I have a question for you, what if I’m left handed and southpaw. Right foot forward and right hand on top of the Shinai would be difficult and awkward for me

[@HarryPotter-uv8yp]

Late reply, I know, and I’ll be speaking from the perspective of a former Taekwando and kickboxing instructor, not a kendo practitioner. Generally speaking it’s just a matter of flipping the stance like a mirror. I know it sounds simple. It often is. If Orthodox has you placing your left foot forward, you mirror it and lead in with your right. If you’re supposed to place one hand above the other for right-handed swordsmanship, reverse it as a southpaw. If a slightly more nuanced answer is what you want, think of stances as a way to have your body mechanics capitalize speed, technique, and power behind a blow or maneuver. Standard Right-hand orthodox boxers and martial artists use the fact that their stronger hand is trailing behind the left to use their non-dominant hand for light jabs, preserving the health of their most powerful right-hand blow (which could lose power from injury) and forcing the body to twist so the right can connect (which makes torque from the entire body feed into the blow, increasing its power drastically). All stances and techniques in martial arts have a logic to them, and it’s no less true even if you flip the stance into southpaw (assuming you’re actually a southpaw and not someone trying to pull an Inigo Montoya). My experience has shown that this logic is also true for weapon training. Observe the logic behind the stance, grip, and techniques used in training, then apply them in reverse to maximize your own ability. Good luck!

[@Kirill_Ivanov.]

Is it permissible to turn the left foot to the left? Otherwise, there is simply no stability and I’m falling. And how permissible is it to bend the left leg? For you, I saw a slight bend in the right foot, although this is a mistake (despite the fact that the hakkama makes it difficult to see it ). Or am I wrong? Already exhausted due to discrepancies in various sources.

[@musashi2287]

Кирилл Иванов You can turn your legs to a certain point while maintaining kamai (basic stance) but you need to be careful about your heels though. (Sorry for my bad English, i’ve tried my best)

[@Kirill_Ivanov.]

@@musashi2287 Thank you very much for the answer! Nothing, my English is even worse :)

[@shadowstab5509]

from karate to kendo the footwork is very different.

[@fabiooliveira6873]

Duomo arigatou gosaimassu

[@atsushisaito1384]

Without shinai 2:40 ~ 7:30

[@robertgascoigne3798]

Hi I am new to kendo and enjoy your videos but please stop saying okay

[@TheKendoShow]

Okay!

[@robertgascoigne3798]

Ha ha

[@dafuqmr13]

okay

[@katyakatroll6103]

I truly enjoy Andy saying "Okay" okay!

[@TheNikosawa]

jesus andy get that chipped toth fixed, it triggers my ocd.

[@TheKendoShow]

I have actually had it fixed several times. Every time I fix it, someone Tsuki's me and busts the repair out!

[@Jimbo386000]

That sounds like it hurts...