[KENDO RANT] - Practicing for 5th Dan?

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[@Kalwei]

I do believe the "big gaps" between gradings are perspective mostly.

[@MrTvolaCZ]

Hi Andy, thanks for doing this show, it is very informative and I like it lot. However I do disagree with one thing you have said in today's episode - you said something in a sense of "if someone injures the oponent, he is only hanskou-ed (or maybe even disqualified) if there was a intention to hurt the other guy" (sorry, not quoting exactly, but that is what I think was the main message). A lot of people think this, but I believe it is not really true. If you dig into the rulebook, you will find a part where it describes the situation when one player is injured and unable to continue the shiai. And it says that if the oponent is responsible for the injury, he is to be made lose the match and disqualified (the other case is he is not responsible or the it is not possible to tell who is, then the injured player will lose the match). OK, so RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INJURY, there is nothing about intention. You can be held responsible even if it was unintentional. I mean if the oponent injured the player by some excessive act of power or something like that, he is responsible even if it he actually did not want to hurt the other guy, but for example, was trying to create an opening (trying too much...). I know that it is somehow dfficult to apply rules to a real situation, there are sometimes contrubuting factors to an injury (like the injured person being in a poor posture before the impact for example, which I think was the case in the last EKC injury example). The story about the mukae tsukied girl seems to be this case, so it makes judging very difficult.

[@TheKendoShow]

Yes, you are correct - I will address this in today's video :)

[@MrTvolaCZ]

The rulebook actually says, that the player is to lose a shiai if he is deemed responsible for the injury of an opponent (that prohibits him from continuing the match), "whether intentionally or not". And also that he is prohibited to participate in the following matches. So in fact it talks about intention too. It is the Article 30 if some wants to look it up.

[@KevinBuckham1]

In regards the tsuki injury, in theory* shouldn't the competitor that performed the tsuki lose? I don't have my regulation book here with me at work, and this reminds me to re-read it again. However, Googling gives me this: Article 30, point 2: In case a competitor is unable to continue the match due to an injury, should the opponent be deemed responsible for the accident, whether intentionally or not, the opponent shall lose the match; whereas, if the cause of the accident cannot be ascertained, the injured competitor shall lose the match. (* - we weren't there, so this is based on our theoretical judgement of an imaginary situation where similar events transpire)

[@Looka89]

Hi Andy, thank you very much for answering my question about the godan grading! Your advice was extensive and really helpful, a lot of things to think about. Hoping this wouldn't bother you with another super long answer, do you think that taking the godan (or any level) grading in jodan would be a good idea (maybe just one of the two jigeiko)? I've been practicing jodan for 6 years, since my sandan, and right now I feel equally comfortable with it as in chudan, like there are a lot of different things I can express with each kamae. On the other side, I really don't want the panel to assume my jodan has been taken in a disrespectful way, as sometimes it is associated with arrogance. Thank you again for you dedication and passion towards what you (we) do, and all of us! Your valuable help is priceless!

[@deadswordsman]

Hi, Andy, a bit weird questions there. 1) On rare occasion, I manage to land a strike at the moment I see an opening, but it's kind of a surprise for me, usually the strikes are good, but I'm caught off-guard and just as equally surprised as my opponent, therefore I'm unable to do proper zanshin. Is there a way to overcome this? 2) When tired (usually happens at the end of keiko), my strikes become monotonous and predictable, they lack sharpness and I do bigger swings. Is there a way or method to keep my strikes short and sharp even when super tired?

[@djaxupjazz]

Thanks Andi for those videos, and your responses. Really appreciate your time and dedication. I've got a question on breathing and specific drills to train the hara and stability of the hara. Is there a special kind of drill you know to train this / improve on this?

[@TheKendoShow]

Hi! Thanks for your comment! I literally just finished filming today's video, so I just missed this question, I'm afraid. But in answer to your question - the best exercises for this are Kirikaeshi and Kakarigeiko ;) Thanks Andy

[@djaxupjazz]

I was afraid of that answer :) Thanks Andi

[@InnerSilence123]

about the tsuki question, I agree, but I also have to add that there is no reason for a 55kg girl to be in a shiai against a 80kg guy. thats also the fault of the people who planned the tournament. anyway I must say that there are many tournaments where girls and guys meet and compete with each other, but its always the kind of invitational or friendly match, so there is nothing so much of importance at stake to take the "win at all costs" kind of attitude. anyway its also the the shimpan fault. IF there is a shiai with this kind of difference or phisical disadvantage to one of the competitors, a well trained shimpan would make sure (or to do everything he can) to prevent any serious injuries from happening, first of all to do a gogi and state this very clearly to all other shimpan to make sure that they are all in the same track so they are very aware of the situation, and make a warning to the bigger competitor if any of this sort of situation even starts to show up. of course, it would be unfair to the bigger competitor to be warned for hansoku if he hasnt done anything wrong, of course if he does correct kendo there is no way for the smaller girl (or anyone for that matter) to end up injured. a missed tsuki hurts, but thats about it, nothing more. so if you ask me, if someone says something like "in a shiai a 55kg girl ended up injured by a 80 kg guy from a missed tsuki" the first thing that I would think is that this happened becouse of inexperienced or poorly trained people. poor organization of the tournament that let this happen, inexperienced shimpan that not only allowed this to happen but also clearly show that they dont know the proper kendo regulation (ive seen many "shimpan" that actually have never read the kendo rule book, there are 3 shimpan and many other people present in the tournament, its ok not to know the rules by heart but at least should be SOMEONE to know that to do in those kind of scenarios and to prepare in advance to the shiai), and also inexperienced competitors, generally speaking, a well trained kendoka would never do that kind of injures to someone even if they miss the tsuki and hit the neck, also an experienced kendoka wouldnt attack men in a timing when it could be countered by tsuki specially in a shiai scenario (also generally speaking). anyway accidents do happen and people do make mistakes, Ive seen experienced senseis or competitors that make a bad judgement and attack men that ends in a counter tsuki, even missed tsukis, but only once ive seen someone getting injured by this kind of dynamic but it wasnt nearily as serious as it happened in the scenario that Andy describes, not even close. actually you could say that it was the other way around, it was a 90-100 kg 25 years old 1,80 meters giant of a man that attacked with all his force a 72 years old 1,60 mt tall 60kg sensei, and the sensei "missed" the tsuki and that beast of a man impaled himself with the senseis shinai and ended up un the floor, he even cried a little bit. so its a completely different situation.

[@yaroxkendo3043]

Thanks for answering to my question. I know your video about blockers, but I always hit his shinai when I try to hit his kote when he blocks. Maai is just weird, I have to control it more with my feet I guess. Anyways, thank you!

[@lukeebsworthy785]

Being a taller kendoka (6'3") who like to fight close, I find that a point that gets me most of the time is when my opponent uses hiki kote, and goes under my shinai rather than over. Check with your sensei if he/she is ok with you using that technique, it may be useful.

[@yaroxkendo3043]

Thank you for that suggestion. I never tried hikikote from below. I will check it out next time :)

[@djaxupjazz]

A great way to strike close distance hiki kote is by pulling your left downwards as you fumikomi backwards, as opposed to extending your hands forward as you propel yourself backwards. Needs some training of course, but it is lightning quick and very hard to see coming. Our county squad coach taught us this one and I've used it to great effect on people that tend to get too close always. another one would be maki waza / maki-otoshi. This is where you turn your shinai around your aites shinai in a barrel roll fashion to get past his kensen. Works best on close targets.