Fencers Try to Keep Up with Kendōkas | SELF
SELF・21 minutes read
Instructors at the dojo have extensive experience in kendo, teaching etiquette, footwork, and sword techniques, with participants learning proper stances, movements, and strikes through practice and challenges, culminating in a mini tournament to showcase their skills and progress.
Insights
- In kendo, proper form and technique are crucial, with a focus on footwork, stance, and precise strikes targeting specific areas for effective hits.
- Kendō emphasizes the fusion of body, spirit, and sword through vocal expression and synchronized movements, requiring participants to master etiquette, footwork, and offensive techniques to engage in well-timed attacks and counters effectively.
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Recent questions
What is kendo?
Japanese martial art using bamboo swords.
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Summary
00:00
"Kendo Basics: Etiquette, Stance, Strikes, Techniques"
- Instructors at the dojo have extensive experience in kendo, with years of practice and high-ranking black belts.
- The first challenge involves learning kendo etiquette, footwork basics, and sword swinging techniques.
- Proper kendo stance involves keeping the shinai on the left side, heels close together, and drawing the sword with specific foot positioning.
- Kendo movement emphasizes using ankles for forward and backward motion, with shoulder involvement in swinging the sword.
- Yelling or "ki" is essential in kendo to express spirit and synchronize body, spirit, and sword during strikes.
- Participants find footwork challenging due to differences from fencing, such as straight legs and sliding movements.
- Gripping the shinai involves specific hand positions and finger alignment for effective strikes.
- Footwork practice includes four steps forward and turning, incorporating "ki" for spirit expression.
- Basic kendo strikes target specific areas like the head, wrist, and torso, requiring proper form, spirit, and body engagement.
- Offensive techniques in kendo involve creating openings, close-contact strikes, and specific target areas for effective hits.
18:10
Kendō: Precision Strikes and Strategic Counters
- Participants were surprised by the power and precision of strikes in kendō, drawing parallels to fencing techniques.
- The challenge involved countering opponent strikes with well-timed and executed attacks, focusing on specific strikes like men and kote.
- Detailed instructions were given on footwork, stance, and striking techniques, emphasizing the importance of initiating hits rather than waiting.
- Participants practiced dodging and countering strikes, adjusting their stance and distance to effectively execute techniques.
- A mini tournament was held to combine all learned skills, with clear rules on scoring points and the end of the match, showcasing the progression and application of kendō techniques.
