Things you need to know.

Some benefits of Kendo training

  • Physical conditioning, emotional and mental maturity.
  • Etiquette, courtesy, morality, ethos, respect, empathy.
  • Concentration, focus, attentiveness, eagerness to learn.
  • Agility, dexterity, co-ordination.
  • Endurance, strength, perseverance.
  • Learn proper care of equipment and tools.
  • Promptness, reliability, accountability.
  • Orderliness, neatness.

Basic understandings

  • Make it a habit to sit in SEIZA quietly at the beginning and end of training.
  • Always value the basics.
  • Practice repeatedly and many times; practice with someone formidable.
  • Practice with a proper attitude.
  • Practice with courtesy and respect.
  • Be unobsessed with winning.
  • Practice with desire to study the principles.
  • Have devotion to KENDO and practice with initiative.
  • Practice with determination.
  • Value graceful, elegant, dignified KENDO.
  • Be prepared physically and mentally then practice with eagerness.
  • Know your capabilities and practice accordingly.
  • Learn by experiencing.
  • Always consider ways to improve.
  • Be mindful of everyday life.
  • Be conscious of safety.
  • Be conscious of health and hygiene.
  • Do not overextend yourself unreasonably.
  • For youths, consider how school work and KENDO can be balanced.
  • Grasp the value of watching; humbly learn the merits of others by observing.
  • Always do warming up and cooling down exercises.

About the dojo

  • The term DOJO comes from Buddhism meaning "place to study." This originally referred to the platform the Buddha meditated on.
  • Commit yourself to sincere training when entering the DOJO;
  • appreciate having a place to practice and people to practice with;
  • maintain cleanliness; take care of your own belongings neatly (eg, shoes, clothes).
  • Know the location of KAMIZA, the upper seat. This may be a shrine (SHINDEN), national flag or other symbol. The term KAMIZA can be written in different Japanese characters which mean "upper seat" or "towards the altar." Beginners line up towards the lower end (SHIMOZA) of the dojo.

Preliminary steps

  • Put on the KENDO-GI and HAKAMA properly (CHAKUSO). If you are just beginning, normal casual sportswear will be sufficient.
  • The SHINAI represents a sword (KATANA, KEN) - treat with respect. Do not step over it. When picking it up from the floor or placing it on the floor, drop one knee (the one away from the KAMIZA) to the floor (ORISHIKI) and handle it carefully.
  • Check equipment for damage, especially the SHINAI. A splintered SHINAI is dangerous especially to your opponent. If equipment is damaged ask the SENSEI to help repair it. Eventually, learn to repair your own equipment.
  • Check your physical condition and health. Hygiene is an important aspect of BUDO - learn how to wash KENDO-GI and HAKAMA.
  • Learn the names of SHINAI parts: TSUKA, TSUBA, TSURU, NAKAYUI, KENSEN (SAKIGAWA).
  • KENDO is a Japanese culture (BUNKA); KENJUTSU, the medieval warfare technique, became KENDO as moral, ethical and philosophical aspects of SAMURAI training became part of the art. BUTOKU (virtues of the way of SAMURAI) are considered to be beneficial even today. It has been said that KENDO is spread internationally and people are actively living the spirit of KENDO, so it is a civilisation (BUNMEI).
  • At first, the physical aspect of KENDO may be encouraged. As one progresses to a higher rank, cultural, philosophical and other cognitive and affective aspects become important.
  • It is equally valuable to observe others practice (MITORI GEIKO).
  • Pay attention to others and show consideration when others are practising.
  • For the very young, exercises without SHINAI may help develop agility, strength, co-ordination: dashing, jogging, jumping, walking in squat position, etc.

About rei (Bowing)

  • REI is a way to pay respect and show acknowledgement.
  • Upon entry to the DOJO, enter then REI to the KAMIZA. This is a way to pay respect to the DOJO and to commit yourself to a sincere practice. Keep the back straight and bow from the hip to about 30-degrees with eyes naturally to the floor. Some DOJO have religious symbols (SHINDEN) which represent deities of BUDO. When exiting, REI to the KAMIZA, then exit.
  • Commands may be:
    • KAMIZA NI REI (to the upper seat),
    • KAMIZA NI REI (to the altar),
    • SHOMEN NI REI (to the front),
    • JOZA NI REI (to the upper seat),
    • SHINZEN (SHINZA) NI REI (to the altar),
    • SENSEI NI REI (to the teachers),
    • OTAGAI NI REI (to each other)
  • Acknowledge the SENSEI (teachers), SENPAI (seniors) and each other with REI. This is to show respect and appreciation. To someone senior bow first and rise last, to each other bow together simultaneously.
  • At the start of a class, sit at SEIZA, REI to the KAMIZA, then REI to the SENSEI; at the end, REI to the SENSEI, then REI to the KAMIZA.

About Seiza

  • SEIZA is a formal sitting position; sit in this position whenever possible. Sit in the informal legs-crossed posture ANZA (AGURA) if permitted. Written in another Japanese character SEIZA means to sit quietly (as in MOKUSO).
  • Overlap the big toes only, not the feet; hands on the lap without flaring elbows out, back and neck straight, eyes forward, sit gently so that a sheet of paper between the heels and buttocks could easily be pulled out.
  • When changing direction (e.g., to REI to KAMIZA), move the knees in small increments without putting the hands on the floor.
  • MOKUSO: literally means contemplate in silence; a way to calm the mind, focus and regulate breathing. Gently close the eyes, or close them halfway, (HANGAN) by focusing on the floor about 3 feet in front
  • of you. Breathe gently and deeply from the abdomen (KOKYUHO) and focus your KI in the lower abdomen. Place the hands in front with the left hand over the right and the tips of the thumbs touching (HOKKAI JYOIN).
  • The teachers may say ‘think of nothing', ‘focus', ‘think of something big like the universe', etc. Alternatively, a command "SEIZA" (sit quietly) may be used since the goal is to focus and remove irrelevant thoughts (MUSHIN) rather than contemplate.

Step 1: posture, sonkyo, kamae

  • SAGETO (TEITO), SHIZENTAI: maintain straight posture, shoulders relaxed, eyes forward.
  • TAITO: on left hip, thumb on TSUBA, SHINAI tips 45-degrees down to the back and the TSURU faces downwards.
  • Draw the SHINAI in upward arc, not to the side (command: NUKE TO).
  • SONKYO; keep the back straight when squatting or rising; when rising stand as if a string from the top of the head is being pulling up or like a thin plume of smoke rising from burning incense.
  • CHUDAN NO KAMAE: left grip at the end of the TSUKA in front of the navel; right hand near but not touching the TSUBA; V between the thumb and index finger of both hands over the top of the TSUKA; left grip with the last three fingers holds the SHINAI while the right hand with last two fingers lightly supports it; KENSEN towards the opponent's throat; TSURU is on top; right foot forward; width of a foot between feet; left heel slightly off the floor; left knee straight but not locked.
  • Return the SHINAI to the hip in a reverse of the drawing procedure (command: OSAME TO).

Step 2: ashisabaki (footwork)

  • OKURI ASHI: forward and backward; left and right; later diagonally forward and backward; use SURI ASHI (feet glide on the floor).
  • HIRAKI ASHI: diagonally left and right.

Step 3: stationary shomen uchi

  • FURIKABURI: raise the arms up until the left fist is above the forehead; SHINAI is 45-degrees upwards and back; keep the head straight.
  • Without tilting forward; check in a mirror to see if the SHINAI is straight up.
  • FURIOROSHI, SHOMEN UCHI: left fist in front of chest; right arm extended and parallel to floor; imagine reaching for the summit of a faraway mountain; both hands (TE NO UCHI) snap and squeeze slightly inward in CHAKINSHIBORI (squeezing a napkin in the tea ceremony);
  • express a sharp, loud KIAI "Men! "
  • Later, do both actions in one continuous motion (IKKYODO); no pause between FURIKABURI and SHOMEN UCHI; command is SHOMEN WO UTE

Step 4: okuri ashi shomen uchi

  • FURIKABURI as above.
  • One step forward from the right foot in SURI ASHI as the SHINAI strikes MEN; later motion should be in IKKYODO.
  • At the moment MEN is stuck, express KIAI and bring the left foot up to the proper position.
  • Retreat from the left foot in two small OKURI ASHI steps to your original position; assume CHUDAN NO KAMAE.

Step 5: fumikomi ashi shomen uchi

  • FURIKABURI as above.
  • In IKKYODO, strike MEN while stepping decisively forward from the right foot and expressing KIAI. The step should be large enough to reach the opponent at ISSOKU ITTO NO MAAI (as if stepping over a small brook about 3 feet wide). The striking, KIAI and stomping must be simultaneous (KI-KEN-TAI NO ITCHI)
  • Immediately bring the left foot to the proper position; use quick successive OKURI ASHI to proceed straight forward; relax the hands;
  • keep the arms extended until ready to return to CHUDAN NO KAMAE.
  • Later, from ISSOKU ITTO step a small distance forward and express KI (Yah!), then do the FUMIKOMI.

Step 6: kote uchi, do uchi

  • KOTE: FURIKABURI is as in SHOMEN UCHI; strike the right side KOTE straight; arms extended; eyes to opponent's eyes.
  • DO: FURIKABURI is as in SHOMEN UCHI; bring the SHINAI down in a 45-degree angle to strike DO; HASUJI (direction of the blade) is diagonally down; arms extended; keep both hands on the TSUKA; if necessary the left grip may be brought closer to the right hand; eyes to opponent's eyes.

Step 8: kakari geiko

  • See KIHON. Etc.
  • With the KENDO-GU on, continue the above exercises in the same way, although proper movements may be difficult with new KENDO-GU.
  • Put on or remove the KENDO-GU in SEIZA
  • Traditional DOJO would teach only these KIHON for as long as three years. JIGEIKO or SHIAI were not allowed until the fundamentals were mastered.

Step 7: uchikomi geiko

  • Against a MOTODACHI, practice continuous FUMIKOMI practice: SHOMEN UCHI, KOTE UCHI, DO UCHI.
  • Add RENZOKU WAZA (KOTE MEN, KOTE DO, KOTE MEN DO).
  • Combine the WAZA in a prearranged order (YAKUSOKU GEIKO).

Step 8: kirikaeshi

  • See KIHON. Etc.
  • Perform KIRIKAESHI before and after practice as a warm up and cooling down exercise as well.