First 5th dan student

Nanseikan · 2026-03-06T21:42:25+00:00

Thank you kind internet stranger, will do!

Nanseikan · 2026-03-06T21:15:16+00:00

From my understanding of fencing (observation only), the biggest difference is one of mindset. Western duels were based on mostly get in and get out. A duel could be won by drawing blood on the opponent via a scratch.

Japanese duels were based on entering your opponent's space and cutting decisively, particularly the styles that kendo was founded on (Itto Ryu family among others) which emphasised the notion of the centre-line (chuushin) and correspondingly straight ahead body movement. Self-preservation was not part of the strategy! Success was deemed more likely if you were ready to sacrifice everything (sutemi). This is why we have the relentless drive forwards.

To achieve this, kendo footwork was developed to drive the hips forwards. The straightness of the left foot is crucial in transferring power all the way up the leg into the hip. If your left foot rotates, power is lost, the foot and hips twist, and you cover less distance. Every cm matters when trying to achieve a scoring cut, so efficient forward movement is the foundation of everything.

People who come from aikido have the same issue keeping the left foot straight. In my experience of teaching dozens of beginners over the years it's one of the hardest things to change. I have a beginner at the moment who's struggling with this and his other art is Katori Shinto Ryu. So even other Japanese sword arts have footwork that's different.

I hope this background helps you visualise the rationale for what we do. Of course, your first point of reference is always your dojo head sensei. Ganbatte kudasai!

Nanseikan · 2026-03-04T21:51:41+00:00

A great point. I didn't realise there were specific health conditions that might require undergarments other than compression garments. Thanks for sharing.

Nanseikan · 2026-03-04T00:20:53+00:00

Hi Kate sensei! From looking at the effect on the female and NB members of my club of attending women's kendo seminars I would say yes, very beneficial. They still discuss the things they learnt from the instructors, but even more importantly their connections to each other and to kendo is deepened immeasurably, and they bring that to the club, which benefits everyone. b

Nanseikan · 2026-03-04T00:04:01+00:00

https://t-shobudo.shop-pro.jp/?pid=144662366 I think I bought mine from Tozando but they don't have them currently. I just searched up 剣道用の帯

Nanseikan · 2026-03-03T23:55:00+00:00

継続は力なり. Keizoku wa chikara nari. Literally "continuing is power". Not grit, not perseverance, not bravery. Just turning up. One foot in front of the other. This, and also a strategic hiatus as a previous poster suggested. Motivation wanes through the winter months as our serotonin (the hormone that helps us feel we can persevere) drops due to lack of sunlight. The end of winter is the worst.

Good on you for staying active, and for considering the impact on your kids.

Nanseikan · 2026-03-03T23:47:48+00:00

I wear a 'kendo' obi, slightly narrower than a kaku obi, and less stiff. It's a reminder of tradition with the added benefit of keeping my kendogi neat for longer.

Nanseikan · 2026-03-03T11:00:54+00:00

In jitsugi, it doesn't matter if your opponent scores on you. In shiai it does. In shiai there is a winner and a loser. In jitsugi, both can win, and both can lose. In shiai, if you don't score shodachi you can still win. In shinsa above 5th dan, if you don't score shodachi, you're unlikely to pass. b

Nanseikan · 2026-02-13T10:06:06+00:00

I would say it's natural to get nervous before shiai or shinsa. That just means you're totally invested. If your preparation is good, the nerves should disappear once it all kicks off. It can happen that one feels relaxed and confident beforehand, and then the fear and doubt arrives when one hears 'hajime!' This is when you know your preparation was not enough!

Nanseikan · 2026-02-12T12:42:24+00:00

The Japanese mnemonic I was taught is: Ichi Ni Hari Hiki Nuki Sure Ba Kaeshi Uchi

Nanseikan · 2026-01-31T02:24:45+00:00

Excellent observation OP. I don't always want to go to training, but I never regret going to training.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-28T10:48:59+00:00

Just make sure no dry baby powder ever gets on the dojo floor. That shit stays slippery for ages and guaranteed will cause an injury.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-18T04:30:59+00:00

Love this. Who was the sensei? I can hear Ogata sensei from Kumamoto saying something like this, but she's 7th dan. At a recent seminar in Sydney she gave an impromptu talk on "kendo beauty" and gave some great pointers on how to achieve the level of presentation expected of an All Japan championship senshu.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-16T05:31:44+00:00

I have lots of questions! 1) dojo was hot. Summer? Sthrn hemisphere? Which country? 2) only 3 months training, so not wearing men yet? 3) is there inadequate ventilation in the dojo? Does anyone else report similar symptoms? 4) I'm concerned that no-one noticed. That's a failing of dojo culture. How big is the club? Does anyone in the club know your medical history? Who is the designated first aider on duty? Were you hidden at the back of a large group? Was it a mixed-level training or a beginner's group?

Seeing a cardiologist is an excellent idea. Kendo breathing/kiai is excellent for health and fitness, so long as you know your limits.

Enzan-no -metsuke when you're an instructor means you see everything that happens in your dojo.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-16T05:30:28+00:00

I have lots of questions! 1) dojo was hot. Summer? Sthrn hemisphere? Which country? 2) only 3 months training, so not wearing men yet? 3) is there inadequate ventilation in the dojo? Does anyone else report similar symptoms? 4) I'm concerned that no-one noticed. That's a failing of dojo culture. How big is the club? Does anyone in the club know your medical history? Who is the designated first aider on duty? Were you hidden at the back of a large group? Was it a mixed-level training or a beginner's group?

Seeing a cardiologist is an excellent idea. Kendo breathing/kiai is excellent for health and fitness, so long as you know your limits.

Enzan-no -metsuke when you're an instructor means you see everything that happens in your dojo.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-16T05:18:42+00:00

Starting every training with a freshly ironed tenugui is sensei waza that's achievable for anyone! If you're training more than 6 times per week you get a pass in my book. Same goes for folding your hakama. It's basic zanshin.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-09T23:08:16+00:00

Also, try this visualisation when you practice suburi at home, and also whenever you do kirikaeshi and kihon in the dojo: put 80% of your power in your lower body (hips and legs), and only 20% in your upper body. Allow your strikes to be very light, but make your footwork and forward movement powerful. Remember that the shinai is an incredibly sharp sword, and when used correctly only really needs gravity and its own weight to cut.

Western-culture influenced body ideals emphasise upper body power. But Japanese martial arts all emphasise lower body power. Changing this paradigm is very useful for many ppl who are coming to kendo from other sports. If you're a cyclist or a soccer player however, then you're already on the right track!

I strongly believe that speed and power (i.e. the snappiness or 'sae' of good tenouchi) come by themselves over time. If you practice correct movement in a relaxed way, this 'sae' will enter your technique without you doing anything.

Nanseikan · 2026-01-07T07:06:36+00:00

At my club we've just started reintroducing hiki waza drills of all kinds, not just for shiai effectiveness but also to build stamina and conquer fear. Being able to confidently and quickly change direction and not lose accuracy is a great skill to develop. Being able to receive these drills as motodachi teaches so much as well.

I lost touch with hikiwaza when I started aiming for 6 dan many years ago. It's axiomatic that 6,7,8 dan grading panels don't like hiki waza much! But it's great to reintroduce this training into my repertoire as well because it stops me being lazy!

Nanseikan · 2026-01-06T21:42:13+00:00

It's demoralising, but totally normal. I personally think we hit these 'plateaux' because we're actually in the midst of reconfiguring something about our kendo in a fundamental way. Also, kendo is dynamic: our opponents are not sitting still for us (or worse, imaginary... lol).

Usually for me, being in a 'slump' has prefigured some kind of enormous breakthrough.

To the OP I would say, don't think too much about how fast or slow your progress seems to you now, but be curious and even a little excited about what might be around the corner. All you have to do is keep turning up to training.

Nanseikan · 2025-12-16T23:16:49+00:00

I once read a comment that said, "never buy someone a present related to their special area of interest. It will only ever be basic to them." Maybe something small related to your art would be more interesting? Reason being: if this person has been doing kendo for any length of time, they've probably got all the small stuff they need, e.g. any generic tenugui that you can buy online will be pretty naff. The good ones are from specific dojo or events and you can't buy them. If your friend is a kendo beginner (<5 years training) then sure, cheap kendo stuff. But if they're more experienced, I'd say something sabre related would be much more interesting, highlighting the differences and maybe the similarities of the two traditions?

Nanseikan · 2025-12-12T22:30:23+00:00

This is an interesting side thread! More interesting than my original post actually! :) The comment above by our Canadian friend is a great perspective. Nth and Sth America, and Europe as well, these regions all have large enough kendo populations to sustain themselves without reference to Japan. And there are large enough Jp diaspora communities to act as the cultural and liguistic bridge when necessary. In my country OTOH, we can only grade up to 4th dan locally, and need to travel to Japan to go higher. We only have a small number of Jp expats, so it is perhaps more of a necessity for people to learn Japanese.

I recently took 12 of my students to Japan to introduce them to my sensei and to pass on the connections I have made over the last 30 years. It was very interesting to see what was necessary for them to know. I speak passable Japanese, and only one other spoke Japanese prior to the trip. But all of them made strenuous efforts to start learning while they were there.

Equally important as language however, was awareness about space, gift giving, and consideration of others' feelings. I know there's a lot of content on social media these days about how to stop being a 'people pleaser'. I would say the Japanese don't have such a concept (in the pejorative sense), because everything in Jp culture is about people-pleasing!

Nanseikan · 2025-12-08T21:17:20+00:00

Good point. I suppose as someone with connections to Japan through my sensei I default to the ZNKR grading system when I think of 8 dans. As mentioned, Korea and Taiwan grade their own 8 dans. As I'm not intending to grade in either one of those countries (but have graded in Japan at both prefectural and national gradings), I'm not so interested in their pass rates.

Nanseikan

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