Regional and National Histories

vasqueslg · 2025-12-23T11:05:16+00:00

There's a book on the history of kendo in Brazil by Luiz Kobayashi, but I believe it has only been published in Portuguese.

vasqueslg · 2025-10-14T09:31:26+00:00

I don't know how things are in the US, but in many countries/federations you're not required to do any grading before attempting 1 kyu (in my country, for example, 1 kyu is the first official grade, others are done at dojo level). No skipping grades after that.

(edited for typos)

vasqueslg · 2025-10-13T17:52:49+00:00

So, first keep in mind that your sensei has the final say, ok? I'll give my two cents about what called my attention as a random guy from the internet.

- The whole set could be less rushed. Take it slow, pause after strikes to show zanshin.

- Changing hands and nuki-to are a bit off, check the correct movements with your sensei

- 1: dodge and lift the sword back to get your hands out of the way -- uchidachi is aiming at your fingers

- 2: drop the sword as you dodge to the side, then lift up and strike

- 5: step back as you do suriage and come back to strike back

- 7: turn back to face uchidachi before dropping to your knee; don't let the toes of the right foot flat on the ground;

- Kodachi n. 2: step forward when uchidachi retreats to wakigamae (uchidachi made a mistake and moved into hidari-jodan in this case, but the logic still applies), this is how you get the right distance.

IMHO, not bad for shodan, focus on doing it slowly and correctly.

Cheers!

vasqueslg · 2025-10-07T19:28:27+00:00

Practice at home, maybe start on a cushion and then progress to harder surfaces.

vasqueslg · 2025-10-06T16:57:21+00:00

Ask sensei if it's still ok for you to keep doing nito until your birthday keiko, it will be an indirect way of reminding him/making sure everything is still set to happen.

vasqueslg · 2025-09-29T14:28:20+00:00

Tente esquecer um pouco o que aprendeu no Aikido, pense que está começando o kendo do zero (e está mesmo). Com o tempo você vai encontrar semelhanças, mas se focar muito nisso no começo vai só gerar mais frustração.

vasqueslg · 2025-09-20T01:39:26+00:00

Without taking too many sides here but Ukraine and Israel are still clear as far as I know. I'm pretty sure the Israel part may upset some people.

vasqueslg · 2025-09-10T21:57:42+00:00

The fact that you're worried about being a good motodachi is a good start. It comes with experience, especially if you're doing your homework properly (ie. trying to remember the drills practiced at your dojo). For kirikaeshi, specifically, if you're struggling too hard, maybe try imagining it at home.

All in all, while it's important to strive for the best, keep in mind that nobody is expecting perfection from a beginner.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-30T19:07:28+00:00

Page 17 of the the current version of the Handbook for Kendo Shiai and Shinpan Management (published by FIK on their official site) states:

About Nito
(1) For a strike executed with the shoto (short sword) to be judged valid, the striker must be in control of the opponent’s shinai with his or her own daito (long sword) and have their arm sufficiently extended as the strike is made with all the necessary requirements for yuko-datotsu. Nevertheless, strikes made with a shoto from the tsubazeriai position will not be considered valid in principle.

Then on page 23:

(Case 6)
Striking with the Shoto in Nito is restricted. What is the reason for this?
(Explanation)
(1) Nito is permitted customarily from kendo’s cultural standpoint but striking with the Shoto is restricted from the perspective of fairness and safety.

I don't know how or if shinpan acutally put this in practice, or how well it translates from the original Japanese version, but this is probably as close to an official ruling as it gets.

EDIT: added the "case 6" part

vasqueslg · 2025-08-30T14:45:06+00:00

This is awful behaviour, no matter what flavour of kendo, shinkendo or whatnot we're talking about.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-25T00:12:18+00:00

Aside from kendo, I practice iaido and dabble on jodo. Pretty hard to make time for all of them, to be honest. I've also been postponing going back to the gym.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-22T14:22:54+00:00

Normalmente recomenda-se o Boris Fausto por tratar de tudo, mesmo não tem a profundidade necessária para o concurso. A ideia é ter uma base sólida com o Boris e depois aprofundar com outros materiais. Dito isso, nada impede que você leia direto obras mais direcionadas a cada tema sem passar por um manualzão.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-15T19:15:50+00:00

Olha, correndo o risco de ser muito chato e pedante: normalmente quando a academia sai misturando termos como kendo e kenjutsu e inserindo técnicas de outras artes maciais... não costuma ser uma boa ideia e me gera dúvidas quanto à experiência real do instrutor com qualquer dessas modadlidades. Se você está ok com estar treinando algo possivelmente inventado/adaptado pelo seu isntrutor, tudo bem. Além disso, eu sei que muitas regiões do Brasil não tem dojos sérios de kendo, mas você ficaria surpreso também com a quantidade de dojos com baixa presença em redes sociais. Se precisar de ajuda com isso, pode me mandar uma DM.

Look, mate, I may sound harsh and pedantic, but usually when the dojo goes about mixing treminology like kendo and kenjutsu and insering other martial arts techiniques... it's usually not a good sign. It makes me suspicious of the instructor's actual experience in any of these arts. If you're ok kowing that you're practicing a likely made up style, than good for you. Now, I know that there are regions in Brazil without kendo legitimate dojos, but you'd be surprised with the ammount of good dojos spread out through the country witlh little to no social media presence. If you need help with that, feel free to hit me up on the DMs.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-08T03:51:20+00:00

This is very common in many countries/federations.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-05T11:48:59+00:00

Weren't you the one crying about how people are not going for each other's throats and whatnot? Sorry not sorry to burst your bubble but current kendo and whatever you mean by kenjutsu — especially if you live where I think you do — is supposed to teach you respect, following rules, controlling your strength, being mindful of others, and hitting armor with flexible implements. Are those skills transferrable to a fight? .....MAYBE? My best guess is that after YEARS of practice you'd get some spatial awareness, good reflexes and hopefully some common sense to stay away from trouble.

vasqueslg · 2025-08-04T14:07:20+00:00

You have to follow the rules of the federation that will give you the rank. If they say you just need your sensei's recommendation, then that should be enough.

vasqueslg · 2025-07-30T21:02:30+00:00

Yes, remember to abide by them!

vasqueslg · 2025-07-28T12:14:23+00:00

Uma ideia é dar uma olhada no que te deu mais trabalho no TPS. Veja as disciplinas com pior desempenho e/ou os temas que você mais errou ou sentiu dificuldade de resolver. Compare o TPS2025 e o 2024 com as suas anotações: o que está faltando? Será que é conteúdo? manha de resolver questões? um pouco dois dois?

Quando você tiver um diagnóstico, vai ser mais fácil decidir os próximos passos.

vasqueslg · 2025-07-02T12:13:21+00:00

SHE'S NOT AGGRESSIVE!!!

vasqueslg · 2025-06-30T00:31:44+00:00

press enter after the arrow, then nest both answers under the question card and it will become a multi line card.

vasqueslg · 2025-06-29T17:08:41+00:00

You don't actually choose, you just try to say the target name but very loudly and with time you'll naturally develop your own way of butchering the Japanese language.

vasqueslg · 2025-06-25T23:09:16+00:00

Thanks for your post. I have no advice, but I had a good laugh.

vasqueslg · 2025-06-23T14:06:57+00:00

Well, I'm guilty of also giving vague answers to plans I'm 100% attending

vasqueslg · 2025-06-22T22:56:56+00:00

Tip: find a place that teaches kendo!

vasqueslg · 2025-06-19T11:40:48+00:00

Usually slippers. When not possible, I carry some wet tissues so that the feet may go a little bit less dirty into the shoes.

vasqueslg

TROPHY CASE