#69: Visiting Sensei's Comments

Today, Itakura Sensei visited our club and gave us some advice and comments in regards to our training.

In no particular order:

• Every cut needs to be 100% the moment you start from when you stand from Sonkyo.
• Use your footwork to cover distance, not your arms and shoulders. Maintain your posture is better for the cut since it is easy to swing your arms than move your body.
• Motodachi during Kirikaeshi must be active, mentally train yourself in counter-strikes every time you block a cut.
• For kihon kote cuts, you do not need to lift up as much above your head as kihon men cut, lift enough to see underneath the triangle of your kote/shinai before cutting down.
• Relax
• For all small cuts, the closer you get to your opponent before you lift, the more you will dominate their space for the attack.
• For small kote cut, footwork should be directional so that your right foot is going to step on your opponents right foot.
• Relax!
• Kiai for small kote cut can be short but sharp/strong.
• Hiki-waza should be "spectacular", good looking/impressive.
• Zanshin for hiki-waza should be big action, finish at chudan strongly and ready for another cut.
• Confidence in every cut.
• Relax!!

Some important parts that I took today were:

• Speed is not important. Younger players who are faster will not defeat experienced players with speed only. It is better to have good posture and conviction in your cuts, speed will come later.
• Do not regret your actions. If you make a cut, do not regret the cut if it fails, but be prepared for the next cut.
• Seme is about dominating your opponents space so that they create openings by being afraid of the domination (either by movement to block, or attacking as the reaction).
• Do not think about the previous cut, or the next one. Here and now.
• Relax your body so you can make the next cut properly.

This is Kendo that we play, it is not physical exercise. This means concentration, understanding, and taking your time to observe your opponent and actions.

It was a very interesting and useful session.