“discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana” Development of character is the stated goal of kendo. What is the character and sword connection? I think the connection is both simple and complex. The simple connection is that your state of mind and your character affects the effectiveness of your kendo. With kendo training the character is changed. The obvious character developing aspect is extreme hard training that molds a quick responses and the ability to function well past exhaustion, a strong spirit. Character development past the teen years doesn’t stop after kendo practice. The more analogies, and integration you make with kendo techniques and every day events and situations the more your kendo will improve. The reason the legendary Miyamoto Mushashi and other masters were great artists, poets and staunchly religous is that the creative talents and search for the deeper meaning of life resulted in great personal improvements in their kendo. The body is limited by but the mind is infinite, kendo to has no limits as far as improving yourself and greater insights into kendo techniques ancient or new, methods and meaning.
One of my interests in kendo is techniques used by legendary masters. It is not surprising that many of the old techniques are lost either because they are not legal to practice in modern kendo and still others because the method of teaching kendo is still largely a path of self discovery and it up to the student to realize the truth in swordsmanship. Legends ring with stories many schools of specializing in particular styles of kendo. Kendo kata is a collection of the best of best techniques of all the schools of kendo. This is why kendo kata is the bridge for the old kendo and sport kendo, it is the collective memory of how to do some of the best techniques known. So, why practice doing big motions when striking in kata and daily practice and not small motion striking exclusively? I think it is without a doubt that small motion striking existed in ancient times, big motion shows how to cut armor. It gives us the option and a striking range to choose from of how hard to strike with armor or without armor, you can see it in tournament kendo some will strike with a big motion nearly crushing the opponents head even using a shinai. For me kendo kata can be directly used in sport kendo because the techniques have been battle tested over the centuries. The key is the context in which to use each technique, this has been lost over the years, many do not know how to use them choosing to stick with what they know. Hidden in the kendo kata is a wealth of information and wisdom, all aspects of the kata no matter how small has a reason, context and history we just need to understand the meanings and to use them.
The definition of mitori-geiko is: observing the practice of another, learning his or her good points and reflecting and improving upon one’s own kendo. Many years ago our kendo practices at our dojo were very relaxed and not strenuous. Sometimes my one of my senseis would sit quietly on the side just watching the keiko. On one occasion I asked him if he was tired, his response was simple but stuck with me all these years. He said there are two kinds of kendo: ‘doing kendo and watching kendo (mitori-geiko)’. I have come to embrace this idea as essential to kendo training. It is a scientific fact that while watching a sport in which you are trained in doing the neuro and muscular pathways involved in doing that activity are reinforced. Watching also strengthens the visual and sensing portions of practicing kendo. Nuanced techniques can be seen and understood easier just by watching kendo. Thanks to my old sensei many years ago I have incorporated this type of passive kendo or mitori-geiko along with my physical training.
As I grow older day by day it becomes increasingly apparent that what I perceive as fast movement in a younger opponent is a normal speed for that age and my speed is normal for my age. How then is it possible to be faster than a younger person? Every action or movement contains a beginning and an end, every person has a natural rhythm that is unique to that person. Through mental and physical training and using your natural rhythm, attack in between the movements of your opponent beating or finishing the rhythm of your opponent. Always remaining just slightly off rhythm of your opponent, more precisely predicting the beginning or ending of any action or movement a fraction of a second before or after the action is launched or completed. Your strike will not be sucessfull by relying on eye sight completely, instead see with your minds eye, sensing the next strike, cycle of rhythm. It is very important to sense your opponents state of mind, hesitant or determined adapt accordingly and attack precisely crushing their rhythm.
I have a great interest in understanding the methods and wisdom of the great swordsmen of Japan and using that wisdom and knowledge to perfect my kendo.
It is my thought that kendo as it is practiced today is not just a sport and not a pale reflection of what was kenjitsu. I’m sure this is contrary to current thinking in describing sport kendo. We all know of Miyamoto Musashi and his great duel with Sasaki Kojiro. The duel was decisively won by Musashi with a simple wooden boat oar. Granted, Musashi’s skill was unmatched, but killing with a boat oar? Why? Clearly Musashi was a man who thought outside of the box, a master who did not need a steel blade to destory his opponent. I do not dismiss his opponents great skill but Musashi could have killed his opponent with a broom stick. Musashi and many other masters put more emphasis in the mind and body rather than what the actual sword was made of. In sport kendo today we also put more emphasis on the mind and body mechanics rather than dwelling on the bamboo nature of our sword. I have come to realize and understand that all the methods of strategy and all of the teachings of the masters are and can be directly translated to be used in today’s sport kendo. In fact the transition between a live blade to a wooden sword and bamboo sword allows the freedom to experience directly the masters wisdom, we only need to have the courage to use the teachings. Still there are many differences the obvious with a real sword it was life or death there was no room for error or even practice, a point system, the permitted hitting areas, even the small waza used by some kendoka. Mind and body unity is what really gets the point in the end.
Kendo training is very rigorous, and at times the training and practice can be to the point of complete exhaustion. Such training is not merely for physical development. Kendo is not satisfied with a strong enduring body but with a mind, body and character that will function well past what your body says is enough. I think this is really point of the extreme training and hard practices.
In kendo like all sports alot to emphasis is placed on whose the better kendo player, who wins or who loses to whom. I think that the deeper meaning of kendo is whether you approach it as a real life or death sword match. If you are concerned about the outcome and the outcome is that you lose (you die), it is very hard to continue, the let down is tremendous, you mourn over the death of yourself. But if you see that competition as a battle in which you conquer yourself, it makes it easy to let go of life, if you lose (die) with no attachment to life, and fight with no attachment to the outcome. Focused on the task at hand, unconcerned with the future or the past.
Learning kendo is far more nuanced for the people who practice the way of the sword than for people that do not. Suki translated means an “an opening between objects.” In kendo suki is an integral part of training, many exercises are purposed to take advantage of an opening in the defense of an opponent. To create an opening or seeing/sensing an opening is to distract an opponent momentarily, counter strike in the midst of an opponents attack, strike before the opponent is ready to strike or after a strike. It is important to see these exercises as glimpses to what an opening looks like using your mind (third eye). It is only through hard training, internalizing, and sensing suki, only then you can use it to your advantage.
Fudoshin is translated as: immovable heart or immovable mind and stems from the Japanese Buddhist deity: Fudo Myoo destroyer of delusion (attachment). Mushin is a Zen Buddhist expression meaning: mind of no mind. Fudoshin means to have a calm mind an indomitable spirit, flowing not focused on anything in particular, not attached to any physical aspects or mental thoughts, in the midst of calamity this is an ego-less state of mind, free of delusion, free of worrying about winning or losing, a mind not moved by distractions (attachment to any particular thought, emotion or physical aspect.) Mushin is also the same state of mind but it encompasses the physical aspect of not worrying about what technique to use, responding to any opening without conscious effort (no mind), a clear mind. Mushin is purely an intuitive response obtained by rigorous training to an opening in the opponents defense, attacking without hesitation, it is the minds eye that instantly and without thinking sees the correct moment and method of attack, this is the mind of no mind. Fudoshin and Mushin are not lofty, super human powers that only masters experience but experiences we all have had from time to time. Champions and masters are able to sustain fudoshin and mushin consistently.
Maai is one of my favorite subjects in kendo. The translation of maai is: space. The definition of Maai: Proper distancing or timing with respect to one’s partner in a kendo match. In kendo there are three distance catagories: Chikama or close distance, Issoku itto no maai or one step distance and toma or far distance. Issoku Itto no maai or one step distance is the preferred distance because you can see the opponents whole body easily. Toma distance is the generally to far to strike from and few kendoka are able to hit from toma in one step.
With practice you will find your comfort hitting distance which may be the same or different for your oppenents. Maai is not a static distance it is always changing from moment to moment, often it is a transition from far to close and back again. Maintaining a maai position is an advanced level kendo so it takes time to develop. Practice maai so that it is second nature and not a conscious effort to dominate your opponent by keeping just out of reach of your opponents strikes yet within easy reach of your strikes. Another dimension of maai is to control “space.” A faster opponent will travel the same maai striking distance faster than a slow opponent covering the same maai striking distance. Controlling Space infers the ability to read and control time (reaction distance from opponent) time in the fractions of a second it takes an opponent to strike from what ever distance (maai) he is at any given moment. Adjust for slower and faster opponents, avoiding the faster opponents maai striking distance until you are ready to strike and or shorten your kokoro no maai when in maai striking distance.
Kokoro no maai is the term used to describe a distance in which both opponents can easily strike from, yet the opponent can not strike because of an awareness lapse. An awareness lapse can be used to your advantage (giving you time and suki) sensing the opponents state of mind, sensing the awareness or lack of awareness of your opponent.
I have come to understand only now that becoming a better kendo player means to be creative and to find your own techniques.
Over the years, I have sensed that it is necessary to find your own path in kendo, I came across a Japanese word for it Suhari.
Suhari: a natural progression of skill in Kendo. Su is the level wherein the student takes everything taught as sacred and in violable. Ha is the level at which a kendoist begins to add their own understanding to what he learned before. A kendoka has reached ri level when he takes what he has learned, what he has come to know himself and creates his own unique path in the world of kendo.
It is essential to be aware of this natural progression in order to make your kendo better.
I am very busy these days. I am coming out with a water bottle that has an extra long bent straw that can easily be used with your men on, and a new free design of a double shinai kendo dummy that would be great in a dojo. I am working on a low profile kote protector that is not bothersome when wearing. Yes, I think about kendo a lot.