“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 You become a better human being but another aspect 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. Without character development of a pure heart and clear mind higher levels of kendo expertise is not possible. 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 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.
It is not surprising that many of the old techniques are lost either because they are not legal to practice in modern kendo. Legends ring with stories many schools of specializing in particular styles of kendo. Kendo kata is a collective memory of how to do some of the best kendo techniques known. So, why practice doing big (waza) motions when striking in kata and daily practice and not small motion striking exclusively? I think it is without a doubt that small (waza) motion striking existed in ancient times. Practicing both big and small waza gives us the option and a striking range to choose from of how hard to strike with armor or without armor. Small waza is also practiced in kendo kata, in ‘Ropponme’ or kata number six is a small kote waza out of place with the big waza in the rest of the kendo kata. 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. Kendo kata techniques are not museum pieces of old kendo but battle tested, death causing techniques worthy of rediscovery. Kendo kata is the bridge for the old kendo and sport kendo.