Kendo Thoughts & Insight

The general definition of suki is an “opening” in the opponents attack or defense.  The dictionary defines suki as: “a weakness of the mind” or “a weakness in one’s actions or posture.”  In kendo we specifically try to cause or recognize these weaknesses in our opponent. Weakness in the opponents actions or posture is easily caused through constant repetitive training. Recognizing a “weakness of the mind” is very difficult to accurately see in the opponent and takes a constant, and conscious effort to develop. Only through keiko can seeing  the “weakness of the mind” in the opponent be developed and practiced, and then only by consciously working at understanding this notion. The four poisons of kendo: fear, doubt, surprise and confusion are the foundations of the weakness of the mind and directly related to the “weakness of one’s actions or posture.”

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.