There are some attractive points in Kendo

 

Ken-doh club of Toshiba Komukai blanch.

This picture looks they are asking instructors some tips about their practice with Sensei.

In Doh-Jo, I have been rarely asked to give some comment since I'm not in high grade.

But, I had sometimes become to have to give some comment to young persons.

It's possible to remember and to talk about their practice, motion and fighting, though I've estimated it's hard for me to do it.

I feared not to remember their feature and defects of their movement, at first.

After some fights, training, I could see him / her what revel they are, at least he/she is strong or not than me. From this recognition, I search them to win in a fight.

   

Ken-doh in France

Budo XI is famous Ken-doh Club in Pari.

Sometimes I wonder why French people love Japanese martial arts, Ju-doh, Aiki-doh, Katate-doh and Ken-doh.

There are some assumption in my mind about that why Ken-doh are expanding their population in foreign countries, it's depend on there is some simple rule that easy to judge which side gets  win in a match.

Generally speaking, martial arts has simple rule which side has gotten win though it's not easy to get some skill revel and physical toughness to have a match to others.

It's understandble in Hawaii

There are many person who do practice Ken-doh in Hawaii, USA.
Ken-yu-kai, a name of Ken-doh club has practice at Kenshikan-DoJo in Honolulu.

I can see why Ken-doh had expanded in Hawaii. The reason why was for immigration first 20th  century.
Japan had needed to expand their labors out of county for population explosions inside.
So many people went to foreign countries, for example, North China, East Russia, Brazil, Hawaii, etc.

Hawaii Ken-doh Federation History

  

http://www.hawaiikendo.com/history.html

According to their explanation of Federarion History....
 

The first government-contract immigrants to Hawaii from Japan arrived in 1868, the first year of Meiji Era right after the end of Tokugawa Shogunate's reign.

They brought with them the art of Ken-doh and Su-moh to the islands. The Ken-doists at the time were actual Samurai or students of Samurai instructors, so their technique was more of thrusting and cutting with a real Japanese sword, Katana.

In 1885, the immigrants were reported to have demonstrated these arts for King David Kalakaua. A year after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, a Ken-doh match was reported to be held on Oahu.

 In 1915, an official Ken-doh instructor for the immigrants came to Hawaii for the first time. Ken-doh became part of the requisite grade school curriculum in Japan in 1911 to help children develop physically and morally.

By 1940, when the Hawaii branch of Dainippon Butoku-Kai (the organization of Ken-doists in Japan) opened, Ken-doh was taught at the many Japanese schools and Do-jo throughout the State.

Ken-doh was banned in Hawaii in1941 at the onset of World War II, but Mikami Do-jo re-opened in Kapahulu soon after the war.

Ken-doh in Poland

 

http://www.eu-japanfest.org/column/80/?preview_id=9994&preview_nonce=cbd31225a2&preview=true

Vice president of Hokkaido Ken-doh association, 8th-dan Hanshi, Yamashiro Sensei(Ken-doh master) instructed young Ken-doh player in Breslau( Wrocław ), Republic of Poland( POLSKA ).
He had visited there for Poland-Japan Ken-doh relationship event, EU-Japan Fest 2010.

He said in his article about this session, they Polish players all not only had gotten win-defeat phase, also had been pursuing Ken-doh right path which are to form a human.  

I don't know why Polish people are fond of Ken-doh, Ju-doh and another Japanese martial arts. May be they had some era when they had needed to protect themselves from some violence in their daily life.

There has been good relationship between Poland and Japan in many fields.
I'd like to visit this beautiful city in POLSKA when it is warm, someday. 

Ouch! Ouch! Kusarigama worrior

Kusarigama, Chain sickle armour is so nice, isn't it?


If I were a warrior in 13 century and I had met an opponent Kusarigama warrior, this is very hard battle for me to win him with a sward.
Kasarigama guy might have broken my skull at first.  
Yes, helmet was essential in those days and is also now.

This is a demonstration at a Kobudo Event held every year in Abeno word(Osaka-city) Japan.
Most participants are members of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.

Joh-dan, Upper sward style

Joh-dan form, Over head sward stance is very aggressive one.
It is said to be "Hi-no-kamae (Stance of Fire)"
Upper sward style enable to give a quick shot.
But it's risky when he missed hitting since he usually give a shot using only left hand, so after giving a shot, he is very weak against attacking. 
Furthermore, opponent player can hit left hand that is in upper sward style.

Upper versus Upper looks like there are few chance to attack each other.
After attacking, they must repair their form for next shot.  

 

I wonder this match called an attention to people.
I have met two swards style one only a few times. All they were high grade Sensei, Ken-doh master. 

Training Session-Judging

 Photo upper, describing training session of Judging in Katsushika word, Tokyo metropolis.
Instructor was Kyohshi, Hachi(8)-dan, Itoh Sensei.

They say "Good match is carried out by good judging" 

Indicating Hikiwake, end in a draw.
Japan Ken-doh association requests to keep take part in these training session for Judging, Teaching and Form.
After session, there will be held a Keio, an exercise. 

Pre-attack phase

Before attack, we are to make battle to get the CENTER for attack and defense.
If opponent keeps his center of sward, that means he's already gotten advantage of positioning for attack and defense. So I must break his sward centering to me and must get own centering.

    
Why the centering of sward is so important in Ken-doh?
It enables to get shot in shortest route.
His sward will trace the cutting way more earlier than other sward that could not get centering.

I've found that this is one of big reasons I keep going to Ken-doh. This phase is most difficult and hard, of course I'm not so good at this, centering to get attack.

God of Ken-doh might watch this phase in any Ken-doh activities.

An opinion of a professor

    

Dr. Alexander Bennett, Assistant Professor of Kansai University

 Zanshin -- the lingering mind in Budo | Alex Bennett | TEDxMeieki 2013/11/06 

Dr. Alex Bennett began kendo because it looked as interesting as Star Wars. At TEDxMeieki, a wooden-sword in hand, he introduces us to the concept of Budo (Japanese martial arts) and the philosophy of Zanshin (a sense of lingering heart). Budo is different from sport. From his experience of more than 20 years, he speaks about the very essence of Budo.

 

 He appreciated the difficulty of Ippon, winning hit in Ken-doh..

Just hitting some hitting point fills 50% for Ippon criteria.

A shot would be approved as an Ippon only when it had been hit in right form in action, in full cut spirit, with hitting voice, and Zanshin.

Zan-shin, for me, means prompt arrangement/preparation for next attack, after shot.

It should be filled with full pressure attitude/spirit. 

Every time I tried to hit instructor in Doh-joh, he gave me same tip, "You didn't get your Zan-shin, that was not enough for Ippon"  

Daily practice

Sometimes, Sensei, Ken-doh instructor gives hard training to trainee.

Is Ken-doh one of sports?
I don't think so.  Reasons will be written here someday.

As for me, I sometimes feel like to break his skull with Shinai, bamboo sward.
To whom I do it?  It's instructor.
Many times tried of course, but I've never been able to shot his Men with such evil thought.
We call it Zatsu-nen or Janen, idle thoughts.

Once began Ken-doh, it will take two or three years to handle Shinai, bamboo sward and to move smoothly with protectors.  






 

Foreign Ken-doh players

The instructor of Mumei-shi is foreigner and there are many foreign trainees in his Doh-joh.

For them, Ken-doh is so attractive that they can endure his hard training.

Actually, there are something attractive in Ken-doh.

Trainee will be requested to be honest and be polite with 100% obeying and 100% belief to instructor and himself.

Yes, it's very purified world, I think. 

Suburi, most basic stroke practice

Any person began Ken-doh do this basic swing training, Suburi.
Some person do this practice every morning, evening or every day.

They do this practice, Suburi with Shinai, bamboo sward.

They are practicing Suburi with a heavy wood sward in some University Ken-doh club.

Ken-doh, All Japan Championship Match, 2007 in high speed camera

.

These are marvelous Ken-doh match.
In third feature, left person with red ribbon, Mr.Teramoto belongs Osaka Police. Right person with white ribbon, Mr. Takanabe belongs Kanagawa Police.          
   Top of tops of Ken-doh.  

Some actors play Ken-do

Mr. Ken-ichi Takitoh and  Masato Sakai (Right person) are popular actors for movies and TVs in Japan.
They had been featured in many Samurai movies around Edo era.
They say, though they had not had practiced Ken-do in his college days, they had Ken-doh hard training just before taking movie shot.

Kata, forming

In Forming demonstration, we use Bokutoh. Bokutoh is a sward-like wood.
Each player has its own role, left and right respectively.
In Ken-do grade test, there are three tests we have to take. Playing, forming and knowledge.

 

 There are seven forms with normal length swards, both side. They use true swards but they are protected on edges. Upper demonstration was given by high grade instructors.

 There are three forms with short length sward and normal length one. Upper demonstration was also given by high grade instructors as Japan Ken-doh association, Zen-Nihon-Ken-doh-Renmei.

Full shot

 Sensei, instructors in Dojo where I commute tell us "Uchikire !" (Get attack fully without looking back)
Any attack must be done in full throttle, with no regret.
I think this might be FULL SHOT.
It would be 100% concentrated attack with 100% aggressive spirit.
I could this FULL SHOT only a few times in practice.
That day, can do "Uchikiru" looks far now.    

Attacking range of Ken-doh

Instructor Yamamoto, he is Nana-dan(seventh grade),  said to me, "You have your attacking ranges in any situation. They must be at right timing, right attitude both in action and in spirit. Of course every person has his attacking range.
At the edge of sward, fighting has already started"

For the time being, I must keep attack attitude in mind and body, and must intrude/ invade opponent's territory just before my / his attacking.

For me, it's most attractive to have edge fighting, though I'm not so good at it.


  

It's hot in summer and chilly in Autumn

We call these Ken-do uniforms as Dohgi and Hakama for Kendo.
Dohgi means sometimes Ken-do uniform including lower Uniform Hakama.

There is no under wear or only one trunks for muscular Ken-do person.

 One university Ken-do club were conducting Natsu-Gasshuku, intensive summer practice.

There usually are no air conditioner in Dohjo, gymnasium.
Natsu-Gasshuku, intensive training in mid summer is held by many high schools and universities.
Also, we have Kangeiko, intensive training in mid winter.     

They were doing winter practice, Kan-Geiko in some Ken-do club. It was held on snow.

Kamon is family emblem

Upper emblems are described as most popular family emblems, best tens.
Every family has its own emblem.
In battle era of Japan, Samurai family, Clans had some emblems and they used it in some case.
For example, at the battle field, at the ceremony, in daily use, etc.

Sekigahara war held at about 1600 in Mino province.
I can see many flags installed on their squadrons.
Every worriers might keep watch their friendly force's emblem.
Every commander might see and decide their position according to enemy and friendly emblems where they were.
Kamon, family emblem must have made them taken pride.

Family emblem on Doh

There usually is an emblem right upper side on Doh, fuselage protector of Ken-do.
In Japan, every family have its emblem.

Opponent sometimes hit just beside of my Doh, body protector and give some bruise there.
Of course, I hit armpit to opponent without intention. It's quite natural in Ken-do training.

 
  Left person are hitting Doh.

Kote, gloves for Ken-do

Deer skin are used at the part of palm of these gloves, Kote.  
If he had not had them washed / cleaned, it is inevitable to be stinky.
Everyone rarely wash them, these gloves though there are some way how to wash Kendo Kote with warm water. I think it will take more than one week to be dried after desolted in water.

Short Kote, or Degote hit.
As for me, that is regrettable to be hit Kote when I intended to hit his Men.

Shinai, a bamboo sward is flexible, bending

Shinai, a bamboo sward is Katana made of bamboo.
Covered with some skins of deer.
Used for hitting Men including part of head and throat(Tsuki), hand(Kote) and fuselage(Doh), it will be broken easily for hard practice. Since usually hit Men with upper fitting metal.

                            Tsuba attached                                   Tsuba and Tsuba fitting attached

As Ken-Do rule, every bamboo sward, Shinai should be with Tsuba, a stopping tool at the edge of handling deer skin.

A person is attacking on throat, Tsuki.

Men mask is not so heavy.

Men is a kind of protector for one's head.
In these years, duralumine or titan are used for face fitting metal. So it is not so heavy.

A new Men/Omen, this head mask is so hard that my both ears have been painful during practice. After practice, it will become heavy for being wet for perspiration.
We hit Men, this head mask many times with bamboo sword, and hitting part of bamboo sword will be broken. By hit, someone become to be excited. It means he is defeated when he lose his control.   

Bowing to Kamidana

Do-jo, that is gymnasium for Japanese martial arts, like Ken-do, Jyu-do, Karate and so on.
This picture is a Ken-do Do-jo in Tokyo.
Every person are to bob to Kamidana when they enter and exit there.

Whenever I bow to Kamidana in Do-jo, household Shito altar, I feel like I'm talking or greeting to God of Do-jo. Sometimes I even asked to be more stronger than last training day.
Needless to say, there is no answering from somebody to my asking in my mind. It is a kind of wondering to oneself with greeting to Do-jo.

There is a Kamidana, household Shinto altar in every Do-jo

Every Do-jo has Kamidana, a household Shinto altar.
Every time entering and exiting Do-jo, starting and finishing drill, all member in Do-jo  
We put both fists in the floor of Do-jo and hang down the head facing to Kamidana.
This bobbing a curtsy in sitting is a ceremony.
In my case, these bow to Kamidana makes me concentrated and some gratitude for training.

Over Yon-dan, 4th grade are called Sensei, an instructor of Ken-do

I was asked to instruct kids in Do-jo with masters belonging the Do-jo.
They are over Nana-dan, 7th grade of Ken-do.
Yes, they are true masters of Ken-do.

I could not instruct kids in the Do-jo for some reasons,
Firstly I should recall my skill of Ken-do and the way of thinking for Ken-do.
I was 3rd grade, San-dan at 2014, I did not worth instructing other person.
Basically I had no confidence to my skill and know-how to instruct kids.

All kids in Ken-do Do-jo want to take on gears. But they cannot put them on till they can do basic moving and handle their Shinai, sward of bamboo. 

There are many Ken-do Do-jos in Tochigi prefecture

I had retired former vocation at 55 years old, in 2014.
Before retiring, I had gotten new job where is a little bit far from my mouse.

New job was an office work in U city, where it takes two hours through highway from Tokyo.
For first months, I didn't feel like to do some sports here.

After getting used to new job environment, I found it is not uncommon to re-start Ken-do after middle age, 40's or 50's.

I asked myself some questions,
"Can I enjoy it?"
"Will I put my heart and soul overly?"
"Will I be vexed at training with young persons or instructors?"
 

I had practiced boxing in gyms

I also like boxing.

Watching professional boxing match is good leisure for me.
After recovering left Achilles', I didn't feel like do Ken-do again.

In boxing gym, I was trained basic boxing and studied some rules.
Training was hard, but I can say that to hit punching bag with own fists can get rid of all stress perfectly. It's a magic for putting off gloominess

Even now I want to hit the punching bug immediately when I found some one in gymnasium.
I recommend you it. Of course, with own globes.  
  

Ken-do has hierarchy system

When I was teens, and in University, I had belonged its Ken-do club. I was not good at sporting and I could not be regular member in University.

In middle high school, I had gotten Sho-dan, first qualification of Ken-do.
In high school, I'd gotten Ni-dan, second class qualification of Ken-do.
When I was 4th grade of University, I've gotten San-dan, third class of Ken-do.
To tell the truth, I'd missed this test at 3rd grade, that was second challenge for that San-dan.

When I was 36 years old, I had teared left Achilles tendon when I practiced as Ken-do team member for Ken-do&Ju-do meeting in its military region.

I had been quit Ken-do after that accident.
I sold all equipments and Shinai swards in auction sites.
That was about twenty years ago. 

Ken-do is a Japanese Martial Arts

I'd like to explain why I had started Ken-do again, a typical Japanese martial arts, playing with a sward, and why I continue this martial arts.


Two years has passed sine I re-stated Ken-do from June 2014 when I was 55 years old.

I had retired my job on May, 2014 and then I had gotten new job in another prefecture, like state in United States.