Wednesday, 25th November 2009.

Keiko today was enjoyable and at the same time, allowed myself the opportunity to improve on my Kendo (or at least, I tried ^^’). Attendance was low and it was most likely due to the ‘after work’ crawl all over KL. I, myself, had to leave home at 5.00pm just to escape the worst of it. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have made it in time for training at 7.00pm. Then again, it was closing in to the end of the year… perhaps the rest of the members were busy with their work? I wouldn’t know really as I’ve yet to step into the ‘earn your own living’ world =P.

For some reason, I liked being one of the earliest to arrive at the dojo. Mainly it was because I get to mingle around with the other early birds and get to know them better. Secondly, being early means I get to open the mirrors, haha. Usually, someone would beat me to it =P Thirdly, I get to be the first to fill in the attendance book. Yes, it’s very odd of me, I know (lol).

Today’s session began with kata, one of my favourite parts of Kendo. It was rather awkward with only four of us (two pairs) with Mr Yap leading the practice and Chua-sensei observing us from the side. I must say that I felt rather pressured with him watching us practice… ^^’ Even so, I did manage to go through the whole thing without too ‘much’ of trouble (aside from the momentary distraction which ended up with me forgetting to kiai and went into a wrong kamae… which I later gave myself a mental smack for it). Anyway, I decided to at least write down the important points which have been pointed out by the previous senseis during the previous sessions and of course, from today’s as well. I hope I got the facts down correctly, though…

• Ipponme.
- Generally was okay.
Uchidachi: The cut must be done whole-heartedly and must be able to reach the target.
Shidachi: Ensure that the kensen does not dip towards the back. Instead, the avoiding should be done as if having the kensen pushing upwards towards the ceiling while stepping backwards.

• Nihonme.
- Maai.
Uchidachi: The position of the kensen after the cut has to be slightly below the wrist level of the shidachi.
Shidachi: Kensen must be kept, at most, parallel to the floor. Ideally, 45 degrees from the horizontal plane parallel to the floor. The cut must reach its target.

• Sanbonme.
- Timing, maai, pressuring the opponent and knowing the target.
Both sides: When both sides meet at the centre, there must be contact between the two kensens. As both sides raise their kensens upwards, it must be done with the attempt to control the centre line and applying pressure to the opponent.
Uchidachi: Target will be the right side (or the centre?) of the shidachi’s chest. Thrusting is done with a twisting motion to the left with the image of the kensen going in between the ribs.
Shidachi: Blocking the initial thrust by the uchidachi is done by stepping backwards, pulling the bokuto back towards self while maintaining the centreline and at the same time pushing uchidachi’s kensen down. First counter is done by thrusting forward using the whole body while the second only involves movement of the lower body. The target is… (I forgot >.< Was it the chest? Or the throat?). The ‘chase’ after the counter attack must be done at a much faster speed than the retreating uchidachi with the kensen pointing between the eyes of the uchidachi.

• Yonhonme.
- Kamae, maai and target.
Both sides: As the new rule states that the uchidachi is no longer allowed to adjust the maai, the first three steps taken are important. The kamae taken by both sides must be natural. The simultaneous ‘men’ cut by both sides must not stop way before the height of the opponent’s ‘men’.
Uchidachi: From chudan no kamae, the thrust is done towards the right side of the shidachi’s chest. The kensen should dip downwards slightly (at most, at a level parallel to the floor) after the shidachi has avoided the attack.
Shidachi: The avoiding should be done in one motion and not broken down into several steps. The bokuto must be brought over the head during the strike and not over the shoulders.

• Gohonme.
- Target and timing.
Uchidachi: The cut must be done whole-heartedly and the kensen must be brought to the shidachi’s knee level after the attack has been deflected.
Shidachi: When uchidachi takes ‘hidari jodan’, the shidachi’s kensen must be pointing at the left wrist of the uchidachi. The deflection of the attack must be done before the uchidachi’s kensen reaches the shidachi’s ‘men’.

Warming up was great, to be honest. Aside from the usual jogeburi and men suburi, we also did a total of 110 hayasuburi which I think was just right to get those muscles working well because I didn’t feel like dying after the first 15 minutes of keiko. Then again, it is just my own perception. For all I know, I wasn’t working hard enough. Haha!

Got a few pointers from Chris on kirikaeshi. Apparently I have been doing them using mainly my right arm (which I haven’t noticed until yesterday). Now that explains why I can’t seem to keep my left hand at my centre (>.<). From now onwards… left hand strength, right hand for control! I didn’t get any comments for my men cuts but that doesn’t mean that they are correct. Chua-sensei did mention about the footwork during the men cut, though. Having the left foot completely going past the right foot after the first step-in is a big no-no. I do have a tendency of ‘cheating’ by having my left foot overlapping the right one… that I know… and have been pointed out to me by the senseis. I tried to correct it a number of times which usually end up with me having a bruised heel again. Either that, or I couldn’t reach the motodachi’s men at all. What do I doooo?

We did something a little different after that. Hitting men with ‘seme’. The concept was… rather difficult to understand. As of now, it looked like just stepping in a deeper and then striking the motodachi… and because I was so bloody concerned about being impaled by the motodachi’s shinai… I started doing things that I shouldn’t be doing at my level. Got reprimanded ^^’ and not going to do it anymore (at least, trying not to). For now, it will be going straight, straight, straight in and then ‘MEN’!

My greatest flaw (or so I think…) in my kendo is that, I actually freeze to my spot when the motodachi offers me an opening… >.< It’s either “I see it!” but I don’t know what to do, by the time I figured out what to do, it’s too late… or… “Is that an opening? I don’t know… is it? Although it doesn’t look like it…” and then, BAM! I died. (haha ^^’). Slow reaction, thinking too much and hesitation? I am dying to do something about it but I don’t know where to start…

Fancy for some good news? ^.^ We have a new addition to the dojo and he is from Edinburgh, Scotland. A warm welcome to Hugh Irvine! I didn’t manage to talk to him but I did get to jigeiko with him for a bit. I appreciate the opportunity despite the display of my poor Kendo >.<