yugenkai training manual for beginners

8/19/2019 Yugenkai Training Manual for Beginners

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YUGENKAI TRAINING MANUAL -

BEGINNERS COURSE

YUGENKAI TRAINING MANUAL -

BEGINNERS COURSE

Complied by Kristian Dela Cour - August 2010


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Welcome to Yugenkai. We are happy that you have chosen to train with us in the noble art of Kendo.Thank you.

So, what to expect from your first 6 week journey into Kendo? Well, a lot!We have a structured syllabus so that you can grasp most of the elements of Kendo, from its formal Katato the sportier element of Shiai Kendo.We hope that you enjoy your first steps onto the path of “Way of the Sword”

Week 1: The fundamentals of footwork required.Week 2: Footwork & Ki-ken-Tai-IchiWeek 3: Kihon-no-Kata forms 1 to 4 &Week 4: Shinai maintenance & Kiri-kaeshiWeek 5: Kihon-no-Kata forms 5 - 9Week 6: Kata form Ipponme and everything else ;-)

All of the above 6 weeks will include Suburi (fundamentals of how, and what to cut properly) and towardsthe end of each session you will end up cutting Men, Kote & Do on experienced Kendoka.

(competition)

Japanese counting 1 -10

The syllabus:

We encourage your participation throughout the 6 week course and you will be encouraged to do somesilly things but that’s all part of the fun of Kendo. However, we shall never single out anyone and makethem feel embarrassed or awkward. Awkward and embarrassed will happen all on it’s own.

One of the most important things when learning Kendo, from the first day to the last, is to let yourself beopen. Let you mind be free of everything else and just do Kendo in the manner that is being asked of youat that moment. Do this and you will never be wrong.

Well, you continue to do Kendo but you can now join our 2nd weekly session. That’s held on a Sundaymorning 11:00 - 13:00 and occasionally, we go and train with other clubs, such as Edinburgh &

Aberdeen.

We hold one internal grading per year, usually in September. Being an in-house grading means that wecan assess your level before you go and stand up in front of a grading panel made up of BKA highgrades.2nd Kyu is the highest level you can achieve. After this you must sit 1st Kyu and above, in front of BKA,EKF or ZNKR grading panels.

Well, everyone has a level of ability to learn, some faster than others so all we can say is this, we willcontinually chart, and push your progress so you achieve the next step at the appropriate level. Pleasedo not become disheartened if this takes longer that you first thought. We have your best interests atheart also and certainly wish to see you progress, at the right time.However, generally speaking it will take 3-4months and a further 3-4 months to proceed into Boguthrough studious application and regular attendance.

What happens when I finish the course?

When can I grade?

When can I get into Hakama & Gi and armour?

We hope you enjoy the course and expect a lot of questions. We shall try and answer them to the best of our ability.

Yugenkai Dojo Leader - Kristián Dela Coúr


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Week 1: Fundamentals of footwork

Where to start? Firstly, footwork in Kendo is key. Without proper footwork, your Kendo will develop at aslower pace. Therefore it is vital that you continue to practise footwork outside of your regular training.

Principally we adopt a good solid base, right foot forward, left foot with raised heel from which we‘launch’ ourselves at the time of attack. This stance also allows us to move in any direction quickly and

efficiently.To do this effectively, we must first find our own stance. An aid to getting your correct Kendo stance isto do the following:

1. Place both feet together with heels touching.2. Turn the left foot 90 degrees left. NB: Your heels should still be touching.3. Pivot left foot on ball and turn so heel is facing back.4. Lift heel of left foot 15 degrees, or an inch.

Weight distribution should be more or less 60% on the left and 40% on the right.

How do we use our feet in Kendo?

1 2 3 4

How do we move in Kendo?

A great deal of time learning Kendo footwork will be spent learning Okuri-ashi and Fumikomi-ashi.Okuri-ashi is the most commonly used type of footwork and is employed in the following manner:

1. Feet start off in position 3, above ‘slide’ the right foot forward and bring the back foot back to thestarting position.

One of the difficulties of this footwork practise is how to bring your left foot back to that position. Weshall discuss this at length during your beginners course.

Regardless of footwork undertaken at any given time, you must try your best to ‘slide’ your feet in analmost floating feel, where the balls of your feet are almost always fixed to the floor.

Fumikomi-ashi

Small step with ‘stamp’ at end Large step with stamp at end.

Okuri-ashi

The movement of the left foot is fundamentally important for it is this one aspect that allows you toprogress forwards, or do multiple cuts in quick succession. The left foot has to move twice as fast as theright foot and end up in the same position it started, i.e. your initial stance position whether we have donea large movement forward or a small movement.

This movement of the left foot being brought up quickly allows you to have your feet ready again and assuch, you are able to move again with a stable base beneath you for the next attack.


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Week 2: Footwork & Ki-ken-Tai no Ichi

1 - First position2 - Slide front foot forwardkeeping back foot stationary

3 - On extension, lift front footwith back foot in same place

4 - At distance, stamp front footand then return back foot to

first position.

A great deal of focus will be spent on developing the ‘stamp’ we make with our front foot. This process of stamping is called Fumikomi and it is one of the hardest things to get right and may take years to perfect.

The diagram below explains the process split into it’s component parts. We shall look at this in great detailacross the coming weeks, months and years of your Kendo development.

In Kendo you need everything to work at once for the cut to be correct. There would be no point in havingcut a target if your feet end up being in the wrong position afterwards, or if your body is not in the correctposture. Therefore, if we couple the above Fumikomi process with the process of cutting a particular target, this is called Ki-Ken-Tai no Ichi........Ki = Spirit, Ken = Sword, Tai = Body, no Ichi = One timing.

The overall process and application of making good Ki-ken-Tai-no-Ichi will, like everything else in Kendo,takes time to perfect. Once ‘perfected’ you will be well on the way to being a high grade Kendoka.

There are many things that make up a good cut, hands, feet, kiai, posture,hasuji and zanshin, for example, but we will focus on one very important aspect, distance.

This is generally down to two/three things, watching thedistance you are apart from your partner and making sure your feet get you to that distance. However, onecannot discount that the hands do play a part in this process although they are an extension of your feet.

How do you cut correctly?

How do you make the correct distance?

Long distance Correct distance for Men Men cut is too deepIssoku-itto-no-maai for Men

The diagrams above indicate some of distance used in Kendo and what would be considered a good Mencut and what would be discounted. Correct cutting, whether it is Men, Kote, Do or Tsuki requires goodperception of distance to the target, coupled with an extension of the arms to make the correct strike withthe correct part of the Shinai. This is referred to cutting with the Monouchi, the first 1/4 of the Shinai.

Monouchi


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Week 3: Kihon-no-Kata forms 1 - 4

Kihon is an integral part of learning Kendo as it teaches you what to cut and how to cut it correctly. Kihonalso introduces you to techniques required to overcome your opponent, such things as Harai & Suriagi.

Whilst doing Kihon-no-Kata you are referred to as Kakarate and the receiver is called Motodachi.Kihon forms 1 - 4 are generally referred to attacking waza, i.e. Shikaki-waza. The later forms, 5 - 9 arereferred to as Oji- waza.

- This form teaches the basic cuts:- Men, Kote, Do & Tsuki- This form teaches you how to put two cuts together. In this case, Kote, Men

- This forms teaches you how cut Men whilst moving your opponents Shinai out of centre.Waza = Harai

- This form teaches you how to cut whilst retreating. The whole form is referred to as,Men-tsubazeria-Hiki-Do. Waza = Hiki

Kihon forms 1 - 4:

Kihon IchiKihon NiKihon San

Kihon Yon

All cuts are singular. Men, Kote, Do & Tsuki. Motodachi stands and opens accordingly.

Kote- Men is done in two steps. Cut Kote, move forward and cut Men.receives Kote and steps back to receive Men.Motodachi

Harai- Men. Slide in with front foot and ‘slap opponents Shinai left. Continue forwards and cutmen. does not move for any of this waza, except back into Chudan-no-kamaeMotodachi

Men-tsubazeria-Hiki-Do. Cut Men which is then ‘caught’ by , both take ½ step forward andinto Tsubazeria (Tsuba’s touching) making sure your Tsuba is on top. Whilst in Tsubazeria, push downwith a slight pressure making lift their hands, cut Do whilst moving 1 step back.

Motodachi

Motodachi

Ichi

Ni

San

Yon


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Week 4: Shinai maintenance

Looking after your Shinai is a very important part of Kendo. Typically you should treat your Shinai &Bokken as swords for if not, you are just hitting and playing with sticks.

Should your Shinai fail during Keiko, it can have serious consequences on an opponent or cause splintersto fall on the floor which could lead to a nasty foot injury.

Parts of the Shinai

To take your Shinai apart, follow these steps;

1. Un-tie the .2. Un-tie the Tsuru.

3. Remove Sakigawa, Nakayui & Tsuru from end of Shinai taking care not to lose the Saki-shin.4. Remove Tsukagawa. NB: This may take some time.5. Split open the Shinai into its component parts (Take x4No.) Without losing the Chi-giri.

We now need to prepare the Shinai. To do this, look at the following diagrams;

Nakayui

1. Shinai viewed at top without Sakigawa & Saki-shin.2. Areas to be removed.3. Shinai shape when areas removed.1 2 3

Monouchi

Sakigawa

Nakayui TsuruTsuka

Tsukagashira

Take (x 4No.)

Once each Take has been completed, we need to re-assemble the Shinai. It is as simple as reversing theprocess of taking the Shinai apart. However, the Nakayui & Tsuru knots require a little explanation, and

patience.

A - Tying the Tsuru

B - Tying the Nakayui


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Week 4: Fundamentals of Kiri-kaeshi

Now your Shinai is ‘safe’ we can do a lot more cutting with it.We shall now introduce an exercise called Kiri-kaeshi which has all of the elements required in Kendo builtinto it. Therefore, repeated practise of Kiri-kaeshi will increase your Kendo progress but don’t worry, weshall do this repeatedly through your Kendo journey.

How it’s done:

NB:

From Issoku-itto-no-maai, you should step into your own cutting distance, lifting your left hand up aboveyour mengane to strike a correct, kihon shomen; paying attention to ki-ken-tai-ichi.

Next, gently touch mototodachi’s Kote/Tsuba as the signal for him to move back.

Continue forward by striking 4 times to the Men, alternating the side as you move forward, ensuring thatyou lift your left hand above the mengane as for shomen for each Men strike.

Try and not hit too quickly by not lifting the shinai sufficiently and only using your wrists. This must beresisted, as must the desire to hit quickly with the hands if your foot and body movement is not equallyfast. It is also tempting to bounce or jump with both feet in a fixed position. This is also a no-no, with the

imperative being on correct footwork, with the back foot coming into position at the same moment as youmake the strike.

When the 4 forward strikes to Men have been completed, you will now move backwards for 5 strikes,alternating as you go. You should end up cutting the last backwards cut on your right hand side.Then, come back to Issoku-itto-no-maai, and using the same breath of air cut one large Shomen goingforward.

DONE!? Well, not quite as this exercise is typically done twice in a row.

The cut itself should be at 30/45 degrees, so that you hit between the 3rd and 5th mengane. The shinaishould be raised straight through your centre, using relaxed hands to guide the hassuji to the target.

Kiai and breathing are important. You should fill up with air, letting some out in your kakigoe whist inissoku-itto-no-maai and then aim to breathe out continuously through the first shomen and the next 9yokomen.

So the sequence should be (breath in) ya--- (breath in) men, (breath in) then (4 forwards)men,men,men,men,(5 backwards) men,men,men,men,men---men, (all on one breath):This is followed by a quick intake of air and then repeat.

When you return from the final yoko-men to starting distance you should take pains to do so insuriashi,(backwards of course), whatever you do, do not walk backwards crossing your feet.On the final shomen, motodachi should step to the side and you should go through to safe distance withgood zanshin.

A note for motodachi, it is important that you receive the cut as close as possible to your own men allowingkakarite to aim correctly rather than stopping the cut to hit your shinai.


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Week 5: Kihon-no-kata forms 5 - 9

Kihon forms 5 - 9:

Kihon GoKihon Rokyu

Kihon Nana

Kihon Hachi

Kihon Kyu

- This forms teaches you how to evade Men and continue to cut Do. Waza = Nuki- This form teaches you how to use a counter strike. Attacker cuts Kote which is deflected

and receiver continues to cut Men. Waza = Suriagi- This form teaches you how to move quickly, just before, or as your opponent moves, cut

Kote. Waza = Debana- This forms teaches you how to receive and deflect a Men cut and continue to strike Do.

Waza = Kaeshi- This form teaches you how to evade a Do cut, strike the opponents sword and continue to

strike Men. Waza = Uchiotoshi

Lift to cut Do as Motodachi lift to cut Men. Simultaneously stepsideways when Motodachi cuts Men and cut Do (left).

As Motodachi cuts Kote, take a ½ step back and ‘knock’ their Shinai right whilst rising the Shinai to cutMen. Continue moving forwad and Cut Men.

Motodachi will offer Kote at his timing. Kakarate cuts Kote as quicklyas possible using a small cut using the wrists.

Motodachi cuts Men which Kakarate ‘catches’ at the Monouchi, then turns his wrists clockwise and cutsMotodachi’s Do (left). NB: Kakarate must wait for Motodachi’s Shinai to be on the way down to catch.

Motodachi will cut Do but Kakarate takes ½ step backwards and ‘deflects’ and stopping the Shinai.Kakarate then continues forward to cut Men.

Hachi

Kyu

Nana

Rokyu

Go


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Week 6: Kata form Ipponme and everything else.

Kata is probably the most ceremonial looking aspects of Kendo. With its rigid etiquette and exchange ofvocals, it can certainly be described as formal.

We shall look at the first Kata form, Ipponme. Explanation on next page.

1 2

3

4

5 67

8 9 10


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Ipponme - Explained

NB: The diagrams shown do not follow the full reigi required at the start of Kata, this is something weshall run through in the Dojo and explain how and why what happens.

1. Uchidachi (Teacher side) & Shidachi (Student side) are seen here in Sonkyo.

2. Uchidachi & Shidachi stand and make Chudan-no-kamae.

3. After dropping their swords (Kamae-ottoku) and retreating to 9 step distance, they take Chudan-no-kamae again.

4. Uchidachi moves into Hidari-jodan-no-kamae and Shidachi replies by taking Migi-jodan-no-kamae.

5. Uchidachi & Shidachi move in towards each other with three steps.

6. Uchidachi straightens and cuts a large Men. Shidachi takes ½ step backwards and raises handsabove head.

7. Shidachi continues forward and cuts Men.

8. Uchidachi then ‘pulls’ Shidachi forward by straightening their posture, or by taking a ½ stepbackwards. Shidachi applies Zanshin by keep the Kensen in front of Uchidachi at nose height, approx.

9. Uchidachi further tests Zanshin of Shidachi by taking another ½ step backwards at which pointShidachi pushes forward with their Kensen and takes Hidari-jodan-no-kamae.

10. After 2-3 seconds, Uchidachi starts to raise their sword back to Chudan-no-kamae at which pointShidachi sees this happen and takes a step backward whilst dropping their sword back into Chudan-no-kamae to match Uchidachi. Uchidachi takes ½ step backwards at this point also so both reach Chudan-no-kamae at the same time.


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