2005 Beginners' 8th Kyu Grading
Katsu:
I want to congraturate all of the beginnermember for passing the grading.
I
actually do not remember clealy what each member did at the grading.
Sorry about that. What I remember are that
left hand being away from the centre when they were doing right and left
men, kensen's height was not at proper position when they did kamae,
men and
kote, turning left wrist too much when they did men or kote and left
foot crossing forward of the right foot sometime.
However,
I think, especially for the first grading, what we have done are not
very important. The important things are showing our
best effort, enthusiasm and BIG KIAI. As long as we do big Kiai, this would
be good enough. Our skills can be improved by sempais' advice or self trainings
as long as we keep practice. But it is hard to change peoples attitude
toward kendo. I felt everyone's enthusiasm and also tension. So I was
very impressed.
I
no longer feel such tension or enthusiasm when I do suburi in warm up
or self trainings, partly because I do not care so much about
every strike or movement correct or not especially in suburi. This is never
because my kihon is good enough. Kihon and suburi are very important. Kendo
teachers always say we need to look back kihon and suburi when we stop
at some stages. Nowadays I concentrated on hitting strong small men or
something
so I have forgetten this thing.
Sam
always tells us that we need to remind ourselves the SHYOSIN (Initial
mind). As everyone mentions in the feedbacks, the shyosin includes how
lucky
we can practice kendo in here, we need to practice harder so as to improve
our skills, enthusiasm and tension.
Therefore, the grading remind me the shyosin again. I will
practice kendo with more enthusiams and tension and big KIAI..
Thank you Sam and every beginers for reminding me these
points.