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First Training in 2008

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Dear All,

It's so good to be "home" again. I am so pleased to see many of you and know that many of you are coming back from the world soon.

I believe that we had a good training on Saturday 19 Januar. Thanks to Omar's detailed documentation for the day. I made a small "copy-and-paste" and a minor change here:

For jumping suburi (haya suburi):

  • when raising shinai and jumping back, use 30% power - can relax, but don't stop at the top.

  • when striking and jumping forwards, use 70% power - move faster, do proper ten-no-uchi to ensure kensen will automatically lift after the strike, and immediately relax shoulders to raise.

  • once accustomed to this method, increase power - e.g. [raise : strike] 30%:70% => 40%:80% => 50%:100% etc

  • try not to use too little power nor make the muscles too tense - relax on upswing and (more) tense on downswing.

For further details, please refer to Omar's WaiKendo Blog - Training Session on Saturday 19 January 2008.

I hope to add a comment here:

The main theme for the training is te-no-uchi(手 の內)
- The overall use of the hands when striking or responding, including
* the way of gripping the shinai,
* the tightening/loosening of the grip and
* the adjusting of the balance between the two hands.

Te-no-uchi is very important "everywhere" in Kendo because we are holding shinai all the time. So please be aware of the three points metioned above.

In addition to te-no-uchi, when we are striking, the shinai should be speeding up downward instead in a constant speed fashion. This will also help you understand the te-no-uchi.

Well, looking forward to the next training now.... :)

Sam

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