Beginner Class is essential

I just got an email from a very experienced martial artist who is interested in taking up Kendo with us. However, due to his busy schedule, he can only come to join our 7.00pm training.

I feel awful to kind of saying "no" to him or anyone who is interested in Kendo.

However, the beginner class is really essential! It is essential for both beginners and seniors in our club.

I hope that we can have our own dojo one day soon. Then, we can train as much as we want to and teach as many beginners as they want!

Below is my mail:

Hi XXX

It's glad to know that you are interested to start Kendo.

I respect all your martial arts experiences and achievements. However, I feel bad to tell you that the beginner class is essential for you to "understand" and "enjoy" Kendo.

As a martial art instructor, I believe that you also put members' safety as the first priority. Fighting with the bamboo sword actually is very dangerous, especially for beginners. We had some "unpleasant" experiences before. Therefore, we require all the beginners need to take the beginner class.

In addition to the safety issue, you won't enjoy Kendo unless you know how to have a successful cut, e.g. get a point from your opponent. No one like to "lose" all thr time, right? :)

I know your busy timetable is a problem. However, we are also confined by the availability of venue and time. So far, we can only take beginners on Thursday evening, from 6.00 to 7.30pm. Once a week.

And, it takes about 4 months time (minimum) to help a beginners learn to start enjoying the art.

As for the Tuesday and Saturdays, we need to take care of the intermediate Kendoists. We are working very hard to lift up their levels. Therefore, we don't have any resource to help beginners on these days.

I do hope that you can understand the situation.

Feel free to pop in any time to see our training. You are welcome to do so.

We will try to find more time and venue for more beginner class. Please keep in touch and I will keep you informed.

Kind regards with respects,
Sam Tsai

Comments

How do you practice seme?

Kobayashi Hideo Sensei – How to Seme (w/English CC) 小林英雄先生 - 攻め方 How do you practice S eme ? Very early on, I have heard of the “Three Opportunities to Strike”: strike when your opponent’s technique is about to start, strike when your opponent’s technique ends, and when the opponent is mentally and physically depleted. Since then, this line of thinking has given me a direction in how to train. In 2017, Utsunomiya sensei, 7-dan kyoshi, came to visit us and taught me the concept of “okori”. That reminds me of the conversation that happened 8 years before that in 2009 with Morioka sensei, also 7-dan kyoshi, who asked me: “What is the timing or reason of your strike?” I think most people are familiar with the idea that you should “ seme then strike ”. However, when do you strike after seme has been a source of struggle for most kenyu. That’s why when I saw the video from Kobayashi Hanshi where you seme for the purposes of creating “okori” , I felt this added a whole other d

Ji-ri-ichi - practice & theory combined into one 事理一致

Wednesday 19th April 2023 Keiko Reflection by Janet Tonight’s Keiko is a timely reminder of the importance of training in Ji-ri-ichi (事理一致, practice & theory combined into one). While we are constantly receiving knowledge & theory passively from Senseis, one must also be actively applying the theories learnt into action to make it their own through repeated practice. We must also be proactive in our own learning by actively seeking more knowledge such as observing other kendokas keiko ( mitori-geiko ), reading books, asking questions when in doubt, & constantly reflect & ask ourselves why do we do this? what are we doing wrongly or correctly? This way we can better understand our bodies, the mechanics of each movements & the purpose behind each individual action, therefore maximise our learning outcome by improving productivity & quality of our practice or Keiko. Remember Kendo is a martial art that descended from Japanese swordsmanship or Kenjutsu, so it’s no

Kendo Journey: A "Travel Guide" from Shodan to Godan-and-a-Half

Waikato Kendo Association Grading (2009) Kendo Journey: A Travel Guide from Shodan to Godan-and-a-Half （中文） by Sam Tsai December 27, 2017 Those that know me should know that back in 1998, Marleen and I moved to Hamilton, New Zealand and ended up being the only two people that practiced kendo within the 100 kilometers radius. In the following year, the stars were aligned as we formed the Waikato Kendo Association and I found myself shouldering the responsibility of being a kendo instructor. Practicing kendo myself and teaching others how to do kendo are totally different things! About half a year after we established the dojo, Hsu Heng-Hsiung sensei , coach of Team Taiwan, led a delegation of more than 20 kenshi to come visit us in New Zealand. About a year after their visit, I was in Taiwan visiting sensei. The first thing he said to me was, “Tell me, what are you having trouble teaching?” I could not help myself but laugh out loud as I replied, “Coach you are wise

Waikato Kendo Club

Search This Blog