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The theme of striking "small-men"

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Joyce's first time led the warm-up, Saturday 10 Sep 2011.


Time flies! I have been back to NZ and led the training for more than one month. While the spring is coming, I still remember how cold the NZ temperature was few weeks ago!

First of all, I am glad to see we have few more members achieved the Dan grades in the National Seminar and Grading held at Auckland Kendo Club on 20, 21 August. It shows the great commitment and efforts from themselves and the Dojos during the Kendo journey! Personally, I am proud of them and would like to invite them keep the enthusiasm of training hard and learning more!

Secondly, In the past few training sessions, the "small men" technique has been our central theme. I would like to drop few notes here for the purposes of review and reflection:

1.  Striking Power: The power of small techniques should not be smaller than the big techniques. While the big techniques (kihon) build the proper body movement and te-no-uchi, the small techniques is based on these but perform a faster strike. So, it is important that we won't get confused by the literal meaning of "small".

2. Three Points Coordination: The coordination of left hand, Tan-Dan and right knee is essential to perform small technique. However, before striking, the good posture of chudan kamae is important (please refer to Morioka sensei's three check points).

3. Kensen: Do not let the power of right arm to interfere the central line. Also, be aware that the timing of lifting kensen is key factor to the risk of debana-kote.

4. Central Line: The study of ura (inside, right) and omote (surface, left). 

5. Renzoku waza: Based these basics of small-men, we continue to the most basic renzoku waza: small-kote-men. Two important tasks need to be mastered: (1) tenouchi - the tightening and relaxing of strikes, and (2) zanshin - the follow-up of left foot (body). 

6. Harai waza: Extending the small-kote-men, harai-men is the following waza.

Based on these techniques, we started the small-kote and (kote-)ai-kote-men waza yesterday. These would further enhance the learning and experience of tenouchi, center, rhythm of kote-men. 


Finally, as we have more experienced members now, more shiai-geiko and ji-keiko is important for us to accumulate experience and more advanced study of Kendo. We will continue the shiai-geigo on Saturday afternoons and organise a new session for ji-geiko soon.

Best wishes for those who got flu and injuries. Hope you will get well soon!









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