Seme and Footwork

Text forwarded from Marleen's Facebook:

Sato Sensei, Kitamoto 2014

Utsunomiya sensei & Sakimoto San, Tokyo 2014

＊

I asked Sato sensei after Farewell Party @ Kitamoto Camp a question about Seme.

I said, "Sensei, is there anyway we could train to make stronger Seme?"

Sato snesei gently held my hand and told me,

"NO. strong Seme comes from good Suri-ashi".

One day later, I had the honor to obtain Mutsumi Utsunomiya sensei's instruction. He showed me how it works.

Since then, footwork means more to me.

我在北本外國劍道指導者夏令營最後一個晚上，問了佐藤老師一個盤據在我心裡很久的問題。我問：「老師，有什麼方法可以訓練出很強的『攻』？」老師溫和地拉起我的右手拍一拍並說：

「沒有這樣的方法。在劍道裡有效的『攻』來自於腳步...

放鬆妳的手跟肩膀，練習腳步是唯一的方法」

二天之後，我有幸可以得到宇都宮老師的指導練習。他充分展示了如何運用腳步進的攻法。

從此，「腳步」對於我有了全新的意義。

Some following conversation on Facebook ...

Utsunomiya
Important point is not breaking down kamae, any time.
But in fact, it is very difficult.
· 5 October at 22:14

Marleen
Dear sensei, I couldn't agree with you any more about "not breaking down kamae any time".
There is a instance from training yesterday. I get to the point I can strike but I was not able to do as I was at the moment of breath in. Thus, I found breath control needs to match with seme.

Marleen
Sensei,
I was too rush to tell you about the instance, forgot to say THANK YOU to your kind reminding
I will try my best not to break down my kamai

Utsunomiya
Dear.Marleen
Don't worry. I'm happy heard that you got another important thing, breath control with seme.
"Not breaking down kamae" is too seriously.
When one's kamae is effective, another one is not in mai.
And a waste action is not appeared, so we are moved by the way (behavior ).
Let't try!

Marleen
Thank you Sensei for the clarification
I will try my best to learn to manage both (Kamai & breath) while seme in to my opponent every time in training

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 whol...

2026 Beginners Information

You are warmly invited to join us and begin your New Year’s journey as a Modern Samurai. Beginners Class (age 14 and above): 1.30 - 2.30pm, Saturdays Little Samurai Class (age under 14): 2.30 - 3.30pm, Saturdays Intermediate and Advanced Class: 3.30 - 6.00pm, Saturdays Starting Dates Term 1: Saturday 17 and 31 January ( no training on 24 January ) Term 2: Saturday 7 and 14 March Term 3: Saturday 25 July and 1 August Term 4: Saturday 31 October and 7 November Course Information No previous experience required. Open to all genders, ages 6 to 60 . Your first lesson is free (trial lesson). Day 1 Kendo Beginners – FAQ Little Samurai Kendo – Parents’ Information Monthly Membership Fees Primary school students: $50.00 Intermediate & high school students: $60.00 Tertiary students: $80.00 Adults: $100.00 Family Discounts Second family member: 50% off Third family member and beyond: free Learning Objectives By the end of the course, you will be ready to put on Bogu (armour)...

Kendo Dōjo basic etiquette & commands for beginner & kyu grades

Kendo Dōjo basic etiquette & commands for beginner & kyu grades Thanks to Janet for organising this article. When entering & leaving the Dōjo （道場, training hall）, we need to bow respectfully from the waist, first towards the direction of Joseki （上席）, in our case this is the Waikato Kendo Club WKC banner. (But in Japanese dōjo there is often a Kamiza （上座） with a small Shinto shrine or altar displayed with religious significance). And then bow towards Sensei & Senpai on your way in before neatly organising your belongings on the side & getting ready quietly. At beginning of each Keiko（稽古）, Sensei（先生）or Senpai（先輩） will say: Line up - Seiretsu （整列） : We will need to quickly find our position along a horizontal line facing Sensei (in the middle) in order of our experience/ rank with Senpai (Seniors) on the right and Kōhai (Juniors, 後輩 ) & Shoshinsha (Beginners, 初心者 ) on the left. Standing straight facing the front, holding Shinai firmly...

Waikato Kendo Club

Search This Blog