Skip to main content

Kendo's footwork is not walking/running/jumping - Training notes by Nicole

Image
By


Today's important message from Senpai during training (13/02/2016):

We mainly did Kihon Waza today and the main focus is footwork. The better we can utilised the footwork we practised during conditioning session, the faster we can to adjust to all kinds of scenarios during Shiai.

Big, normal and small Tsuri-ashi are foremost important for executing a good Seme and thus create a good distance to strike the target for a valid point during Shiai. To demonstrate this, we were practising to hit the Shinai that was held up with uneven distance and different height by Mododatchi along the straight line continuously. A valid strike means that Kakarite have to hit the target by the Mono-uchi of their Shinai so Kakarite will need to Seme with big Tsuri-ashi or a few normal Tsuri-ashi rapidly before hitting if the distance between target is too far. If the target is too close, Kakarite will need Seme with a small Tsuri-ashi and sometime Kakarite will have to hit straight away without a Seme. 


Fumi-Komi is another important part of this exercise. Never lift the front foot (right) up to stamp, it's using the hip and body weight to create a falling motion. Back foot (left) needs to catch up as quickly as the front foot (right) reach to the desirable distance. Almost like a kick so that Kakarite can come back to Kamai ASAP or get ready for a second Fumi-komi.

Turning back to Kamae position is also very crucial for example turning back after Zanshin for Kakarite or Mododatchi turning away from Kararite after being hit on the Kote. These were demonstrated in Gohon Waza. 

Points to remember with footwork - Kendo's footwork is not walking/running/jumping! 
Tsuri-ashi is sliding as if your front foot (right) resting on top of a piece of paper and push off with the ball of your back foot (left). After each slide, we have to come back to Kamae position so that we are ready to move along or achieve a strike with Fumi-komi. 

Common mistakes - 
Beginner forgot to catch up with the back foot as the front foot slide.This means longer preparation time and slowing us down.
Sometime the back foot surpass the front foot when catching up. That is no different to running and this bring us too close to the Mododatchi so wouldn't be able to create a good distance to hit the target by the Mono-uchi.
Turning too slow and hence giving opportunity to other your opponent to hit back.
Too much unnecessary foot steps before coming to back to Kamae position or Seme, elongates preparation time and makes us look bad. 
(Sorry, this one is super long because there's so much to cover for footwork.)


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

2025 Beginners Information

By
You are warmly invited to join us and  start your New Year resolutions as a  Modern Samurai .  --- Information for Year 2025 Beginners --- Little Samurai Class (age under 14): 1.30 - 2.30pm, Saturdays  Beginners Class (age 14 and above): 2.30 - 3.30pm, Saturdays Intermediate and Advanced Class : 3.30 - 6.00pm, Saturdays Starting Dates: Term 1: Saturday 25 January Term 2: Saturday 10 May  We will be accepting new students all Saturdays of May, but the earlier you can start, the better. Term 3: Saturday 19 July   Term 4: Saturday 11 October Join our 2025 Beginners Facebook Group  now to get updates. Or, email us for more information.  Course Information: No previous experience required. Regardless of gender,  ages from 6 to 60  are all welcome. First lesson  is your Free trial. Membership Fees:  Kids and School students: 50.00 per month Tertiary students and adults: 80.00 per month Family discounts : the 2nd family member is 50...
Post a Comment
Read more

How do you practice seme?

By
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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Experiencing Jōdan-no-Kamae & Gyaku-Dō

By
Wednesday 31st May 2023 Keiko Reflection - Janet Tonight’s Keiko was planned by Marleen sensei & led by Senpais Leo & Joyce.  We had a rare opportunity to watch & learn some wazas/ techniques first hand from both senpais particularly on their specialties: Jōdan-no-Kamae & Gyaku-Dō. The upper-level posture or stance ( Jōdan-no-Kamae ) which Leo Senpai uses, is the Hidari (left) Jōdan , where the left foot is in front of the right foot, so essentially the foot positions are reversed from normal Chudan position.  Using the posterior right foot to push off when going forwards & the anterior left foot to push off when going backwards.  Otherwise all other elements of footwork remains the same, like heels off the ground using Suriashi sliding steps, maintain inner parallel & the distance between both feet, right foot not overtaking left foot, using the left foot for fumikomi & right foot quickly follow up after strike to run through with Zanshin…etc....
Post a Comment
Read more