Skip to main content

Nicole: Harai-Men Waza





Re: Harai-Men Waza's Training on Saturday 11/06/16:

Harai-men is a good technique to use when you and your opponent has crossed Shinai for a long time and you need to create an opening to hit men. When the timing is right, you can swiftly raise your Shinai in angle and knock your opponent's Shinai off his center line.

There's two versions of Harai-Men:

Omote - (outside, from the right)

In this version, the footwork is very similar to Kote-men that we have practice. A small Fumikomi to knock the Shinai out of the way and another fully committed Fumikomi to hit Men. Sensei mentioned, your Shinai should rubbed the Shinai of your opponent on the right side and raise your Kensen by about 45 degrees and hit downward to knock the Shinai down. The hitting should be small and subtle like small Kote-men.

Ura - (inside, from the left)

In this version, the footwork is like Kihon footwork. You Seme to get closer to your opponent, lower your Kensen, hit 45 degrees upwards on the left and then hit Men with a Fumikomi. Once again the hitting should be small and subtle.

The best timing for using this Waza is when you see your opponent has taken a step back after a long battle to gain the center line. It's important to keep the hitting small and subtle as it was meant to surprise your opponent so that they couldn't react in time to counteract. To be good at the Harai- part, we must practice how to use our left and right wrists to do the hitting just like the small Kihon Uchi.


* Thanks to Nicole R. for the taking the notes.





Comments

Popular Posts

2025 Beginners Information

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...

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...

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...