One at a time

Spammy wrote in his blog that we should practice certain techniques one at a time.

Good point.

For me:

1. (Keep the proper posture) - been working on it.
2. Keep the proper stance - must work on it.
3. (Be forward minded) - been working on it.
4. Work on Seme - must work on it.

Is this too much?

Toe Curling

Spammy showed me how the Toe-Curling works.

Basically, in Kamae, you curl your right foot toe. But, you follow up with your left foot immediately. That way, your whole body can move forward.

The purpose is to move your body forward to get yourself ready for attack,
and to break that moment when your body is froze and can't move.

Working on my stance

Today, I asked PR how he fixed his stance. He said that he practiced everyday at home. He said that he felt very uncomfortable in the beginning, but he fixed it after he practiced everyday at home doing suburi with proper stance.

When I observed his keiko with SPC, PR's feet were perfectly close together.

HSKW senior sensei also showed me the correct stance. When I told him that it's very uncomfortable, he said that I should practice and fix it.

I should do that.

Younger Senseis: KN from OCB and UG

I've already mentioned that the biggest influence in my kendo are:
YMGH sensei, SPC, and Spammy.

But these days, I learn a lot from 2 more people:

UG and KN from OCB.

UG's kendo is proper, straight, and strong. I can see that he also has very good timing.
(He also stresses a lot on timing)

KN from OCB has proper and clean technique. I try to observe his basic techniques during the basic practice sessions. His strikes are exact, too.

Playing Against High-Same-Low Rank

Today, UG told me that:

When I'm playing higher rank, I should learn from them.

When I'm playing same rank, that's when I play normally.

When I'm playing lower rank, that's when I work on my timing, techniques, observing habits, etc.
(Basically practicing my skills)

Spammy told me the same thing before.

Play your opponent

After today's practice, UG told me that I still need to practice what he said last week.
'Play your opponent'

It means:
1. Know what your opponent is good at and use that against him.
For example, if he's good at Men and keep coming with Men, then I should do the technique that would counter his Men for my advantage.
2. Think about what he would do if I do this. If I step forward with Seme, how he would react, and what I would do next. I said it requires too much thinking, then UG said I must practice until it becomes natural so that I don't have to think about it.

One interesting thing I learned from UG:
I must study the opponent so I know what he's good at, what he likes to use the most, etc. He said that it's like robbing a house. I must know when people leave home, when people come in, etc.

UG seems to stress timing. I've seen his kendo, and he's fast. I guess that's what happens when you're good at timing. (that's what he said)
I kinda felt that I had couple good timed attacks, but I feel like I haven't really grasp that yet.
Sometimes I can kinda sense what the opponent will come. But, sometimes not.
UG advised that I should go for what I think he might do, then eventually, I'll be able to sense his timing.

All too difficult to grasp for me. I must think about it more.
But, Ai-Kote-Men is a good example for timing.

Putting my feet closer

Last week, HSKW sensei mentioned that my feet are too wide apart in kamae.
(meaning, my Right foot is way too forward and my Left foot is way too backward)
Today, UG and NG also mentiond the same thing. UG said:

It should be shoulder width aprt,
Right foot step forward, Left toe starting at where the right foot ends.
(and back part of the Left foot slightly raised)

When I tried to correct it, it was so comfortable. I realized that I've been doing the wrong form all along and now when I try to correct it, the correct form feels so uncomfortable.

I told UG that this closer stance does not give me a stable stance. I felt like I could be run over by the opponent if he charges towards me. He suggested that just when I see him coming, I could either:
1. extend my Left foot backward to get that stable stance, OR
2. move to the side and do the Tayatari-Men backward.

He said, "use your head."

I should work on correcting this. UG suggested that I talk to PR about it cuz he fixed this kind of bad form.

I thought that it also might be the reason why I kept raising my back foot (Left foot) when I go for Men b/c my Left foot is already far back, so I could not reach forward enough.

Spammy, Spc, YMGH sensei - Part II

Ever since I was in high school, I've pictured these 3 people in certain images:

1. Spammy - when I thought about Spammy's kendo style, I imagined a powerful and massive rock slide from a rocky mountain.
(I guess his kendo style is powerful)

2. Spc - for Spc's kendo style, I imagined a brief wind that's passing through a quiet Japanese garden.
(I guess his kendo style is swift - or good timing)

3. YMGH sensei - for YMGH sensei's kendo style, I imagined a stone statue slowly but firmly approaching me. No matter what I do, I couldn't stop him. I have no choice but to attack him. And, once I pass him, he turns and comes to me again...hitting all my openings...constantly.
(I guess his kendo style is perfect - although no such thing as perfection exists in this world)

Spammy, Spc, YMGC sensei

I read Spammy's blog today, and it mentioned 2 people that I admire the most in kendo.
(Aside from Spammy)

I thought it would be worth copying and mentioning in my blog:

"But of all the Kendo I've experienced, there are two people whose Kendo I admire most of all: Gooch and Spanky.

I suppose it doesn't matter why I appreciate their Kendo as I do. It's all subjective, but I'll state my reasons anyway:

• Despite their differences in style, strength, and speed, they both strike with honesty, a quality that is hard for me to articulate, and more easily experienced.
• I like how they look as they are performing Kendo.
• Despite everyone having ego, I never feel it from them in an arrogant manner."

I want to know how I can be like them.

Additionally, I like Spammy's kendo because:
1. His kendo is proper yet strong and fast (I should say good timing).
2. His kendo is clean and no unnecessary movements.
3. He has understandable reasons (if not, good explanations) for every movement and technique, and he has made them to be his own. Further, he explains them to me in understandable manner.

I haven't had much experience with other senseis or kenshis, but I guess, knowing Spammy, it is safe to say that I admire Spammy, Spc, and YMGC sensei the most in kendo.

One at a time...

Spammy came to practice today. But, I didn't get to practice w/ him cuz Yj called me to do keiko w/ him and then we practiced waza together afterwards.

But I got to work on Tsuki (thrusting) and Ai-Kote-Men (hitting the kote at the same time as the opponent when he comes in kote, then go for men).

Things I learned today:

1. I did keiko w/ Yamaguchi sensei today, and like Spammy told me, he constantly knew my openings. And, he constantly pressured me to see his openings and go for him. He didn't let me just stand there, but constantly came in to me.
That's how my mind should be like. Constantly looking for openings and going for it.

2. Spammy said that I should work on kendo little by little in each practice. I shouldn't try to do too many things in each practice. So, today, my objective was same as last time except that I added 1 more thing:
1) Keep the good posture.
2) Always have that going forward mind.
3) Don't try to block the opponent's attack.
(I wanted to work on my leaving left foot dragging, but I didn't get to work on that)

3. After the practice, Yj told me that when he watched me practicing w/ other people, I was good. My forms are pretty clean (although still dirty - meaning still sloppy) and I do what I want to do.
But, when I do keiko w/ higher ranks like Yj, he said he could see me coming b/c my attacks are so simple and foreseeable. So, I should be able to play the opponent now. I should upgrade my attacks and control the opponent in the way I want him to react. He said that he thinks that I'm at that level now.
I believe this takes more than just simple single attack, but now higher wazas. But, I was so happy to hear a compliment from Yj.

Always Men

Spammy's blog mentioned Hirata sensei's teaching.

When in doubt, always go for men.

It's better to take the chance and make mistakes than losing the opportunity.

So I do I must.

Don't Show Your Fear!

Yesterday, on Monday practice, Kinno sensei tsuki me twice. It hit me so right that I was afraid to try anything. I was scared.
After the keiko, Yuji said, "Even if you get hit, don't show your fear!"

Stick to the Basics

Last Wednesday, Spammy told me to:

1. Always keep my posture straight.

2. Don't be lured by the opponent's attack by trying to block it, but keep myself straight. Even if I get attacked, look for the opportunities to attack.

3. If I get hit, get hit. But, learn from that hit and don't waste it. Always learn something from it. Always go to kendo with objective to learn something or practice the right technique. Don't just go and try to hit. Doing the right technique is better than just hitting the points.

4. Always have that forward feeling, which means, always look for the opportunities to attack even if I'm back up.

Yesterday on Monday practice, so I did.
Result was that, after the practice, Shoraku sensei came to me and said, "Keep your kendo. It is good."

Starting my kendo blog

Spammy started a kendo blog, and it helps me tremendously.
Spammy always makes things very clear and explains everything in detail.

So, I read his blog, consider his thoughts and reflect upon my own experiences in kendo in each practice. That's the purpose of this blog.

I write my own thoughts and lessons learned so that I don't forget or I can come back later and remind myself.

Thanks Spammy!