Joke: Thank You!

(Right after Richard R. made that stupid-but-funny joke below)

Richard R.:  Hey Lui, what's "5Q" plus "5Q"?

Lui:  ....**10Q..??

Richard R.:  You're welcome...

Kiju:  PUHAHA~!!

**10Q (ten-kyu) has similar pronunciation as "Thank You."

Joke: San Kyu (3 Kyu)

(About a month ago, in the Costa Mesa Kendo Dojo dressing room, just before the practice)

Richard R.:  Hey Lui, you just passed the rank promotion exam last week, right?  What kyu are you now?

Lui:  **San-Kyu (3 Kyu).

Richard R.:  You're welcome...

Kiju:  PUHA~!

**"San-kyu" is also a Japanese way of saying the English word "Thank you" with heavy Japanese accent.

Thought: Chance to Attack (Part I)

This posting is in connection to the last one ("The Fast Kote and The Furious Men").

I remembered that one of the lessons I learned from Yamaguchi Sensei long long time ago was that I should attack right when the opponent takes a step forward.

Basically, in Kamae w/ the opponent, when the opponent takes a little step forward, "right at that split moment when he is taking that small step forward," Yamaguchi Sensei taught me to attack.

Over the time, I've learned through my own experiments that, in order to do this successfully:

1) you have to be calm and relaxed;

2) yet, you have to be in full alert of the opponent's every little movement (to know and feel his small step forward); and

3) you have to see his whole body (not just the target of your strike).

In that little split second when the opponent takes a little step forward is a slight window of opportunity to attack.  When the attack is right, during that small movement of stepping forward, the opponent cannot move and is unable to respond to the attack.

I've been successful occasionally, but it's very easy to miss that lightning moment.  But, the good news is that the chance keeps occurring each time the opponent steps forward.  Also, you can 'make the opponent' to step forward by stepping backward -- then the opponent will step forward to adjust his distance w/ you.  (But, do keep in mind that you cannot just keep backing up.  Must always ready to attack at the right moment even if you back up)

I should work on catching this timing.

Lesson: The Fast Kote and The Furious Men

Last Wed., I have observed a great keiko between Shoraku Sensei and Desmond Senpai.

Desmond Senpai's timing is great and his Kote is 'unbelievably' fast.  A few weeks ago, I've seen Desmond Senpai doing keiko against someone, and Desmond Senpai attempted 6-7 Kote attacks and he got all of them (the other person just could not do anything about it).  Also, Yamaguchi Sensei once told me that "Nakamoto (D.) has very good timing..."  During my own keiko w/ Desmond Senpai, I also have attempted to avoid his Kote attacks or tried to attack, but I was never successful.

So, I was very interested in watching Shoraku Sensei v. Desmond Senpai.

At one point, after a long Kamae against each other, Desmond Senpai went for his signature Kote attack (again, 'unbelievably' fast and committing himself fully in the attack).  But, right at the beginning moment of the attack, Shoraku Sensei went for the **Men attack, and accomplished the attack.

It was in such a lightning moment, but I could see what people meant by 'timing.'  If Shoraku Sensei would've 'responded' to Desmond Senpai's attack, I'm not sure if the Sensei could've accomplished the attack.  But at the right timing, which is right at the beginning 'moment' of Desmond Senpai's attack, the Sensei went for the full attack.

I wanted to work on that timing (attacking right before the opponent's attack); and I wanted to work on that fast Kote like Desmond Senpai's as well.  

**While talking to Desmond Senpai today, I've realized that Shoraku Sensei's attack was actually Kote.  I couldn't remember clearly whether it was the Men or the Kote attack.  But, what's important is that the Sensei was successful in countering such fast Kote attack.

Lesson: Proper Footwork When Attacking

Recently, I spoke w/ Yamaguchi Sensei after the practice.  

He told me not to raise up my right foot (just before attacking) in order to consciously do fumi-komi.  Instead, I should just do regular Suri-ashi and reach out far.

He showed me that when I consciously raise my right foot up in order to do fumi-komi, my right foot stops in the middle of the attack, thus only my upper body pushes forward but not my lower body.  It also shortens my attacking distance.

However, when I just reach out my right foot as if I'm doing a regular (but longer) Suri-ashi, it reached out much further.  The stomping of the foot should then naturally occur.  I should not consciously try to stomp by raising my right foot just before the attack.

Lesson: Fudoshin ("Unmoving Heart")

A few months ago, when Yuji Sensei gave me my shinai bag, which had "Fudoshin ('Unmoving Heart')" written on it, as my birthday gift,  he said, "that's what I want you to have...an unmoving heart."

Today, after observing my kendo, he said that I should be more calm and not get too excited because, when I get excited, my bad habits/postures start come out and my kendo becomes sloppy (and not clean/proper).

Once I lose my calmness and get excited, I start lifting my back leg when attacking and get tensed up when I turn around after the attack.  He said that I should maintain that calmness all throughout my kendo.

(The following is the definition from Wikipedia)

Fudōshin (Japanese: 不動心) is a state of equanimity or imperturbability (literally and metaphorically, "immovable heart" or "unmoving heart") – a philosophical/mental dimension to a (usually Japanese) martial art which contributes to the effectiveness of the advanced practitioner.

Fudoshin:

A spirit of unshakable calm and determination,


courage without recklessness,


rooted stability in both mental and physical realms.


Like a willow tree,


powerful roots deep in the ground


and a soft, yielding resistance against


the winds that blow through it.

Lesson: Seigan No Kamae (a.k.a. Chudan No Kamae)

Recently, I have been learning Seigan No Kamae (a.k.a. Chudan No Kamae) from Takahashi Sensei.  (He has been teaching this to me for quite awhile, but for some reason, I started really thinking about it recently)

During the keiko w/ Takahashi Sensei, it's always been that his Kamae is so good that I could never accomplish my attacks.  When I asked him what to do, he said that I should always have a good Seigan No Kamae.  If I have a good Kamae, that becomes both the starting point of attack and defense.  

I don't think I have fully mastered this, so I'll try to work on it but will write more about it in the future.  But, today, during the keiko w/ Richard R., I applied the Seigan No Kamae blocks and it worked most of the times.

Lesson: Drills v. Keiko

Recently, Desmond Senpai and Roxy Sensei both pointed out that my kendo during the basic drills and keiko are different.  (It was funny how the couple -- they're married -- told me 'exactly' the same thing in completely different times!)

Desmond Senpai (and Roxy Sensei also) said that my kendo during the basic drills (exercising specific strikes) are fine, but when it comes to keiko, my kendo changes.  I become more hesitant, indecisive and incompetent.  Even if I miss the attack or get hit, I should go for the attacks using the proper kendo with full energy.

My kendo during the drills and keiko should be consistent.

Lesson: Big Motion Using Shoulder

One of my many bad habits is that I strike just using my forearms(?).  (It is really hard to describe with words, but I'll try to draw it out next time)

Many people have been pointing that out, and I remember long time ago that Shoraku Sensei told me to swing my strike using shoulders.  In fact, he said that, when I do Kiri-kaeshi, I should use full shoulders and make big motions for each strike.  (Please refer to my past blog entry)

Recently, Takahashi Sensei pointed out that my strikes are very small, so he can easily block and prevent my attacks.  He said that I should use bigger swings using my shoulders.  He said that "in the long run, this will help [my] kendo to be a good kendo."

For some reason, it kinda clicked in my head.  (I don't know why and how, but it just did)

From now on, although not perfect, I try to use bigger swing using my shoulder when I do suburi, basic drills and keiko.

It is much difficult and tiring to use the whole arms from shoulders because the motion is bigger, more energy is consumed and I still have to be fast.  But, just like many lessons I learned from kendo that are being applied in my life:  I must do it the right and proper way even if it requires much more effort and energy.

Misc: Congratulations!

Spencer Sensei got 7th dan this month.

Congratulations! Spencer Sensei!

Lesson: Do Not Stop Even If You Miss

(It's been such a long long time since the last entry -- for about 2 months?  Thank you everyone for your support...I felt very privileged.  So many lessons I've learned since then, and I don't know where to start.  So, I'll just start from the lesson learned from today's practice, and gradually include my past & future lessons together.)

After the practice today, Spencer Sensei told me that since I got my 3 dan now, I should start working on my kendo for the 4 dan test for the next 3 years.

He said that I stop suddenly in the middle of attack if my attack fails or the opponent blocks it.  He said that, regardless of whether my attack is successful or not, I should go through and not stop suddenly in the middle.

Also, if I attacked and bump into the opponent (instead of going through), then I should go for the tai-atari attacks.

He said that, in 4 dan test, if I stop in the middle of my attack, the judges will fail me.  So, I should develop the habit of keep going through (or tai-atari) instead of stopping.