Lesson: Seme te Men

I. Problem: One-Step Attacks

Until now, I didn't really try to use Seme b/c I never could really understand the concept. Plus, one-step attacks from close distance (*Chikai-ma-ai) were much easier and tempting (especially when I really wanted to win), so I didn't really bother to learn the concept of Seme. I just kept practiced being fast in one-step attacks from the closest distance.

(*Chikai-ma-ai (close distance): Also called Chika-ma. A smaller distance than **Issoku-itto-no-ma-ai. At this distance, one's strike can easily reach the opponent, but the same holds for the opponent's strike.)

(**Issoku-itto-no-ma-ai: The distance which enables a player to strike the opponent by taking one step forward and to evade the opponent's strike by taking one step backward. The fundamental spatial distance in kendo.)

But, after I got my 3 dan, I began to realize that most Sensei and advanced kenshi can block my one-step attacks. Also, because I ONLY could attack from one-step distance, I had to wait until the opponent comes close enough for me to attack. But, usually, the opponent (usually being Sensei or advanced kenshi) already comes in w/ Seme then translates right into the decisive attack even before I had my chance of attack. I began to see the need of attack where I'm in charge of the attack and I control the opponent (not the other way).

II. The Need for Proper Distance

Long time ago, Spencer Sensei told me that once the opponent comes into your territory (probably start passing the Issoku-itto-no-ma-ai) then start pressing in, I shouldn't just stand there. Once the opponent crosses Chika-ma, it's already too close. Recently, Jae Choi Sensei told me that I just stand there when the opponent keep pressing in until the distance is too close. He said when the opponent is too close, pull back, regain my proper distance and start again.

So, from that Issoku-itto-no-ma-ai (the distance which I'm not so used to in attacking), how am I suppose to attack effectively while having the opponent under my control?

III. Clearing Opponent's Defense

Recently, Jae Choi Sensei began teaching me that I should clear my way (clearing the opponent's defense) so that I can attack. He said I can either 1) knock out the opponent's shinai thus physically moving the opponent's defense out of the way, OR 2) I can use Seme to create openings. Then, he taught me the first option of knocking the opponent's shinai out. (He taught me this long time ago too, but I never realized the significance of it until now)

From this Monday's conversation w/ Spencer Sensei and Yuji Sensei's teachings from earlier, the second option of using Seme also began to make sense to me. (Please refer to "Lesson: Seme w/ Purpose" from my previous blog) After all, in order for me to effectively attack, I should remove the opponent's defense and create opening either by my own physical force or by having the opponent do it voluntarily.

IV. Seme

A. Spencer Sensei

Every time I practice w/ Spencer Sensei, when he strikes my Men, I have this vivid image of him attacking me. It's so consistent each time that I have this mental picture of him -- that split second moment image of him attacking me. I tried to draw it as best as I could, but please excuse my bad drawing... :)

Now I think about it, his Men attacks were not one-step attack but Seme te Men attack (usually Seme to my Tsuki). The most recent image of this attack I have is his attack from the Yamaguchi Cup.

So, this is the idea (picture).

B. Jae Choi Sensei

Since I was a beginner, and many times before, and recently also, Jae Choi Sensei made me to do the following drill: 1) take first step and strike Tsuki; then 2) strike Men.

I never understood why, but now I can understand that that drill was the most basic steps of learning the effective Seme te Men.

At the time, I couldn't understand the purpose b/c in real keiko, when I stepped in w/ Tsuki, all my opponents blocked me. So, I could not link the first step of the drill to the next step (Men strike). But, now I can see that Jae Sensei was teaching me that "Seme w/ Purpose of Striking Tsuki." If I can smoothly connect both motions into one, then I should have the same motion as when Spencer Sensei attacks me.

C. Takahashi Sensei and Richard Ra

So, yesterday, I practiced Seme te Men w/ Richard. When I asked Richard if he could feel my Seme (the pressure), he said no b/c my Seme is not centered. He said that when I press in, my shinai should be centered or else, it will not break the opponent's defense. He said, "there's only one center for either one of us' shinai."

Then, I remembered Takahashi Sensei's teaching from Monday (and several times before) that "whoever has the center wins." He always stressed to me that I must have the center in order to have successful attack.

V. Conclusion

When I tried to practice it yesterday at the Yakusoku Keiko w/ Richard, it was so awkward b/c, from the further distance than what I'm used to, I had to step in w/ Seme THEN attack. It already lowered my confidence level b/c the distance is further and there's more step involved. But, for me to create the opening by pressuring the opponent (either having him raise or tilt his shinai or just make him stand there), this is imperative. I should work on this.