Thought: Keiko

"keiko (n.)

Originally to study (kei) ancient times (ko), this term is used for the practice of bugei (martial arts) and geino (arts).  This word doesn't mean simply the repeating of practice; its meaning includes the importance of one's attitude toward the art being practiced.  The process of training is connected to one's way of life and to the creation of a new self, with the unification of the art and one's way of life being an important element."

-Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo by AJKF

Do you Keiko?

Lesson: Go "Through" The Opponent

On Wed., I did Keiko with Spencer Sensei.
He stopped me in the middle of the Keiko and said that I'm going 'around' him after striking the Men.

After the practice, I went up to him for a feedback. He said that I should imagine that I'm gonna go "through" the opponent. I know that my tendency is to go to the side after the strike. However, I should imagine to go "through" the opponent.

Lesson: Bring Your Foot Right Up

On Wed., after observing my Keiko w/ Spencer Sensei,
Yuji Sensei told me that I could've had some valid Men points but I dragged my left leg behind
thus leaning my body forward and didn't reach far enough to hit the valid Men.

He then told me to bring the left leg right up after striking.

Good to be back!

today was my second practice in 1 month and half.  it's good to be back!!

Lesson: Teaching by Example

At this past Monday's practice, I've learned a valuable lesson from Kendo:  teach others by being an example.

1.  Lesson from Jerry B. and Yamaguchi Sensei

I did Keiko w/ Jerry B., and I played horribly (my Kendo was bad, I couldn't even hit a solid strike, and I tried Gyaku-Do and missed it and hit his arm really hard).  

But, after the Keiko, I met w/ Jerry and began telling him what I thought he should improve and would help his Kendo.

I came home and thought about it, and I felt really bad b/c:

1) I don't even practice Kendo actively (due to studying), AND

2) I didn't even perform a proper or good Kendo, BUT

3) I was telling him what I thought he should do.

I remembered my conversation w/ Yamaguchi Sensei after one tournament.  He told me that being a Shimpan is very important b/c they themselves have to constantly practice Kendo and know how to perform the proper Kendo so that they can validly and properly judge other people's Kendo.  A Shimpan has to know it for himself before judging others.

I thought about how I observe other Senseis' Kendo or learn from the Senseis who know their Kendo so well.  I was learning from their examples.  I should be like that to other lower ranks.

2.  Lesson from At-chan and Sergio

I was trying to teach At-chan how to tie Men, but Yuji Sensei pointed out that I was doing it wrong.  I also was trying to teach Sergio how to do a proper Son-kyo but Yuji Sensei corrected my Son-kyo and taught us how to do it properly.

Lesson learned:  (SEE ABOVE)

*To see the general guideline on proper Kendo, please check our dojo's blog.  I put a link to the YouTube video by All Japan Kendo Federation's instructional video (basics, intermediate, advanced).

Lesson: Seme with Heart

Whenever I step forward to have Seme against Spencer Sensei, he always seems to know whether I'm really going for his Men or just faking it (and going for something else).  Whenever I'm really going for his Men, he blocks it.  Whenever I'm faking it and going for something else (like his Do or Kote, he just keeps his Kamae straight thus making my attack meaningless).

I asked Yuji Sensei if that was because Spencer Sensei just has very good eyes to catch what I'm doing.

Yuji Sensei said that it's because I don't put my heart into my Seme.

He didn't say any further.

I should work on this.

Misc: Go! Costa Mesa!

This weekend is Kubota Memorial Tournament.

Almost all of the members of our dojo will be participating (except me).

Go! Costa Mesa Kendo Dojo!!!

Lesson: Suri-ashi and Zanshin

Yuji Sensei observed my Keiko w/ Kinno Sensei, and pointed out that I have no Suri-ashi and Zanshin.

In Kamae, while I'm seeking the chance to attack and observing the opponent, I hopped like a boxer instead of moving back and forth by Suri-ashi.  

Also, after striking the opponent, I hopped like a horse instead of gliding through the floor w/ Zanshin.

As for me, it takes a lot of foot and leg work to do that smooth Suri-ashi, so I tend to get lazy and just hop.  I should work on my footwork and perform that Suri-ashi well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4jPajrDs7g&feature=related

(I'm posting Eiga Sensei's Suri-ashi that I observed from YouTube)

Lesson: Relax

On WED practice, after the Keiko w/ Hosokawa Senior Sensei, I asked him if I should fix any problem.  He said, "Relax...don't be too tight."

I also remembered Richard R. told me few practices ago, "When I'm relaxed, I do so much better.  When I'm too tight, I can't move as freely as I wanted to."

So, I applied that to my Keiko w/ Shoraku Sensei.  I relaxed.

First, I completely relaxed both my shoulders in my Kamae, and I applied strength only at the instant moment when I was striking.  

Secondly, I tried to imagine that I did not have my Bogu on (thus freeing myself from the restrictions of the Bogu).  I could feel that I started to see wider vision (not only focused on my opponent but more area around him).  I remembered Spencer Sensei once told me of this --- "at first, you'll only see your opponent, but as you practice more and get more comfortable, you'll start to see more and wider."

I felt much better.

Lesson: Practice More

Today, Yuji Sensei observed my Keiko and said, "you need to practice more."

Just like any other things in life: practice, practice, practice.

2008: New Year

I should organize this blog better.
Happy New Year!

Lessons

1.  Spencer Sensei:  Tsuki

There are 2 ways to hit Tsuki.

One is to go directly forward from Kamae.  Here, if you miss it, the shinai will get stuck on the opponent's neck or something.

Second is to go forward but raise your shinai a little, then come down.

The second method helps because when you miss that Tsuki, you can still hit the top of the opponent's Do (the front part) and then still attack.

2.  Yuji Sensei:  Going forward

After hitting Men, charge forward as if you're gonna kill the opponent.

(In other words, don't be timid)

3.  Yamaguchi Sensei:  Do not take your eyes off the opponent

After hitting Men, don't just keep going forward.  Once the opponent disappears from your hindsight, you came too far.  Don't take your eyes off the opponent.

4.  Yamaguchi Sensei:  Kakari-Geiko

Good Motodachis don't just open up the openings.  They pressure the Kenshi with Seme, so that the Kenshi reacts to it or they react to the Kenshi's Seme, so the Kenshi can find the openings and hit it.  Don't just open up obviously.

5.  Kinno Sensei:  Always attack

When facing the opponent and you see the opponent coming in, don't just stick out your shinai trying to block the opponent.  It is not a wrong method, but rather, try to find the openings and attack.  There's always openings.

6.  Spencer Sensei:  Step combinations

I said that many beginners and intermediates (like myself) try to attack from the one-step distance.  But, he said it's predictable and easy to block.  Try to use little steps to create Seme and then attack.  You can adjust the speed and tempo of your steps to change the timings (so to become unpredictable).  Thus, you gotta work on your Suri-ashi.

"Hidari Jodan...?...?....?"

Ah!!  So embarrassing!!!

During the Kata session after Wed. practice, Yamaguchi Sensei was pointing out somethings and everyone was circled around Yamaguchi Sensei.  He called me out to show something that he was talking about.  He told me to do "Hidari Jodan."

But...

All the sudden, my mind went "blank."

I was like......uh........doing Hatso......and doing all these other things........

(For those who don't know what "Hidari Jodan" is, it's the form that Uchidachi starts with in the Kata #1)

I finally got it, but...ah....so embarrassing!!!

Yuji Sensei: "Go all in!"

(For the past few months, many things happened.  I got a job, and I've been so busy.  But, due to the great demand from the reader(s) of this blog---namely, Ray, I decided to write this blog again...Thanks, Ray!)

I haven't been practicing Kendo for like a month because I got a job in LA that kept me really busy.  Commute between Irvine and LA for 7 days a week really sucks.  This morning, I got a text message from Yuji Sensei (actually, he probably sent it last night, but I was knocked out by the fatigue from working overtime, which was between 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tues.).  He said that I should at least come practice Kata since I'm registered for the Shinsa (Test) w/in a few weeks.  Plus, he said, Lui was asking me if I'm really busy or just being lazy.

I went to the Wed. practice today, and I felt so weired to get back to Kendo again.  Only 1 month of absence, but it felt like a long long time to me.

Did a Geiko with Lui.  He improved a lot.  Now, his feet were really moving, and his motions really big.  I could foresee how he'll fly around me like a butterfly and sting me like a bee within a few years.  Bennett also improved a lot as well.  It's always great to see the Kohais doing well.

During the Geiko with Ray, we both went for Men.  His Men went in but I missed my Men.  Yuji Sensei was observing this, and he called me up and said:

"If you're gonna go for Men, go all in.  If you go for Men with uncertainty and your opponent goes all in, you're bound to lose.  You already lost if you don't have that confidence.  Also, don't just stop right before you hit.  If you're gonna go for it, go all the way in!"

For some reason, I always see my character or my state of mind during Kendo.  And, what Yuji Sensei said was so true of me.  I felt so strange that Yuji Sensei was telling me as if he was talking about my character.  When facing uncertainty (that's always how it is in Kendo...when facing the opponent...because you never know what's gonna happen) with desire to win (something important at stake), my natural reaction is to become too careful or be half-hearted in going forward (because always too afraid).  Yup, I'm a coward.  But, with what little I have, I want to start again and try to go forward.  Isn't that what being brave is all about?

I had a similar talk with my boss a few weeks ago.  She said that, "many attorneys analyze way too much, so they cannot get anything done.  They just think too much and are too afraid that they don't wanna do anything.  I've seen so many attorneys like that.  You just have to move forward and learn as you go."  She had the right to say this because she is totally opposite.  At that moment, it was funny how she spoke like many Senseis at Kendo.  I told her about that, and she wanted her son (4 yrs old) to do Kendo.

Jae (Choi) once wrote in his Kendo blog that martial art reflects what's in you.  That was true for me.  Then, now that I know what I lack (or what needs to be fixed), it's my job to do what is right.  How to do it?  What I believe to be the Costa Mesa Dojo's one of the few mottos:  "Work on your basics."  Go back to the basics, do it slowly, do it right, do it consistently and continuously.

"Basically," get back to Kendo again.

Did I over analyze it this time again?  :d

 

A Really Good Lesson from Yamaguchi Sensei - Part II

On Wed., I tried to keep practice that Sen-sen-no-sen concept.  I did a Geiko with another member of our dojo (I forgot his name), but this time, it was really difficult to catch his timing.

Usually, I can see the opponent moving back and forth, and I attack right when he moves forward (that is the Sen-sen-no-sen concept that I know).  But, he had either very small steps (thus I could not perceive his movement) or had movement timing that is very difficult to catch.  Either way, I tried to attack few times but all my attacks were blocked (which means he could see my attack and was able to block).

After that, I did a Geiko with Yamaguchi Sensei.  (As people who did Geiko with him would know) After a few minutes, I was already exhausted and could not even breathe well.  But, I tried to keep it up thinking that this is one of those very precious moment when I can practice with Yamaguchi Sensei (especially now that he is not well after the operation).

After the practice, I went to Yamaguchi Sensei and asked him how was my Kendo today.  I told him that I looked up the concept of the three Sen (Mitsu-no-sen): Sen-sen-no-sen, Sen, and Go-no-sen.  (He said that the middle one is actually called Sen-zen-no-sen)

I told him that it worked fine in some instances but it didn't work well today b/c I couldn't get the timing right.  He told me to keep practice it and I'll get used to it.  He told me to just focus on Sen-sen-no-sen now.  He said that If I do not have Sen-sen-no-sen, I cannot other things.

He also said that in doing Geiko with me today, I was pretty good except that I attacked little too early or little too late.  

So, I must keep working on Sen-sen-no-sen. 

Result of the Lesson from Yamaguchi Sensei

On Monday, indeed, Yuji Sensei DID have Uchikoi and Kakari-Geiko.

I was all up for it.

But, since our dojo's ventilation is really bad, it felt like practicing Kendo in a sauna room.

I got so exhausted so easily...

During the Geikos, I tried to remember what Yamaguchi Sensei told me yesterday, and especially tried to work on my Sen-sen-no-sen timing.

After few Geikos, I went up to Yuji Sensei for comments and feedbacks.

He pointed out that my Kamae and attack are not straight when I'm tired.

Other than that, he said, "Not bad..."

That was such a big complement for me.

A Really Good Lesson from Yamaguchi Sensei

Last Sunday at Nisei Week Tournament, Yamaguchi Sensei gave us (the Costa Mesa Dojo Team) some good advices.  Basically, we need more Kakari-Geiko.  (Probably to develop the sense of timing, preciseness and aggressiveness)  Also, he mentioned that doing a proper Kendo (with proper basics) is much more important than getting points in tournaments.

*He told us to watch Spencer Sensei's Kendo.

After that, I personally went to Yamaguchi Sensei and asked him how I could improve my Kendo.

He gave me some important points:

1.  Kamae

He asked me why do you hold your Kamae the way we do?  Is it because everyone tells you so? He said that we hold Kamae because to protect ourselves.  (Thus, if we hold the Kamae correctly, we should be able to protect ourselves).

2.  The Concept of Seme

He said that I should be able to use Seme.  He asked me what Seme was, so I answered that it's the attacking feeling.  He said that I should attack BEFORE the opponent attacks me.  He said that I should ALWAYS "Attack First" so that the opponent cannot attack me.  (in other words, Offense is the best Defense) So I asked, "Always attack first?"  Then he said that there are different chances to attack.

  2a.  Sen-sen-no-sen

      He said that when the opponent slightly moves forward, you can attack (even BEFORE the opponent does anything but when he just steps forward a little).  In fact, this is one of the very first lesson I've learned from Yamaguchi Sensei long long time ago.  In Kamae, when the opponent steps forward a little bit, I attack with all my body.  I found it to be working really well, and people thought I was really fast.  But in reality, it was just that I found that good chance to attack (right at the moment they're stepping forward and they're immovable for that split second).

      When I explained this to him, he said that this is the first level.  I told him that I used this many times during Geiko, but I started to face opponents who do not move at all.  When we begin our Geiko, some opponents just stood there with very strong Kamae and never moved.  So, I gradually began to forget that Sen-sen-no-sen practices.

  2b.   Examining the Opponent with Shinai

      He said that after the first level (I think I should built upon each level and NOT take one and discard the other level), then I should examine the opponent's mind by tapping the opponent's Shinai with mine.  But, I do not believe that he meant by mindlessly tapping the opponent's Shinai but slowly touching (or pressing or going around) his Shinai to examine and see the opening.  Then, attack upon seeing the opening.  Or, I should start to create opening.

  2c.   Feeling the Attack

      He said that I should start feeling (foretelling) what the opponent will do.  Yuji Sensei mentioned this too long time ago (when I asked him when should I attack).  Yamaguchi Sensei said that I can only gain this by many practices and experiences.

3.  Practice

He said that in Shiyai, it is natural to have that feeling of wanting to win.  However, he said that I should suppress it, or else, I cannot perform the true Kendo (I start lose focus, form, timing, etc.).  He said that I can thwart this strong urge to win and keep myself by many experiences of Shiyai.

Also, my body should naturally obtain all the above concepts by many practices.  He said that some people over-analyze things (like myself).  It's all too difficult to explain in words but I should know it by practices.  Also, no matter how much I know in knowledge, if I cannot do it, it's useless.  He told me to not to think too much.  (He also said that since I have good basics, I should work on the above concepts during practices -- yea!).

4.  Watch

(In relation to the above Seme concept) He said to watch his Kendo.  Watch Spencer Sensei and Yuji Sensei's Kendo.  Watch how they do it and when they do it.  He said that when he does Geiko with people, he sees if people can figure out the chances to attack or not.  He said that I'm sometimes little slow.

After I talked to Yamaguchi Sensei, I was so motivated to practice Kendo harder.

Real Name

From now on, I've decided to use real name for everyone I mention.

Playing against Jodan

On Wed practice,

UG taught me how to play against Jodan.

He said that I should go for Tsuki in the beginning to create that fear and confusion to the opponent.  Then, give the Tsuki seme then right when the opponent lowers his hands to block THEN go for Men.

He said, "make your opponent to guess what you're gonna do."

Good point.

How to do Kiri-kaeshi

On Monday practice,

SHRKU sensei said that in doing Kiri-kaeshi, I should use by "shoulders" to swing, not just arms.

If I use my arms, it'll only make me more tired and nothing would help.

I should use both my shoulders and make big motions, so that it helps me to use my full body.