Nagayama Sensei
This week we have a gust from Japan. Nagayama Sensei is from Miyagi Prefecture (Kendo kyoshi 7 dan, Iaido kyoshi 7 dan & Jodo kyoshi 7 dan) and is in Australia teaching and training.
We had our first session with him today. We just worked on cutting men. He made some very good comments (I hope remember these correctly)-
Fumikomi - this should be like jumping over a big gap in the foot path. Do not lift the knee in some stomping sort of movement.
There is also the normal reminders about staying upright and not hunching as you cut and follow though.
One interesting points was that you can be judged by the shape/space of your back. This is about maintaining the correct posture.
When following though after the cut make sure your left arm is parallel to the floor.
The target is the centre back of the men button.
We do not train anywhere near enough or hard enough.
As you seme, drop the kansen ever so slightly and maintain the centre. This allows you to push your opponents shinai out of centre allowing you to cut.
We are not practicing kendo without proper focus/attitude.....(the chicken fighting comment)
On a personal note - I seemed to be getting better extension on my men cuts.
We have a big session with Nagayama Sensei on Monday afternoon - should be good!
We had our first session with him today. We just worked on cutting men. He made some very good comments (I hope remember these correctly)-
Fumikomi - this should be like jumping over a big gap in the foot path. Do not lift the knee in some stomping sort of movement.
There is also the normal reminders about staying upright and not hunching as you cut and follow though.
One interesting points was that you can be judged by the shape/space of your back. This is about maintaining the correct posture.
When following though after the cut make sure your left arm is parallel to the floor.
The target is the centre back of the men button.
We do not train anywhere near enough or hard enough.
As you seme, drop the kansen ever so slightly and maintain the centre. This allows you to push your opponents shinai out of centre allowing you to cut.
We are not practicing kendo without proper focus/attitude.....(the chicken fighting comment)
On a personal note - I seemed to be getting better extension on my men cuts.
We have a big session with Nagayama Sensei on Monday afternoon - should be good!