(Kendo Secrets ) Center: Body, Footwork and Shinai #Kendo!

I've been told by my sensei that I don't come at him straight, and told that I move away as if I avoid him.. I get worried about crashing into him and other people don't want to knock them down... is this just a mindset I need to get past? I recently got the green light to wear my men, so, I am expected to just "go!"

I remember watching a show on NHK years ago where a 8th dan was talking about grading others for 7th or 8th dan and he mentioned that he always checks to see if the left foot is twisted or correctly pointing straight ahead. I always remember it, Been very helpful for me.

Creo que si. I appreciate it.

When striking with the arms both full stretch out, i noticed the centre is actually at the left eye. Any thoughts?

Relatd to this (I think) : how to take the center on men attacks.

I personnaly have always struggled on this attack, I've always found kote and do much more comfortable (I am third dan).
Men always seems out of reach. Can't say if it is a psychological issue or somthing else, over time I've improved my speed, explosivity and ability to construct and prepare my attacks but I still feel less at home with men attacks. Any thoughts ?

Edit : I just discovered your channel, love it ! Hola from France !

Regarding the kamae from tip 2:
Tani sensei explained it with these points of reference:
Left hand thumb is exactly in the middle, nakayui is in the middle and the Lensen points towards the opponent's left eye

Hi Jose, your 2nd tip was actually mentioned and draw out in a lecture note by Toshio Matsumoto (松本 敏夫), 9th Dan Hanshi - I wonder if you have seen that document. It enlighten quite a lot about this "natural stance" (that's what Matsumoto sensei calls it).

This tip help to solve a big confusion for a long time. Thanks so much.

Great video! Would love to see more in this series. But I don't think the Amazon link for shinai is working anymore...

Interesting Concept and Great Video

Very useful - thank you for sharing

Love your vids, you're like the Jesse Enkamp of Kendo

hi Jose,

it is a great tip. I am also doing suburi with that footsteps in mind and it is really helpful. For second tip, I am learning and practicing it now, I found that it is really good, especially you already protect your kote.

Thank you for your video. Love this series :)

Nice Tips👍!! Thank you🙇🏽!!

This sounds like a useful series. Please continue.

This sounds very related to another tip I received:
When going forward with fumikomi, instead of having your front leg land directly ahead, think of it like landing in the center line. Because our front leg is on the right, if we just think forward, it might steer to the right. Your method of angling the right foot sounds like another building block to achieve this.

Good video. Just the day before I discussed this problem with my friends.

This vid is very useful, it's truth that setting the right foot to slide slightly toward the opp's right foot will fix the issue with ai-men technique. And tip 2 is the same of what my 6 dan sensei taught me.

Great Kendo Video!
Tip1: I have nver heard of it, but will give it a try. My first impression is that it might be unconfortable. Will let you know what I think after testing it out.
Tip2: Ever since preparing for godan exam I was using this. It's far more relaxed and having the hands closer to yourself also gives you more reach (measured from the tip) and space to move and get ontop of the partners shinai, compared to holding the shinai away from your body. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say here.

Really great video, I'm going to play with this soon. Thanks so much.

My sensei always tells me that I have to keep my elbows straight when I do a "men" but I have a hard time fully stretching my left elbow, could you give me some advice to improve my technique pls? pd. i learn a lot of u and ur videos ty for all <3

Please more video Kendo basic ❤