cwru kendo handbook

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CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY KENDO CLUB INTRODUCTORY HANDBOOK Fall 2008 Original Design: Hiroko Matsuyama Vector: Joseph Chen Case Western Reserve University Kendo Club 1 www.case.edu/orgs/kendo INTRODUCTION Kendo, the "way of the sword," is the most respected form of modern budo in Japan, and has perhaps the closest links to many aspects of the classical martial tradition. Although it may be broadly categorized as the ritualized, sportive version of Japanese fencing, kendo is neither a viable combat art nor is it a pure sport. The modern heir to the social, cultural, and philosophical heritage of the Japanese martial tradition, kendo is perceived by most experienced practitioners to be an essentially spiritual discipline (Draeger 1974:77). While kendo is a very traditional art and sport, it is also a lot of fun. We try to strike a balance between an emphasis on good form and posture and training for tournaments. The following sections will provide a good introduction to some of the basics of kendo, including the equipment, footwork, exercises, and some general terminology. Hopefully the pictures and diagrams will be a useful guide in understanding the concepts.

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Page 1: CWRU Kendo Handbook

CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY

KENDO CLUB

INTRODUCTORY HANDBOOKFall 2008

Original Design: Hiroko MatsuyamaVector: Joseph Chen

Case Western Reserve University Kendo Club 1

www.case.edu/orgs/kendo

INTRODUCTION

Kendo, the "way of the sword," is the most respected form of modern budo in Japan, and has perhaps the closest links to many aspects of the classical martial tradition. Although it may be broadly categorized as the ritualized, sportive version of Japanese fencing, kendo is neither a viable combat art nor is it a pure sport. The modern heir to the social, cultural, and philosophical heritage of the Japanese martial tradition, kendo is perceived by most experienced practitioners to be an essentially spiritual discipline (Draeger 1974:77).

While kendo is a very traditional art and sport, it is also a lot of fun. We try to strike abalance between an emphasis on good form and posture and training for tournaments.The following sections will provide a good introduction to some of the basics of kendo,including the equipment, footwork, exercises, and some general terminology. Hopefully thepictures and diagrams will be a useful guide in understanding the concepts.

Page 2: CWRU Kendo Handbook

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

KAMAE&FOOTWORK

EXHIBIT A: KEIKO-GIEXHIBIT B: BOGU

EXHIBIT C: WEAPONS !

MEN

DO

KOTE

TARE

DOGI

HAKAMA

shinai

bokken

flamethrower(experienced members only)

your feet should look like this!

width of one foot

area of does-not touch ground

back

straight!

No matter what direction you move in,your left foot should never pass yourright foot.

you’ll also eventually getblisters. sports tape is always nice to have handy

Your shinai should always be pointed at youropponent’s throat.It’s sort of hard to explain how to hold yourshinai on paper... ask one of us later ^^;

Right foot front, left foot back. Your leftheel should be slightly raised during thechu-dan no kamae, which is shown here.

( these are feet )

Case Western Reserve University Kendo Club 2

Page 3: CWRU Kendo Handbook

b. zenshin-kotai shomen-uchi (basic men)a. okina suburi (big men)

while steppingfoward:

knee level

lift!

footwork is same asbig men

left handshould be approx.

WARMING UP SUBURI EXERCISES (these are done after stretching)

1 fist distanceaway from forehead.

swing all the way back. swing all the way down.

repeat stepping back.swing back... but not as far. swing down to about head level.

rinse and repeat.

c. sayu men e. suemono-giri (this thing sucks imo)

stance: feet side-by-side, shoulder width apart.OW

OW

almost identical to the basic men,except you aim for the left+righttemples. the point is to keep yourleft hand centered.

swing up likebasic men

swing down.

shinai should beparallel to the

ground.

d. Sayumen w/ashisabakifootwork

watch and learn... f. hayasuburi

fast version of basic men. you’ll get it eventually <3

TERMINOLOGY

Japanese 1 10

ichinisanshigorokushichihachikyuju

etc.HajimekamaekirutsumokusoReichakuzasonkyoyame

begintake stancestand upmeditatebowsit downsquatstop

shomen ni to front of dojosensei/zenseki ni to sensei/honorary seatotagai ni to each other

ippon : one hit!In matches, each strike

is ONE point. The basiclegal strikes are :

1. Men (to the head)2. Kote (to right wrist)3. Do (to right torso)4. tsuki (to throat, yudansha

only please)Case Western Reserve University Kendo Club 3