Disagree with your take on big swings. Big swings do come back on higher levels, shiai and gradings. Especially for the senseis who try to use the shinai as a sword (and if you do Iai or any related sword martial arts, swings are big ). Even in grading for shodan and lower, big strikes are favored because at that level you are examined on your core basics. The reason big strikes are not attempted in between because most people still don't understand the bio-mechanics behind making it an efficient strike, so its easily blocked/dodged/etc. But in the hands of a very experienced user, a big strike is as efficient as a small strike.
Thank you for your comment! I always appreciate hearing a different point of view! I think you make an interesting point, and in some ways I agree in theory, however, I don't think in manifests in actual real world Kendo. There seems to be very few (if any) examples of 'Big' swings of the Shinai (in the way you would do in Uchikomi or Kirikaeshi) present amongst the highest level Kendoka in the world: In the Hachidan Tournament - th-cam.com/video/sufu0zJdSPg/w-d-xo.html In Successful Hachidan Gradings - th-cam.com/video/UZaJZscxCoI/w-d-xo.html In the Hanshi Division of the Kyoto Taikai - th-cam.com/video/29ZPHZ-0_T8/w-d-xo.html The ZNKR seem to be quite clear about the fact that we use large strikes to train our body and learn correct cutting, so that it can be applied to 'small' techniques. They are also clear that a Shinai is not supposed to be a replacement for a real sword, and thus is not supposed to be used in the exact same way. As a grading panellist, for Shodan, I would not mind if the participant was using large or small strikes - though for Nidan or higher, I would consider it a negative if they were still using large strikes for their Tachiai. Obviously, I know not everyone agrees with the teachings of the ZNKR - but I do, and I am only concerned with Kendo in the context of the All Japan Kendo Federation. Thanks again for your comment! All the best, Andy
Hi Andy! Do you have any tips for making a shinai last longer? I recently got into kendo and picked up a pair of identical dobari shinai (I got dobari ones because I have very large hands, and these particular shinai came with extra large oval tsuka). I sanded and oiled one when I got them, and have used it for about a month practicing 4 hours a week. The strike face was starting to show tiny splinters after last practice, so I sanded them away and oiled again. I'm not sure how long it'll last in total, but a month to splintering seems kind of short for a nicer madake shinai - is there anything I can do to extend the life? As a side note, I can't get the tsukagawa off for the life of me, so I haven't been able to rotate staves yet. Thanks!
![[KENDO RANT] - WKC Mindset? Hiki-Tsuki?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vRdaLf3ZsOo/mqdefault.jpg)
![[KENDO RANT] - WKC Mindset? Hiki-Tsuki?](/img/tr.png)
![[KENDO RANT] - WKC Questions Answered!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/GxYMUfVVTfw/mqdefault.jpg)
![[KENDO RANT] - Too Old to Compete? Dealing with Beginners in Shiai?](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AJxQkGqB-6A/mqdefault.jpg)
![[KENDO RANT] - Why Large Strikes? Kamon Positioning?](/img/n.gif)
I've found a bicycle seat (plain rounded not extremely contoured) makes a great substitute Men
If you can't afford a practice dummy, make sure you have younger siblings.
Disagree with your take on big swings. Big swings do come back on higher levels, shiai and gradings. Especially for the senseis who try to use the shinai as a sword (and if you do Iai or any related sword martial arts, swings are big ). Even in grading for shodan and lower, big strikes are favored because at that level you are examined on your core basics. The reason big strikes are not attempted in between because most people still don't understand the bio-mechanics behind making it an efficient strike, so its easily blocked/dodged/etc. But in the hands of a very experienced user, a big strike is as efficient as a small strike.
Thank you for your comment! I always appreciate hearing a different point of view!
I think you make an interesting point, and in some ways I agree in theory, however, I don't think in manifests in actual real world Kendo.
There seems to be very few (if any) examples of 'Big' swings of the Shinai (in the way you would do in Uchikomi or Kirikaeshi) present amongst the highest level Kendoka in the world:
In the Hachidan Tournament - th-cam.com/video/sufu0zJdSPg/w-d-xo.html
In Successful Hachidan Gradings - th-cam.com/video/UZaJZscxCoI/w-d-xo.html
In the Hanshi Division of the Kyoto Taikai - th-cam.com/video/29ZPHZ-0_T8/w-d-xo.html
The ZNKR seem to be quite clear about the fact that we use large strikes to train our body and learn correct cutting, so that it can be applied to 'small' techniques. They are also clear that a Shinai is not supposed to be a replacement for a real sword, and thus is not supposed to be used in the exact same way.
As a grading panellist, for Shodan, I would not mind if the participant was using large or small strikes - though for Nidan or higher, I would consider it a negative if they were still using large strikes for their Tachiai.
Obviously, I know not everyone agrees with the teachings of the ZNKR - but I do, and I am only concerned with Kendo in the context of the All Japan Kendo Federation.
Thanks again for your comment!
All the best,
Andy
Hi Andy! Do you have any tips for making a shinai last longer?
I recently got into kendo and picked up a pair of identical dobari shinai (I got dobari ones because I have very large hands, and these particular shinai came with extra large oval tsuka). I sanded and oiled one when I got them, and have used it for about a month practicing 4 hours a week. The strike face was starting to show tiny splinters after last practice, so I sanded them away and oiled again. I'm not sure how long it'll last in total, but a month to splintering seems kind of short for a nicer madake shinai - is there anything I can do to extend the life?
As a side note, I can't get the tsukagawa off for the life of me, so I haven't been able to rotate staves yet.
Thanks!
When I visited a Dojo/Training hall theh had made a dummy using car tires.
Yes! Red wine stains on the white kendogi are the worst... 😁
Never drink and Kirikaeshi 😂🍷