AJKF Women’s Committee
The number of women taking higher dan grade examinations is increasing yearly. The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) believes it is important to give many female kendoka dreams and hopes.
The examination rules specify certain criteria, and the examination implementation guidelines indicate a focus on “riai” [1] as well as dignity and grace [2]. However, it is not uncommon for women to feel overwhelmed by the strength and speed of men’s strikes in a tachiai [3], which makes their skill appear inferior.
Therefore, in addition to acquiring the skills required for each dan grade, please be aware of the following points while practising, and refer to them as a way of compensating for, or overcoming, the physical element. These have been prepared in consultation with the chairperson of the AJKF’s Shogo and Dan Committee. There are, however, limitations to expressing these concepts in words, as they are sensory and have been traditionally recognised as tacit knowledge.
The term “Hyakuren-Jitoku” [4] is relevant here. We hope you will come to understand its intention through repeated practice.
The following are the skill points that you should acquire in preparation for your next grading examination:
1. Mental preparation: Ki
2. Striking: Ken
Sharpness in strikes made with a crisp sound while seizing an opportunity, rather than the strength of the strike.
3. Posture and movement of the body: Tai
A stable core, with a natural, effortless posture.
Flexible footwork and moving the body without unnecessary movements and not losing the central axis, rather than force against force.
4. Aspects of attack and defence: Ability level in techniques for attack and defence
Reading the opponent’s mind and movements and responding flexibly in attack and defence.
Not waiting for the opponent but taking the initiative to attack, pressuring the opponent to destabilise them, and inviting the opponent to attack.
Attack and defend using the shinai‘s hasuji [7] and shinogi [8] without destabilising the central axis.
Finally, as you move up through the ranks, you should have a good posture and be able to make a few valid strikes.
The decline in muscles and speed can be dealt with by effectively making the opponent move and then striking.
A crisp sound makes a beautiful strike.
The strike that catches the moment an opponent’s movement begins is a fantastic ippon that strikes the heart (even if the strike is light).
Please practise with these as a guide.
We sisncerely hope there will be a bright future for women kenshi.
*This article is a translation of an article in the March 2021 issue of the monthly Kensō magazine and a publication on the All Japan Kendo Federation website (www.kendo.or.jp). The English version was translated by Fine Ladies Kendo Worldwide and approved by AJKF.
Endnotes:
[1] The condition in which the waza and movements are rational and purposeful, and the techniques make sense technically. In kendo, it is regarded as important to strive to perform waza that fulfils the requirements of riai. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.81)
[2] Fukaku (風格) and Hin-i (品位) in Japanese, respectively
[3] A competition between two opponents in a match. Or, the state where both sides stand facing each other in a match, or when performing Nippon Kendo Kata. It can also mean the act of monitoring and managing the progress of an exhibition match or other activity. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.102-103)
[4] Hyakuren-Jitoku (百練自得) is a Japanese proverb that means, “only if you practise something 100 times will it become a part of yourself”, or “Well train, self-gain”. The first two characters are a word that means “to forge 100 times”. The last two characters mean “self-gain”.
[5] A general name for waza for initiating an aggressive attack. Examples of this type of waza include ippon-uchi-no-waza, harai-waza, nidan or sandan waza (renzoku-waza), debana-waza, hiki-waza, katsugi-waza, maki-waza, katate-waza, and jodan-waza. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.90)
[6] The act of parrying the opponent’s strike by moving the shinai and the body, and then counterattacking the emerging opening immediately. Oji-waza include nuki-waza, suriage-waza, kaeshi-waza, uchiotoshi-waza and so on. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.77)
[7] The direction of the line connecting the hasaki (edge of the sword) and the mune (back of the sword). To have the direction of the swing of the shinai or sword lined up with the direction of the sword edge is called hasuji-ga-toru. In the Regulations and Subsidiary Rules of kendo Shiai and Shinpan, hasuji-tadashiku (correct hasuji) is defined as being when the direction of the shinai when striking and the direction of the edge (jinbu) are the same. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.36)
[8] On the blade of a sword, the shinogi is the raised ridge which runs up from the tsuba (sword guard) to the tip of the blade, and which is located between the mine and the blade edge. When assuming a stance with the blade downward, the left shinogi of one’s own sword is called the omote-shinogi, and the right shinogi the ura-shinogi. (AJKF, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo 3rd ed., 2020, p.93).
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