SJI dojo training 28.02.09

I always wonder why Arif really likes to think of himself as "the Kendoka who trains mentally. Mental training? For those of you who have read my last post (about Sasaki-sensei), it is stated that Kendo is a mental pursuit instead of a physical one. Arif is one guy who likes to read suff like the Book of Five Rings and the Life Giving Sword. He studies them deeply in order to absorb what he has learnt in his body.

I'm not trying to be rude or trying to belittle him or whatsoever, but how come he did very badly during the recent grading? If Kendo is a mental pursuit, then how come someone so obsessed with the philosophy of Kendo can do very badly in a simple 4th Kyu grading examination?

This has led me to believe that us, as beginners, should train in the physical sense as much as possible. Do as many cuts as possible, stamping, ashisabaki, until all those things become second nature to us. Until our body strengthens and becomes accustomed to moving like that. Once we reach a certain point where it seems as if we can't improve in our Kendo no matter how hard we try, then only we delve into this philosophy and stuff.

So. About training. The grandpa of the dojo was around! Abul! He introduced a couple of new exercises on our training menu that he had learnt during his time in Japan. One involved doing haya-suburi, but jumping on the same spot. Bring shinai up, and as u bring it down to cut, jump up using the calf muscles.

Really worksout the calves, you guys should try it out sometime.

Then after the usual warmups, class was divided into two. Hakim handled the so called "veterans" and Abul handled the newbies. Oh yea, and today we had a sensei-ni-rei. For the three senseis in front: Hakim abul and Marcus.

Hakim drilled us all through the usual. Joge-suburi, men-suburi. Nothing eventful happened. Except for the stamping training he had in mind for us. Left foot planted firmly on the ground, our right foot was supposed to go very far forward, so far until our left knees almost touched the ground. After a few times, I think I tore a tendon. Walking has then become difficult. It really strengthens the thigh muscles, for faster movement.

Another point worth noting. Most beginners would concentrate on developing the strength in their arms. But the legs too must be equally developped. What is the point of being able to launch super-quick cuts but not being able to move in fast enough to strike?

At a certain point in training I had the extreme delight in having the oppurtunity to ask Abul: "What is your best piece of advice that you would give to any Kendoka?"

His reply went something like this:

"Try your best. Give it your all. Because in Kendo, what you need to do is to give it your all. Lose yourself in the world of the Way of the Sword. Always pay attention. There will come a time when you feel as though you can never improve your Kendo, and that you will feel like quitting, but keep on searching for ways to train. There is always room for improvement in Kendo."

Basically Kendo is like an infinite sphere grid where you can choose to upgrade whatever you want. (If you wanna know what a sphere grid is, then play Final Fantasy X)

I didn't stay until the end, had to leave for my sister's sports day in SK CBN. Michelle was kind enough to accompany me. I was wearing hakama gi plus tare and zekken some more! All the parents were looking at me, shouting for my sis to run faster. haha it was good promo of Kendo. MKA shud be proud of me.

Kendo is not what you can learn to do. It's what you can learn to be.

A lapse in concentration, fear, or a moment of doubt can bring a swift defeat. A true swordsman is one who does not think of survival but rather has prepared themselves for death. If the swordsman's thoughts were of self-preservation, then they will be distracted. Therefore, Kendo or the art of swordsmanship, is not a physical activity, but rather it is a mental discipline.

--Sasaki Hirotsugu

See last post...... this is completely the opposite

Sorry for the last post. I was having a really bad day and I just let everything out in words. Once i blew all the hatred and anger and frustration away, my heart was hollow.... the anger had left me with nothing.

Then something else came to occupy the space... It was..... enlightenment. 

No, that's not the word.

It was love.

1. I love watching the sun rise as I cruise along the New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
2. I love listening to my playlist which includes Thinking of You and great songs such as As Time Goes By.
3. I love the feeling of arriving at home safely when there are so many people out there involved in accidents that endanger lives.
4. I love talking to Michelle on the phone under the bedsheets at night, and quickly hiding the phone when my parents come in.
5. I love Kendo trainings.
6. I love seeing Michelle again, and hugging her as if it's going to be the last time we do that.
7. I love waking up to a hot mug of Horlicks.
8. I love the pain that my body feels after a grueling session of Kendo. It makes me feel proud that I have accomplished something.
9. I love going to bed at night knowing that nothing can hurt me in my sleep.
10. I love waking up in the middle of the night realizing that I still have a few more hours of sleep left.
11. I love posting new posts on this blog.
12. And finally I love the fact that, even though I have to cope with the 8 horrendous things mentioned before, I still have the strength to go face them everyday.

Well, I could say that I've learnt a few things from my very emotional evening. First, is that the things that you really despise will stumble upon the Path that is your life very often. There is nothing you can do prevent those from happening. Nothing. But the best thing we CAN do is to feel proud of ourselves.... that we have the strength to go through hardship everyday and emerge victorious. Life is a grueling battle; we only lose when we give up. 

Today is a victory against yourself of yesterday, and tomorrow is a victory over lesser men. (Miyamoto Musashi)

Daily gripes

Alright everyone. Be prepared for an angry post. I'm gonna list down the things I hate to face each day:

1. Traffic jams in the morning. We got so many highways and still got traffic jams! I get stuck one hour every morning and one hour every evening!
2. My classes. They start at 0830 and end at 5.00! Only friday end at 1230. Only one hour break each day, babi betul.
3. Homework. Too much la!!! When do I get to do the things I like???
4. Chemistry. I do SOOOOO HATE IT SO MUCH!!!! How come everything in Chem is so easy to everyone and yet so difficult to me??? Why do I have to input three times more hours than others to understand the same thing???
5. Not being able to go Kendo on Saturdays. I tell my parents so many times my saturday mornings aren't free!!! They still think that Kendo is something untuk main main! I LIVE AND BREATHE KENDO OKAY!!
6. My classmates! They are so freaking smart! They cepat serap macam span, leaving me behind feeling like the stupidest person in class!
7. the stupid one-year express class A-levels! I mean, what is wrong with me deciding to pursue normal one and a half years course? Why do I have to torture myself mummy? FYI, I am not that smart! My talents do not LIE ACADEMICALLY! I wanted to do Form 6, cheaper for u, but then send me to college!
8. The cekik darah parking rates around KL!!!

I do not like these 8 things above! I wish that I can wish them away! 

SJI dojo training, 21.02.09

My whole body hurts. A lot.

Initially, training yesterday was rather disappointing. It was all so kelam-kabut and all, as Marcus said. We did warmups, which for the newbies were rather easy. But then after that we did the continuous series of cuts. Arif led us to do joge-suburi, men-suburi, and even sayu-men! I mean, of course i could do those, but to all the beginners? As marcus said, sayu-men hancur lama lama jadi sayur masam.

Okay, and to add matters worse, Mr. David, a school teacher, entered the dojo and gave us utterly shocking news. There will be an exam in the school hall at 9 o'clock, so cannot use the dojo since its so close.

And then Arif said practice will end at 9 o'clock. No bogu prac today.

I was on the brink of tears already. Call me a wuss but that was what I felt. I mean, I waited TWO WHOLE WEEKS (last week no prac) for a chance to train and suddenly kaboom. No training.

I tak puas hati. I saw Marcus grabbing his men and kote and brought it outside to the school concourse, a nice flat area usually reserved for Wushu and Silat. I immediately followed him. So Marcus managed to get a few girls who really wanted to train as well and trained them in kirikaeshi. I joined as well.

In on the receiving end, holding the shinai above my head.

And then Hakim arrived. SO LATE@!!!!!

We continued doing the kirikaeshi exercises with those six girls. I finally concluded that what makes a good instructor isn't his or her prowess in jigeiko; it's how you present your teaching to your students. The way Marcus taught those ungraded Kendoka was very systematic. He started out with teaching them sayu-men. Left hand swings up and down vertically like ringing a bell, and only the right hand guides the shinai in a slight angle aimed at your opponent's head. Then he proceeded on to doing it while moving. Then it was 5 cuts forward and 5 cuts back. He did that until everyone felt comfortable with the idea of alternating strikes to the left and right while moving forward and backward. Then he pieced all the steps together, and voila, kirikaeshi for beginners.

I gotta admit, Marcus got style..... and a way with girls =D

Once those girls were dismissed, then the REAL TRAINING had begun. Hakim........ has...... arrived.......

Bogu on, Hakim ledMarcus and I through various exercises that were completely new to me. There was this geiko, i forgot the name, where u had to simultaneously hit the other person's men. Until a person scores a clean cut, or an ippon. It is so much more difficult that in theory! I kena hantam dari Hakim and Marcus punyala berapa banyak kali! FElt so beginner-ish. But, really, I am nothing but a beginner, and life must go on. Must always taste bitter before taste sweet. Must walk the thousand mile journey step by step. I will train harder after this.

After that, we did men-hiki-do, if I'm not mistaken (someone pls correct me if I'm wrong!). Opponent strikes men and you have to block it aside and strike do. I had lots of trouble for this one. Somehow, my shinai kept getting heavier and heavier, and sweat was blinding my eyes. Also, my overworn kote were doing more damage than help either. I can't grip my shinai properly! I NEED TEN A IN SPM TO GET new BOGU!!!!

Hakim later told me that I tended to bend my back too much. It was Star wars style... whoomph. Cannot. As a result, Marcus' shinai kept striking my left shoulder. And it still hurts until now.

Lessons learnt:

1. Anticipate the timing of your opponent's attack. Timing is very crucial in Kendo and in everyday life. Victory or defeat lies in a few milliseconds. Music would lose all its glory without the gift of timing.

2. Keep back straight when launching attacks. Remember, stick to the basics.

3. Aim properly. I kena Marcus' leg so many times..... Sorry ya!

Things to do:

1. Learn to do snap cuts, like Hakim, but at the same time not neglecting the full men cuts.

2. Get new kote.

3. Train harder. In trainings, must push myself to my very limits to be stronger and faster than before. Only then will I achieve enlightenment.

Izzaz.

p/s: I think marcus will post his own view about the training session....

SJI KENDO ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

THERE WILL BE A TRAINING SESSION THIS SATURDAY, 21ST FEBRUARY 2009 AT SJI DOJO. PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS CHANCE TO ATTEND THE TRAINING AS THE GRANDFATHER OF THE DOJO IS MOST LIKELY TO COME ON THAT DAY TO GIVE U ALL THE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HE HAS. ALSO, COME EARLY COS ITS AN OFFICIAL TRAINING!

IZZAZ

BAGI PIHAK ARIF FAUZAN DAN HAKIM ROM

P/S: MARCUS PLS COME!!!!

Kissing!!! Go try one!!

The history of kissing has been officially documented as far back as 1500 B.C. Some say that kissing originated in prehistoric times, where babies were fed a pre-chewed meal so as to avoid choking. This mouth-to-mouth feeding became a sign of trust, dependence and affection between mother and child, a comforting habit carried on into adulthood.

Putting history aside, one thing for certain, kissing plays a very important role in keeping the fires burning in a relationship. Your partner needs to feel appreciated and your partner needs your love and affection. A kiss can express all that and more. Unfortunately, too many couples are caught up in the “busy-ness of life” and the kiss has turned into a fleeting peck on the cheek, if anything at all. 

Here’s some straight from the heart advice from your kenshin Izzaz: Wake up and shape up! I’ll assume you’ve all heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Here’s another one: “A kiss a day keeps others away.” Sadly, loneliness is often the underlying reason for having a love affair. Plain and simple, relationships require work. Anyone who says otherwise hasn’t much experience in living a real relationship. Just like you don’t sit idly by on your job (let’s hope you don’t), the same is required in your relationship with that special someone in your life. You made the effort at the beginning of your relationship, why not now? Kissing is a fun place to start.

Think back to those first few kisses with your sweetheart. Remember the passion the two of you felt each time your lips met. Surely that brought back some wonderful feelings! So, why is it that we wouldn’t want to keep that same feeling with us today and everyday? Kissing creates and maintains intimacy. It enables you to bond with your partner. Kissing also makes you feel good about yourself, not to mention the many health benefits it awards you:

1. Kissing is very good for the teeth. Those of you who aren’t overly fond of dentists will be encouraged to know that research has found kissing to help prevent plaque build-up. Hopefully this means fewer visits to the dentist for some of us.
2. Kissing is good for the heart, as it creates an adrenaline which causes your heart to pump more blood around your body. Sometimes, you'll feel as if your heart would beat so hard it would stop altogether. But that's normal!
3. Studies have indicated that those who kiss their partner goodbye each morning live five years longer than those who don’t.
4. Kissing is great for the self-esteem. It makes you feel appreciated.
5. Kissing can aid in slowing the ageing process. For example, a fairly passionate kiss exercises as much as 29 muscles in the cheek and jaw, not to mention the esthetic benefits it brings to the colour and fullness of your lips. It's a bit like doing suburis... the more you do it, your muscles will look nicer.
6. Kissing burns calories, from 6-12 calories in a gentle kiss to as much as 300 in a lovemaking session! 
7. Kissing is known to be a stress-reliever, triggering the release of oxytocin, the “feel-good-all-over” hormone. 

So, go ahead, be healthy and celebrate each day with a kiss. Give your honey a big smooch and reap all the benefits! Oh, why stop at just one kiss? If both you and your sayang feel comfortable with each other, then why not "upgrade" to...... ahem..... ahem ahem....

izzaz

NOT KENDO RELATED! but awesome nontheless

All you Kingdom Hearts 2 players! Shame on you if you don't watch this video! Sora at his best!

Check out the control that player has on the character..... awesome. 7 stars!!!!!

Izzaz

Hesitation.

Hi all. This would probably be the first ever recollection of a kendo practice at the Japan Club of KL of mine.. Its late and im zonked (from working as gamemaster in a CIMB telematch in Bangi, 9am-4pm, getting sunburned, meeting at MAPAAC at Astaka field for paintball, then to 2nd session kendo), so ill make it brief. :-)

This was the FIRST time i actually attended senior class and STAYED till the end. LOL. Now feeling dam bangga ady at myself. (Duno can keep up this track record onot.. haha)

Anyway, it was a nice, and fun learning experience. There were only a bunch of us, so we kinda had ample space to train with -- unlike junior class, where you've got tonnes of noobs, crowding the dojo. :-P

We started with Nurlin's drilling warm ups -- We did a CONTINUOUS cycle of joge suburi, sayu joge suburi, one step men, continous men, and sayu men. And that's like 50> times taw! Whats more, after all that, we did haya suburi like for 100> times, because they were about 10 of us in the circle. =_="

Still, i survived. =) Then the usual practice with kirikaeshi, men uchi, kote men uchi, and men-kote men-men-taaitari-men-men cycle. Whoa best, i tell you! :-P However, it wasnt as best as gi geiko, free practice. I was waiting up for Ishii sensei when Arif got me to partner him. Always tried to hit men, but never run through. A BIG NO NO!! T_T
(Arif often inaccurately misses my right kote, so it landed on my arm, most of the time. and did i mention i had sunburned skin? OMG!!!)
Finally, i got to spar with Chua sensei. In fact, it was he who actually pulled me into it! Like fwah kan! You must know that besides having the utmost respect for him, i am absolutely petrified and intimidated of who he is! haha..

Ji geiko-ing with him taught me NOT TO HESITATE. When there is a open chance to strike a target, you go for it, irregardless of whether or not, the opponent hits you. Nevertheless, i left the ji geiko with him feeling better than before, despite all the hentaming i got from him, because i managed to kote-men Chua sensei and score a point!

Heck, even I was surprised myself! =P

But we must never let our vistories get to our heads -- that the fastest (and bestest) way to loose yourself. Remember that humility defeats all pride.

Lesson Learnt:
#1. Leave no room for hesitation in kendo.
Solution: training your hands and wrists to snap snap snap at open targets, provided by your friend. Repeat on either sides.

#2. Make it a point run through after every cut, successful or not.
Solution: form a mental picture in your mind where ever you train that after every cut, run through, run through, run through!! OR, you could also use more kakari-geiko, like Abul says. :-)

maRCus

3rd Training in Bogu.... my experience (07.02.09)

I just came home from training. Now, fresh after a nice cool shower, I shall write on today's training session.

A lot of people came around today, mainly its because it's the first official training session of the year. I said 'official' as in,approved by teachers and the Penolong Kanan Kokurikulum and all those useless stuff. Well, to me, Kendo is Kendo, and there's no reason to differentiate it between 'official', and 'unofficial'/haram.

I arrived quite late, after picking up Michelle from the train station. She decided to join PBSM so after seeing her off I quickly ran to the dojo. Dressed in hakama, keikogi, do, and tare, I joined the others doing our usual warm up routines. Then by 8.30 the Kendoka were separated into two groups: the newbies, and the ones who have been to more than one training session. Hakim took the newbies while Pang took us in.

Our instructor, and also my Kanashimi Brother, Hakim.

Hakim taught the newbies on the basics of all basics: etiquette in the dojo. If Hakim was the "Book of Five Rings", then what he taught them would be described in the "Ground" section of the book. Basic fundamentals, like bowing, seiza, and so on.

The Book Of Five Rings was written by the famous swordsman Musashi Miyamoto. It contains five sections: Ground, Water, Fire, Wind, and Void. Information is available here: http://www.samurai.com/5rings/

Pang asked us to do cuts in this order:

• Joge suburi
• Three-step men cuts
• Two-step men cuts (Nikyudo suburi)
• Ikkyudo suburi
• Haya-suburi (also called choyaku-suburi)
• Men cut with stamping
• Men-Men
• Men-men-men
• Kote-men
• Kote-men-men

So, everything finished, Hakim beckoned Mark and I for the best part: Bogu practice!!!

Okay. So kirikaeshi first. At the end of my last training last week, I made a mental note to include more spirit in my kirikaeshi. So I kiai as loud as I could and fired away my sayu-men cuts to Hakim's head. It definitely felt better than last week's, and there was a slight increase in speed. However, I felt that my cuts were slightly more helicopter-style. You're supposed to bring up the shinai in a straight motion, not wheel it around in a huge circle.

When it was Hakim's turn to do kirikaeshi on me, I used Abul's advice: don't look down, instead look up. And it worked. The previously vicious cuts were dampened a lot by the men's frontal padding. Last time my chin was down, so Hakim struck the central part of my men, which is not that thick. So that's what caused the pain...

Next!!! Jigeiko. Versus Hakim as well. Like before, he went on just 0.5% power. He let me hit him a lot, only occasionally counterattacking. Never once did he hit my kote or do like last time. But there were a few moments when I wanted to attack and he countered by doing a tsuki thrust to my throat. Twice the tip of his shinai entered beneath the men flaps and grazed the skin of my throat.

My throat. I didn't even realise it until Michelle told me that my neck was red. Stung when I took my shower just now. But it looks kinda cool I think... Like a battle scar =D

Next was kakari-geiko. Abul, if you're reading this, I'd have to tell you that your favorite training method really saps the energy outta you.... Strike continuously, again and again and again, then if you're too slow, Hakim will push you... Mark fell down a few times after being pushed. I almost trripped on my back legs after doing taiatari-hiki-men. Phew.

But, in the end, like all good teachers, Hakim commented on our keiko session.

Turns out that he tsuki us a few times because he had control of the centerline and because we were too hasty. In Kendo, strategy is very important, and you cannot just hope to attack relentlessly. He told us to stop first, set our sights on the opponent, make sure our posture is correct, kamae perfect, wait for an oppurtunity, and then only strike. There were a few times when I just hit men without bothering whether my right leg was in front or left leg was at the back. Also, at times my kamae was very sloppy, and didn't point at the opponent's throat.

So last time I held back too much, and this time I was too offensive. It's okay; someday, I will find the perfect balance for me. Someday. The day might be a month from now, a year, or even a decade. But that day will come.

Ouch, my foot hurts....

Till next time,

Izzaz

Grandpa's Advice2

Izzaz, don't worry, i had the same problem when i first wear my bogu. Just try to ignore it, look at the opponent and focus on what's more important. I'll train ur mind. And if u fell in love in kendo more after u wear bogu then that's good, cause more 90% of people stop after having their first bogu. They can't stand the pain and the bashing from the sensei.



Anyway, arif. kakari geiko is important, there are tonnes of things u can learn from kakari and many method of doing kakari. It depends on the sensei and the person ur doing it. Why is it important? first , to train ur reaction speed. the moment ur opponent starts to open u must be able to move and hit him without delay. 2, to learn to have conviction in ur cuts. don't hesitate and just hit properly. 3rd, trains ur footwork, 4th, train ur skill so everything moves as natural and as fast as possible, 5h to train ur mental strength and stamina, 6th. (it depends on ur sensei) to train ur seme and readiness,etc.

so u c, kakari geiko is an important part of kendo prac if u wanna improve, and from looking at the athletic kendo clubs, some of the best kendo clubs actually trains a lot in kakari. But even so kakari is not the all cure medicine, i.e there is a way to improve without kakari, but it is harder and painstakingly slow without it.

so that's y me and aimi even hakim and all the kendo senseis would tell u guys to do tonnes of kakari if u guys wanna improve ur kendo.

Kendo and Tennen Rishin

You guys have to watch this videoclip. It reminds us that while Kendo is a sport, it can be made into a way of life as well. In this video, Jindrich (Jindra) Ziegelheim and Jana Ziegelhilmova talk about their life in kendo and tennen rishin ryu while living in Japan. While Kendo is all about llightning fast, ultra-precise snappy cuts, tennen rishin focuses more on the slash. Enjoy learning.

Izzaz

The Concept & Purpose of practising Kendo

The Concept.
The Concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of principles of the Katana (sword).

The Purpose.
The purpose of practising Kendo is:

• To mold the mind and body,
• To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
• And through correct and rigid training,
• To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo,
• To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,
• To associate with others with sincerity,
• And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
• This will one be able
• To love his country and society,
• To contribute to the development of culture,
• And to promote peace and prosperity among all people

(Src: All Japan Kendo Federation 1976)

maRCus

Grandpa's advice1

u c, it the part where u know u can't win against hakim but u have to keep believing urself that u could get an ippon is very important, one to beaten down hurts ones pride. In kendo there is such thing call mushin muga. 

Literally means no mind and no I. means that the I as in me is just part of the bigger universe, an insignificant compare to the universe. But by throwing the I, one can accepting one's weakness and strive to overcome it. so don't feel bad u can't beat hakim, and never lose hope to actually score an ippon out of hakim.

Don't worry take ur time, it took me five years and it took hakim half of it, if u work hard u might tak half of what hakim took to achive. 

-grandpa of SJI kendo club-

Those were the pearls of wisdom that Abul gave us all.  Arigato gozaimasu.