Rare jodan video clip

Chiba sensei fighting in Jodan-no-kamae.

Jodan is called the kamae of fire, or hi-no-kamae. It is a kamae where a strong, attacking spirit is plainly shown. The disadvantage of jodan is that it opens up the tsuki, do, kote, and therefore is a stance full of suki (openings for attacks). When assuming a jodan-no-kamae, it is important to attack with strong kigurai, and with the feeling of "Come and strike me wherever you like!"

How do you defeat a person who never slows down?

Marcus, I tell you, never shows any sign of slowing down. Me, on the other hand, gets terribly exhausted every time I keiko with him. I still don't understand why. I haven't consumed any soft drinks for two whole days. And I still felt the same weariness that I felt when keiko-ing with him two weeks ago.

Maybe it's because I don't practice enough in bogu..... especially the men. It gets heavier over time, and I have difficulty breathing in it. Especially after kakari-geiko or something strenous, I can hear my heart thumping in my ears. Anyways, next time, I'm gonna go thru prac wearing the men the whole time.

So. Marcus came late. Arrived when it was raining. He parked the car like this:

(to be uploaded soon =P)

I was rendered speechless. Monday ppl are gonna find out that there's a hole in the hall.

Alright. Warmups and moku-so done, we proceeded on towards basic suburi practice. It's kinda difficult to concentrate when you got people shooting an ad for HO-HO-HO-HORLICKS running around. Started off with kirikaeshi waza. I broke a milestone today..... I can finally do Kirikaeshi in one breath!!!! I just gave it my all, poured all heart and soul and spirit, as if it's gonna be the last time I'm gonna do this, then wham-wham-wham-wham (change direction) wham-wham-wham-wham-wham (wait for a while) and a final WHAM.

Under extreme stress, like when doing kirikaeshi with the little oxygen you have, actually makes my cuts go faster. This is why many sensei would recommend kirikaeshi as a staple food in our training menus.

Marcus taught me how to do do-suburi. Keep both arms extended as if going for a men cut, but twist the wrists a bit, and make sure the left hand stays at the centerline. After that tenouchi must be inserted, and follow through. The trajectory of the shinai should graze the opponents' elbow slightly.

Do suburi finished, we did kakari-geiko, and finally jigeiko. By this time, we had only practiced for an hour or so, but I was already out of breath. I remember thinknging as I gasped for breath, "Woah. Marcus is like flooding me with his ki energy and draining my stamina away". And yet, it didn't seem as if the fella was slowing down. Whenever I leapt in to strike he would always have a counterattack ready. I strike men, he would push in, enter tsubazeriai (a position where the two Kendoka are locked against each other) and hiki-men or kote. Heck, he even has counterattacks against MY counterattacks.

It seems as if every time I grow stronger, he grows stronger as well. Or maybe his full strength hasn't been shown to me yet, and he's merely toying with me, offering little bouts of skill bit by bit. He is not someone to be underestimated. I have to be able to overcome him in order to achieve my goal: to be able to best Hakim in a three-point match. First him, then Arif, then Davis, then Pang, Mark, and whomever else that will help me improve. Then I'll be able to be Hakim's equal.

We did nippon shobu just now.

First bout:

I loosed a kiai from my dry and parched throat. Muscles ready to move, I planned to leap forward and strike kote-men. But before I could do that, Marcus brushed my shinai aside, and deftly manipulated his wrists to strike a clean men. Men-ari. Come to think of it, Marcus, it was a lot like a debana-waza to me.

2nd bout:

Tsubazeriai position. Marcus pushed hard, so I pushed harder. Marcus was heavier than me, and was using his weight as an advantage. I stepped back half a step and brought down my raised shinai as hard as I could (hiki-men). Men-ari.

3rd bout:

I had my hands raised, about to strike an opening which I saw on Marcus's do. Maybe it was due to fatigue, or lack of concentration, but I was too slow. Marcus struck my left kote. Kote-ari.

I resolved to do better in the future.

After that we took off our bogu and practiced kata, from the 1st form to the 5th form. We had to look at the book that I bought (KENDO: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE, written by HIROSHI OZAWA) for the fifth form kata. You know, the one with the suriage-men (omote) in it.....

Doing kata after keiko is nice way to cool down a body still high on adrenaline. It also helps us to remember that Kendo was not developed in a day, but through centuries of warfare in Japan. We must also not forget that men died to bring us the techniques that we use today. So, kata to me is to honor those who have developed this art throughout the centuries. And since kata is more of a mental and spiritual activity rather than a physical one, it seems fitting that kata should be practiced every time after keiko, the more physical activity.

I'm off to bed now. My legs are aching. Still, the ache feels good. At least I use my legs. During weekdays I just sit on my buttocks the whole day. Sheesh. Oyasuminasai people. Good night.

izzaz

Niten Ichiryu Musashi Kai

While waiting for the video to load, maybe all of you can read this.

Traditional Kendo is not a sport, but rather a mental discipline conditioning one's self to face a life or death confrontation. Kendo is a martial art; in order to defeat an apponent (who is also a disciplined swordsman) one must concentrate and focus their mind to defend an attack with innate skills that have been developed through daily practice.

Musashi-kai kendo was started in 1600 by Miyamoto Musashi, however, is still taught and practiced today. Kendo is not merely the knowledge of swordsmanship but it is how we should develop ourselves to be more human in our hearts, spirits and mental attitude in our every-day living.

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--

Wise words from Sasaki Hirotsugu, master swordsman. The video is about the Niten Ichiryu Musashi Kai school of Kendo. Musashi Kai has inherited Miyamoto Musashi's style of dual swordsmanship and has applied it practically for Kendo. It is after watching this video that I have been doing katate suburi non stop for these past few nights before sleeping.

There are a few benefits of doing katate suburi. It helps strengthen your left hand, for one. As you grow accustomed to doing tenouchi without any support your tenouchi with both hands would be better. It will also be good for your overall Kendo, because 70% of the strength of a suburi comes from the left hand. The right hand merely guides the shinai to the target, acting like a stabilizer fin on an X-Wing fighter.

Plus, If you would observe the jodan players, katate suburi has great range over normal suburi. This would be a great asset for all Kendoka to put in their arsenal. If launched successfully, they can be really effective, able to hit opponents from a large distance. You don't even need to be in issoku-itto-no ma for that.

However, if unsuccessful, it could be a major pain. One handed suburi takes up more energy to pull back after a strike, and during that split second gap your opponent will have struck you with his lightning fast wrist snaps.

I have always been fascinated about nito ryu kendoka. It takes a lot of concentration just to even handle one sword, not to mention two. Niten Ichiryu Musashi Kai has direct links to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi himself, but unlike Hyoho Niten Ichiryu, Musashi Kai deals only with Kendo. Very good Kendo, in fact. Musashi Kai has a dojo in Tokyo if I'm not mistaken, and they meet up twice a month, every second and fourth Saturday. But their trainings are like from noon til midnight!

The shihan (Head Sensei) of Musashi Kai now is Nakamura Tenshin. According to Kendo World forums he is a very nice person. He welcomes all Kendoka, whether young or old, beginner or experienced, Japanese or foreigner, to come train with them on those Saturdays. The only condition is that you have to notify them in advance. Log on to musashikai.jp to contact them.

Nakamura teaches nito based on the fighting techniques developed by the Kensei Miyamoto Musashi. Musashi, in his Book of Five Rings, tells us that fighting with two swords is the way to go in combat. A warrior must make full use of his weaponry, and it is false to sacrifice his life with a weapon still undrawn. When you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it left and right. When running it is easier to run with two swords in either hand. When fighting many men it is better to have two swords rather than one to cover all directions.

One day, after i get my go-dan or above, I'm gonna get trained in nito.... haha.

Now I'm off to practice my katate suburis again.....

Izzaz. P/S: The Musashi Kai Kendoka are the ones in white keikogi and hakama

Different approaches to jigeiko

Have a look at this. Nito-ryu vs. jodan. There's also a woman Kendoka who fights using jodan 90% of the time in another video, but i'll post that up later.

HOMG THIS IS SOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!!! Ballon keiko!!!!

damn funny weyh...... I was left in stitches!!!!

Tribute to Michelle..... be prepared for another emo post

Was listening to this song the other day on the radio. Its sung by Richard Marx, "Right Here Waiting for You."

Then my thoughts drifted off far far away.... to that person whom I hold so dearly in my heart.

michelle's the one in the middle.

Our first encounter was because of Kendo. Yeah, surprised me too. I didn't notice her back then. It was an afternoon after one Kendo meeting I conducted for new students who wished to join the club. She was late for the meeting, and when everyone left the class, only then did she show up. By that time, I was leaving for home already. Saw her in the corridor. No one else was there. She asked me, "Is this where the Kendo meeting is held?"

I replied curtly with "Meeting's over. Everyone has gone home."

So we left, and didn't exchange another word. However, it was not long until we crossed paths again. She attended the prefects interview, and passed. So she came for a prefect's briefing on duties. I was there, as her senior. She couldn't understand what my friend Mustafa was explaining so she asked me for clarification. That was the day when I first knew her name: Michelle Anne Yoong.

On the 2nd of September 2008 she came to school with her long hair cut shoulder length. I found it to be very attractive, so everytime I saw her I would say that she looks nice. She was very happy to hear that. So from that day before school started we'd sit at the bench in the school compund talking to each other.

On the 13th of October 2008 she had to take her blazer measurement. She dragged me along to go with her, since she's scared of navigating the form 5 block alone. We talked and talked and talked, and it was at that time when I first noticed those EYES. Argh. I can just stare into them all day..... So memukau one. Before leaving school we said goodbye to each other. Since then we say goodbye to each other everyday after school hours ended.

We started messaging...... one hour at least 5 times. =)

Ah yes. We didn't know we had developed feelings for each other until it was too late. I think the first time I fell for her was when she grabbed my hand and squeezed it when she had abdominal cramps due to period pain. Her touch was electric I tell you. I could've melted to the ground then and there.

celebrating her 18th birthday.

Never has someone treated me the way she has done to me. Forever so caring. She planned one super-fantastic surprise for my birthday. She came all the way from her house in Cheras to Sunway (ALONE, which I do not like) just to visit me after class. She would wipe my sweat for me with a towel and put plaster on my blisters after Kendo trainings. Sometimes she would be there at the side of the dojo, watching me keiko. She would gasp everytime I get hit... so cute.

She also knitted a teddy bear ALL BY HERSELF!!! Made from scratch just for me! She spent many nights staying up late and sleeping only two hours for that. I was so touched she'd do something like that for me I nearly cried. Now I put little Michelle (the bear's name) beside me whenever I sleep.

That's little michelle. Love you so much.....

I miss her so much as time passes by. Everytime I close my eyes I see her, as if her perfect image is ingrained on the insides of my eyelids. My life now consists of waiting for the moment to see her again. I cannot stand not being able to see her for more than a week.

I really can't. Which is why I'm studying real hard now, so that I can get a place in either IMU (International Medical University) in BukitJalil or Monash Medical faculty in Sunway. I need AAA for this. If I don't meet the grades, I might not be able to medicine here. I might have to go overseas, and my parents are planning to send me to Australia to do a basic degree. I can't stay away from her. She just stole my heart and then I have to go..... I don't want that to happen.

The more we want to stay close to each other, the more people will attempt to pull us apart. Like her grandfather for instance... He doesn't like me because I'm a Malay. He said to her "You still haven't woken up is it? Don't you know being with people like him is no good? All the other Chinese guys in the world die already is it until you have to go find Malay?"

And her mother as well. She told her "If you two still stay together, and get married, he can get up to four wives! Do you want to share a husband?"

That hurt. A lot. It's not my fault that my religion allows polygamy. Heck, I think that polygamy should be abolished at this era of globalization. And besides, we're not gonna get married now. And I don't wanna have more than one in my life. Please stop generalizing. You barely even know me and you're making assumptions. And you're also upsetting your daughter. She cries in the toilet all alone because of your stinging words.

Nevertheless, I'm not giving up. Sayang if you're reading this I just wanna say I love you..... I won't give up on you ever. Don't be so stressed because of STPM because, as Marcus says in his oh-so-girly-voice, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

This is a book that she gave me on my birthday. It turns out that she has been keeping a diary, and she writes in it after every time we see each other. From day One until now, the story still continues. That's why I could give you the dates just when when we took blazer measurements and when we first met. Its kinda good actually, keeping a love diary... if anything happens to you, like you lose your memory for example, have a read of the book and youwon't miss out on the sweet memories you shared together with your dearly beloved.

P/S: I met her because of Kendo. Another reason why Kendo is such a good influence in my life.

izzaz