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
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