Kuzushi is THE most important element. Stealing structure on contact. It's taken me decades to learn this and understand the instruction I was given. The hands and body are good at sensing tension and muscular contraction. They are NOT good at detecting movement in the core and feet. Pre loading a shoulder or hip and relaxing into a motion creates torque invisible to the senses. Dropping the knees slightly to get under the center is also an invisible mechanic. The dead weight of the body and elasticity of the tendons will far out work muscular contraction.
The dilemma is that you cannot do kenjutsu properly sparring. You need at least bokken to transfer the energy, properly and there is no way to protect the person being struck. This is not a back and forth endeavor that is so common with sport. The principle of Koboitai would be violated as well as Otonashi no Kachi hence kata at different levels of capability is the best training.
@@SystemOfStrategy Respectfully: Have you considered looking into the protective gear developed for HEMA and the excellent steel sparring katana produced by Akado Armory? As an SF combat vet its hard to overstate the value of non compliant force on force training. Its not everything but its definitely something.
@@nikm2106 The foundation of high level kenjutsu eschews reciprocity. All of the inner training that makes it so different from almost all of what we call martial arts is for that purpose. What are you going to wear when the place where your opponent is not/least protected is where you are going to strike? Executed properly there are no blocks and no back and forth, that is the purpose of all the training and inner development.
Yep. Got it. Thats pretty fundamental for any weapon system grounded in reality. Im just pointing out that there is a way to go force on force safely with the propper gear agaisnt someone who is fighting back. You have to acknowledege that however much lack of reciprocity is the goal an opponent with the same goal will challenge your ability to execute a technique.
Sensei, thank you for the lesson. For those that have not trained with James Williams. I suggest training before making any comments.
Still have the Heiho you gifted me at System Miami (Technon Tactical) many years ago. Salute
Great Content James.
Really good! Thank you.
Kuzushi is THE most important element. Stealing structure on contact. It's taken me decades to learn this and understand the instruction I was given. The hands and body are good at sensing tension and muscular contraction. They are NOT good at detecting movement in the core and feet. Pre loading a shoulder or hip and relaxing into a motion creates torque invisible to the senses. Dropping the knees slightly to get under the center is also an invisible mechanic. The dead weight of the body and elasticity of the tendons will far out work muscular contraction.
3:42 nice
It would be great to see this applied during sparring against a non compliant opponent.
The dilemma is that you cannot do kenjutsu properly sparring. You need at least bokken to transfer the energy, properly and there is no way to protect the person being struck. This is not a back and forth endeavor that is so common with sport. The principle of Koboitai would be violated as well as Otonashi no Kachi hence kata at different levels of capability is the best training.
@@SystemOfStrategy Respectfully: Have you considered looking into the protective gear developed for HEMA and the excellent steel sparring katana produced by Akado Armory?
As an SF combat vet its hard to overstate the value of non compliant force on force training. Its not everything but its definitely something.
@@nikm2106 The foundation of high level kenjutsu eschews reciprocity. All of the inner training that makes it so different from almost all of what we call martial arts is for that purpose. What are you going to wear when the place where your opponent is not/least protected is where you are going to strike? Executed properly there are no blocks and no back and forth, that is the purpose of all the training and inner development.
Yep. Got it. Thats pretty fundamental for any weapon system grounded in reality.
Im just pointing out that there is a way to go force on force safely with the propper gear agaisnt someone who is fighting back.
You have to acknowledege that however much lack of reciprocity is the goal an opponent with the same goal will challenge your ability to execute a technique.
1:45 one inch at your shoulder is one foot at the target