Kanagawa Ken Kendo Federation Master Instruction: Overcome Covid-19: ”Solo Training Video#1”

Kendo lovers and learners are still not able to practice as in the days before the Novel Coronavirus spread widely.
Kobayashi Hideo Sensei, Hanshi 8th Dan
( 小林 英雄 先生, 範士八段 ),
President of the Kanagawa Ken Kendo Federation, will provide you with very important points.
Kobayashi Sensei (Profile )
1. Honorary Senior Adviser of Kanagawa Ken Police Special Kendo Squad (Tokuren)
2. Former Manager of the All Japan Men's Team of the 12th World Kendo
Championships ( Glasgow, Scotland )
3. Honorary Chief Master of the University of Tokyo Kendo Club
Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Examples
Important Points:
1) Keep in mind 'Furi-Goko' [See Below ]
2) Hold the sword/shinai as softly as possible.
The fingers of the left hand should be relaxed and grasping the shinai lightly,
except the little finger only.
Hold it softly, just like you would when walking with a small child.
3) While swinging up:
The angles of both wrists & both elbows should NOT change.
Swing upwards using your shoulder joints.
4) When you swing down:
Stretch your elbows; The RIGHT HAND should be LEVEL with your RIGHT
SHOULDER.
5) At the time of swinging:
Let's be full of ENERGETIC KI and ENERGETIC VOICE.
6) When you take Kamae (posture):
Align the axis of your trunk (core of your body).
Pull in your CHIN. Straighten your HIPS. RELAX your SHOULDERS.
LOOSEN your ARMPITS moderately.
Glossary
Suburi ( 素振り )
Swinging practice with shinai/bokuto in the air.
Bu-Sen ( 武専 ）
Once there was 'The Martial Art College’ (Budo Senmon Gakko) "武道専門学校" in
Kyoto.
This college is usually called 'Bu-Sen' "武専".
After World War II, it was abolished by the GHQ directive in 1947.
Shizentai ( 自然体 ) [1]
“A basic kendo posture which is stable and natural. From this posture, one can
move one's body or respond to an opponent's moves quickly, accurately, and
freely.”
Migi-Shizentai ( 右自然体 )
Your right hand and right foot are IN FRONT OF your left hand and left foot.
Furi-Go-Ko ( 不離五向 )
The Five (5) “MUST NOTS”of Non-Separation, and 5 “MUSTS” of encountering/facing
your opponent:
First : You MUST NOT separate your EYES from your opponent's EYES.
Second: The TIP of your SWORD MUST BE CENTERED (Sei-chu-sen) “正中線” at your
opponent.
Third : You MUST POINT your NAVEL (BELLY BUTTON) at your opponent.
Fourth: You MUST point your TOES straight towards your opponent.
And finally (fifth), -MOST IMPORTANTLY:
Fifth : You MUST POINT YOUR MIND to your opponent’s MIND AND BODY.
References:
[1] Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo by the All Japan Kendo Federation
(Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei) 全日本剣道連盟
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Ando Mamoru Sensei, Kyoshi 8th Dan
( 安藤 守 先生, 教士八段 ) for expert assistance.
Japanese Version: • コロナに負けるな！一人稽古の方法
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