Kendo Lessons

Kendo Basics Series: How to Get Ready to Draw the Sword Out – Taito

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011-yoiutube-taito-playIn this kendo instruction video, you are learning how to get ready to draw out your sword. I see people, not few, who skip this part. Whenever I see people like that, I feel sad and worry about the future of kendo. You do taito so you are ready to fight.

Do you know why our left thumb should be placed on a certain place of the tsuba? If you don’t, you should watch this video carefully and join the Free Online Kendo Basics Course for more instructions.

How to Get Ready to Draw the Sword Out – Taito

 

Kendo Basics Series: How to Stand and Shizentai

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010-yoiutube-shizentai-playIn this kendo instruction video, you are learning how to stand and take a posture called shizentai. Shizentai means “natural posture” but of course you have to learn it 🙂 The important points of shizentai are

1. Do not stick out your chest

2. Do not stick out your stomach

3. Do not tuck you chin in too much

4. Do not roll your shoulders forward

5. Pull the shoulder blades closer (just a little)

6. Keep the back of your neck straight

Please watch the video below and join the Free Online Kendo Basics Course for more instructions.

How to Stand and Shizentai

 

Kendo Basics Series: How to Finish up Training

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009-yoiutube-finishing-at-a-glanceIn these kendo instruction videos, you are learning how to finish up training. Once you learned how to begin, it is much easier.

The main differences are

1. Bowing order is different. This time you bow to sensei first.

2. We say “arigato-gozaimashita” instead of “onegaishimasu”

Please watch the video below and join the Free Online Kendo Basics Course for more instructions.

Finishing up in Detail

Finishing up at a Glance

 

Kendo Basics Series: Beginning of Training at a Glance

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007-yoiutube-start-at-glanceIn this kendo instruction video, you are putting everything you have learned together. So far we have gone through individual movement/etiquette and now we have to do it smoothly. It is time for “dots to become a line“.

Each dots must be done properly. This is the hard part. We, human, tend to be lazy and do not do things properly after we learn them. Here comes the discipline!

Be patient and do it properly.

Please watch the video below and join the Free Online Kendo Basics Course for more instructions.

 

Kendo Basics Series: How to Bow in the Sitting Position (zarei)

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006-yoiutube-snap-sitting-bowIn this kendo instruction video, you learn how to bow in the sitting position (zarei).

If you just lower your head, you might be doing it wrong. There are certain points you should pay attention to.

For example, you should know where your hands should be placed when bowing and its reason will give you an “aha!” moment.

Some points for you to execute a good zarei

  • Keep the back straight
  • Do not go all the way down to the floor
  • Keep the butt down i.e. do not lift the butt up when bowing

Please watch the video below and join the Free Online Kendo Basics Course for more instructions.