Migi do = hidari ashi

[Kent Enfield]

So, I just received my copies of “Kendo” and “Kendo Kyohon” by Takano Sasaburo. I’ve started into “Kendo Kyohon,” but haven’t gotten very far as my kanji skills aren’t that good—and prewar Japanese makes it even more fun.

Anyway, in volume one, he describes the basic strikes. For migi do, he shows striking stepping forward (and to the left) with the left foot in front, similarly to the do uchi in kodachi no sambonme.

Now, in current kendo, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone strike migi do stepping forward with the left foot, at least not from chudan. And I haven’t heard of anyone teaching that as the “basic” version—though, of course, I’ve only been exposed to a small portion of the entire kendo world.

So, this leads me to several questions.

1) Was this ever the “default” version? Or was this just an idiosyncrasy of Takano sensei?

2) If this was the common basic version, when did it stop being the basic version?

3) Why did it stop being the basic version? Is it related to the development of “running through,” for lack of a better term?

4) Has anyone ever experimented with this left-foot forward version in keiko?

And before the posts start, no, I am not planning to bust this out in keiko anytime soon. I have much more important things to work on.

P.S. And if KW wants to ever publish English translations of any of Takano sensei's books, you can sign me up for a pre-order.

[Halcyon]

Now, in current kendo, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone strike migi do stepping forward with the left foot, at least not from chudan. And I haven’t heard of anyone teaching that as the “basic” version—though, of course, I’ve only been exposed to a small portion of the entire kendo world.
This is one of those instances where practicing iaido may inform one's kendo, or at least give a glimpse into the possible origins of certain moves in modern kendo.

In seitei iai No. 11, sougiri, all the cuts are made with the right foot in front, including the horizontal cut. This is an adaptation from koryu versions found in a number of ryuha, including Musoshinden ryu. But in MSR's somakuri, the footwork is ayumi-ashi, with the cuts to the opponent's right side (opponent's right, your left) occurring with your left foot in front. The seitei version, being a creation of ZNKR, uses okuri-ashi, as in kirikaeshi, in a nod to modern kendo.

I don't know whether Takano sensei's migi-do was the "default" version in kendo at some time in the past, but it's easy to see where it might have come from. I think modern kendo has evolved to make right-foot-forward waza the default in chudan. The only time I use left-foot-forward waza in kendo is from jodan. And even from jodan, when I hit migi-do and I pass my opponent to the right (my right), I lead with my right foot. When I hit migi-do from jodan and pass to my left (much rarer), I will lead with my left foot, but it's more of an ashi-sabaki rather than suri-ashi.

[JSchmidt]

The key is kikentainoichi. You can do any footwork you like, but you'll need to convince yourself, the opponent and whoever else is watching, that you did it properly, with kikentainoichi and appropiate zanshin.
I've been going to the winter seminar in Brussels for several years now, where Hirakawa-sensei teaches. You get foot and hands going everywhere, but when you watch him do it, it makes perfect sense. (Replicating it yourself is a different matter entirely).
Yes, kendo got a certain way of moving, which we are expecting people to do, but if you can do it differently, but with the core principles intact, then there's nothing stopping you.

Jakob

[Masahiro]

hitting doh that way might raise a few eye brows but no flags. So, perhaps you can save if for keiko. just a thought,

[Kingofmyrrh]

hitting doh that way might raise a few eye brows but no flags. So, perhaps you can save if for keiko. just a thought,
In my university's locker room, there is a photograph of that very cut being used to get the winning point in an all Japan student championship final, so I think a reassessment might be in order...

[Masahiro]

reassessement for the particular individual who scored the doh ippon at the particular "japanese student" taikai is in order, but for those so many of us who is still in search of the "Correct" men uchi, "re-ass-sesment" wont be necessary.

[Charlie]

A few years ago at a seminar with the Miyazaki brothers, Masahiro Miyazaki showed this exact thing. He also showed cutting all the other waza with the left foot forward. We were puzzled and asked him if this was really doable. He said, basically, yes, you just have to practice it. Then, you can go to right or left of any opponent. He did it by crossing his feet. I'm sorry to say it was not something I've ever practiced or been able to replicate much.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Just to clarify Masahiro's point, you can certainly score stepping onto your left foot but it's a good idea to get that right foot step wired first.

[Charlie]

LOL, Neil, when I first read that I thought you were clarifying Masahiro MIYAZAKI's point. :D Not Masahiro the KW forum member!