build order.

[bullet08]

does anyone has any 'build order' when doing ji-geiko or shiai? back in late 90's when starcraft was popular among some computer gamers, i used to play that thing for countless hours. one thing about that game is, you have to have solid 'build order' as in what needs to be built before others.

i know i should adapt to each situation as it comes, but i'm noticing that i have set pattern. i'll start with usual big kiai, and small step forward. feel out the aite for few second. if no rection from the aite, step forward again to try to pressure the aite. if still no response, i'll go for men. if the aite is jumpy and react to pressure easily, i'll usually go for kote or do... and this goes on till yame.

pete

[The great I AM]

The problem with that is predictability. It'll take an intellgient and reasonable aite one or two of those to suss you out, and then you'll find yourself on the recieving end of THEIR gameplan, as opposed to playing out your own.

[Omnis]

I try not to get killed...

[cesarekim]

I try not to get killed...

... and at least try to get hit where I'm wearing protection...

[Charlie]

Pete, this is totally normal. I definitely fight like this and have been trying to move away from it and become more flexible. I think it's a major barrier that needs to be broken through in one's kendo. I definitely have preferences. As I have stated elsewhere, I unconsciously do kendo like I kickbox - throw out the jab, see what happens, then either follow with an overhand right, hook, kick, etc., close or back up and do it again. I have been working to get away from this. I think I will be working on it for a long time!

[Charlie]

Let me add, however, that up to a certain point, this is acceptable. I forget where you're at, Pete, but up til a certain point it's okay to attack attack attack attack. You should be working toward flexibility, though.

[Kenzan]

I think you should should just bide your time, watch his moves patiently, meet his attacks, repond with Zanshin.......


.....and then release the massive horde of Zerg Battlecruisers that you had been secretly building up whilst you stalled him!
:D

[cesarekim]

OK, I'll try a serious answer now...

I guess Charlie's talk of jab and see got me thinking on how I practice. What I usually do with people I don't know is step in with kiai and start to seme with increasing pressure while trying to stay at itsoku. I want to know how they will react and will do an occasional step to see how they manage maai. Really junior and really senior people tend to let me get in closer while peers will usually back out or circle. My usual tip-off for less experienced aite is their lack of composure. Once I can get some sort of idea of what they are and their experience, I will take in size and apparent speed. My personal favorites are seme dekote and suriage men to get first point. Regardless of who gets the first point, jigeiko becomes practice from there on in and I will try to practice what I need to work on for the type of aite I have in front of me.

In individual shiai, I try for first point and, IF I get it, then figure out whether I can afford to try to hold on to just one or go for broke. If I lose first point, I need to look at how much time I have to catch up and win. In teams, everything hinges on where I am and what I need to get for the team...

[Masahiro]

i don't have a "build order" persay when i am facing an opponent, however, i do have a "build order" when i warm up prior to the match. Just as you (well, not most of you or us, but for professional car racers) would fine tune a car in accord to the road and type of race for that day. I go through my check list, first make sure my legs are stretched out, then warm them up, then comes the shoulder, and wrist, just loosen up the joints a bit, and then do some particuar ashi wazas to make sure my koshi is grounded. .. ...

p.s in terms of seme, some people's seme are $HIt, they just step in and pretend like they are going to attack, or faint for a elaborate act, very funny when you see this type of "pre-pregrammed" movement, especially if you had the chance to observe them against other oponents before you fence them.

[Charlie]

I think you should should just bide your time, watch his moves patiently, meet his attacks, repond with Zanshin.......


.....and then release the massive horde of Zerg Battlecruisers that you had been secretly building up whilst you stalled him!
:D

YES! This is the best answer, hahaha!