Going for Shodan

[nollaig]

problem
Anytime the idea of grading comes up everyone says
"don't worry just hit a good men and be relaxed"

problem I attack kote-men or kote

I just hate hitting men

even from day number in kendo my kote has been far better then my men attack

I know this is very bad Kendo and I try very hard to break this habit

But where does this leave me in the grading,my men cut is piss poor and my Kote-men is very strong

so do I use my kote-men+kote or do I gamble it all on the offchance that I might actually cut men on the day?

Help!!!

[alexpollijr]

If you can't hit one good, clean Men chances are that you won't pass the grading. I believe that a shodan has at very least to be able to hit one men strike in 120 seconds. The opponent probably won't be actively trying to block, dodge or use oji, because he also wants to pass the grading.

Maybe you could use the time you have until the grading to develop it.


Just my 2 cents.

- Alexandre

[JSchmidt]

kote-men is ok, but don''t over-do it.
What typically happens,especially at shodan gradings, is that people end up doing ai-men all the time, making it difficult to score a clean cut.
The panel doesnt necessarily want you to see land a men-cut, but they want to see a decent cut, with good posture and kiah, launched at a good opportunity.
You're practicing with Yanai-sensei, right?.
Just do it as he teaches it (seme-men) and you can't really go wrong.

Jakob

[mingshi]

Hi Nollaig,

One last word the Japanese Sensei gave us going for the WKC Shinsa:

"You only need these to pass a grading...

1. Kiai (scream like hell)
2. Ma-ai (distance; esp don't do anything too close)
3. Yuko-datotsu (good cuts)"

I got advice on "practice more Men cuts" than anything else. If Men cuts are good enough the other ones should come out naturally.

Good luck.

[kendomushi]

nollaig,
You probably suffer from a problem similar to mine when I started and I still have to some extent. Kote is much closer than men and therefore much easier to hit. Plus being taller than most of my opponents, they expect me to go for men and so I would go for kote instead.
That being said, men is the most basic cut and the one you need to use most to pass shodan. Remember, the object at this level is not to score, but simply to demonstrate the correct spirit and skill levels. As Minghsi said, kiai, maai, yoku datotsu. A good kiai and aggressive spirit will count for more than 50% of what they hope to see.
Kote-men is ok, but work on getting comfortable with the men. You'll also find as you get higher up that the higher you go, the less often that kote seems to be open as well.

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by nollaig
problem
Anytime the idea of grading comes up everyone says
"don't worry just hit a good men and be relaxed"

problem I attack kote-men or kote

I just hate hitting men

...

Help!!!

Men is the basis for nearly all kendo cuts, if you can do a good men, then you can do a good anything else!

To me it is the most gratifying cut to achieve and often the most difficult.

If you practice only kote then you will never get over the "I just hate hitting men" barrier.

Good luck.

Richard