Different tips from different teachers

[arielw]

Hello All,
This is my first post. I've been playing Kendo for about a year -- since I've come to Japan. I recently tested for sho-dan, passed. I have a question and would like as much feed-back as possible because it's the one major problem I'm having in my training: What do you do about all the contradictory advice coming from the different senseis? I know that as a beginner, I should perhaps just give it more time and do my best not to tick-off any high-ranking instructors by ignoring their tips or insisting on doing things the way another sensei has instructed me to... but sometimes I'm told that the height of my men strike is too high by one teacher, and then at the very same training, another instructor will walk over (after staring at me for 10-20 seconds), and tell me to raise the height of my strike, saying it's too low. Or "turn your hand this way" by one guy and "turn your hand the other way" by the next guy... And etc. How do you (more experienced) guys handle that type of thing? And how you determine what "correct" is?

[Karaken]

Hello All,
This is my first post. I've been playing Kendo for about a year -- since I've come to Japan. I recently tested for sho-dan, passed. I have a question and would like as much feed-back as possible because it's the one major problem I'm having in my training: What do you do about all the contradictory advice coming from the different senseis? I know that as a beginner, I should perhaps just give it more time and do my best not to tick-off any high-ranking instructors by ignoring their tips or insisting on doing things the way another sensei has instructed me to... but sometimes I'm told that the height of my men strike is too high by one teacher, and then at the very same training, another instructor will walk over (after staring at me for 10-20 seconds), and tell me to raise the height of my strike, saying it's too low. Or "turn your hand this way" by one guy and "turn your hand the other way" by the next guy... And etc. How do you (more experienced) guys handle that type of thing? And how you determine what "correct" is?

Take the advice as-is with no judgement. Try it. Try everyway that comes to you. Read a lot, practice a lot then find your way. One day when you hit that perfect men, you'll know what is the right way for you. Then you'll lose it but don't worry, it'll com back again.

Does Su-Ha-Ri apply here? I think it's more of circle of mini su-ha-ri.

Center

[Yellow Savage]

Yeah this happens to me alot as I am a beginner. I remember one of my seniors saying look at where you are hitting whilst another said to look at your oponents eyes...hmm are you not suppose to look at your opponent as a whole???

[berghaan]

What I have noticed at seminars is that indeed details can vary quite often.

Best thing I think one can do is just doing what you are told at that occasion.
When you get back to your own dojo keep in mind what you have learned and ask your own instructor/sensei what he/she would like to see done, then go with that (but dont forget if it is different, to know what others do different can be quite interesting).

[xvikingx]

Just say hai and do your best to try and please him/her. What ever you do, DO NOT say "well this sensei told me to...". Thats almost as bad as saying "your wrong".

Yellow savage, you've been told to look where you are hitting? Never heard that before. I was always taught to keep strong zanshinn, metsuke... If you look where you are hitting a good opponent will know where you are going to try to strike.

[berghaan]

Just say hai and do your best to try and please him/her. What ever you do, DO NOT say "well this sensei told me to...". Thats almost as bad as saying "your wrong".

Yellow savage, you've been told to look where you are hitting? Never heard that before. I was always taught to keep strong zanshinn, metsuke... If you look where you are hitting a good opponent will know where you are going to try to strike.

I agree with xvikingx, I forgot to add that while asking your instructor what to do, you should do it in a correct manner so that noone could ever be offended.

[emitbrownne]

Generally I do whatever is asked/demonstrated... you never know if the contradictory (is that a real word?!?) approach is better for you.

Try all, practice with everyone, find what suits you.

[Nishi]

Amen....brother!! :smoker:

[Isak]

Generally I've found in my limited experience that advice from different sensei that I at first thought were conflicting with time has shown to be perfectly consistent. It is not the case all of the time but very often.

Also, I think it is beneficary for your kendo to try seemingly different approaches. The god tip is as always to try to do as the sensei in front of you tells you. Arguing that it is contradictory to what someone else told you is often unproductive and also a little rude. What I would do if there really was a problem would to ask one or both the senseis (out of the dojo-not during training) to explain how the two approaches should be combined..

[Karaken]

A case in point..( Watching a Men cut )

to Clubber : Do not use too much force
to Really weak cut : Make sure to hit firm with Tenouchi
to a Big long swinger : Cut with short and tight swing
to a mini jabber : Give me a big shoulder swing over your head

Are they contradictory? Probably not. Also I must point out the same instruction can have very different meaning depends on your level of achievement. For me, somedays I feel limber and somedays I feel very stiff. And I try to vary my techniques anyway trying to find something new. So I welcome any comments from senseis no matter how contradictory it may sound at that moment.

Center

[arielw]

karaken and all who have replied:
Thanks for the tips and for explaining it in that way. I guess for me it's been a little tough because it's all in japanese (what I hear from the senseis) and I'm not quite sure how much their over-emphasizing to be sure I understand and how much is being emphasized because of it's importance to Kendo. Also, because I'm a beginner I'm worried about "just getting it right" and it's tough when it sounds contradictory. You guys are telling me it's not contradictiry, but just an adaptation to different sorts of practices and stylistic choices by the senseis. i understand that conceptually, but my Kendo isn't good enough yet to grasp that as far as my own practicing and keikos go.
It may get better when I get to the States. I move back next week. Again, thanks for the input!

Ariel W.


A case in point..( Watching a Men cut )

to Clubber : Do not use too much force
to Really weak cut : Make sure to hit firm with Tenouchi
to a Big long swinger : Cut with short and tight swing
to a mini jabber : Give me a big shoulder swing over your head

Are they contradictory? Probably not. Also I must point out the same instruction can have very different meaning depends on your level of achievement. For me, somedays I feel limber and somedays I feel very stiff. And I try to vary my techniques anyway trying to find something new. So I welcome any comments from senseis no matter how contradictory it may sound at that moment.

Center

[Karaken]

karaken and all who have replied:
Thanks for the tips and for explaining it in that way. I guess for me it's been a little tough because it's all in japanese (what I hear from the senseis) and I'm not quite sure how much their over-emphasizing to be sure I understand and how much is being emphasized because of it's importance to Kendo. Also, because I'm a beginner I'm worried about "just getting it right" and it's tough when it sounds contradictory. You guys are telling me it's not contradictiry, but just an adaptation to different sorts of practices and stylistic choices by the senseis. i understand that conceptually, but my Kendo isn't good enough yet to grasp that as far as my own practicing and keikos go.
It may get better when I get to the States. I move back next week. Again, thanks for the input!

Ariel W.

A bit of Asian intro here - There is an ancient Chinese saying that if you read 100 times you'll understand ( Actually - the meaning will become obvious ). This doesn't make much sense in western thinking. You can't ask a kid to read Master level math 1,000 times and expect him to understand. But that's exactly what's happening here. Some books you read once ( Mystery? ) but some poems you read over and over during your life time. As you grow physically and mentally, it'll represent different meanings. Kendo is like that, try not to understand why or find a reason of doing certain things. Also, there may not be ONE right way of hitting men, there may be as many different way of hitting men as there are many different kenshis. Yes some are more efficient, some are faster and some are more beautiful than others. You have to pick one or wait until you hit one that you like. Once found, you know that is yours to keep. ( well, until you find better one )

Keep on practicing over and over, senseis are there to prevent you from going down the wrong path..Other than that, it'll all be OK eventually.

Center.