What is the purpose of kirikaeshi?

[AlexM]

I hate to steal Mingshi's thunder on the subject of kirikaeshi but here goes....

What is the purpose of kirikaeshi?

For the life of me I can't figure out the purpose of kirikaeshi. It's not a bad excersice but is it really as fundamental as it is claimed to be? Can't other kihon replace kirikaeshi, maybe even more efficiently? I suppose that the combination of so many things into one exercise counts for something.

I'll ask my own sensei in a few days but right now I'd like to know what all you virtual sensei think (by virtual sensei I mean anyone, from the rank beginner to the humble, or not so humble, 8th dan).

Are there any competing views on the purpose of kirikaeshi?

[Nishi]

It makes my kendo bigger, sharper, louder, and spirited....it also gets rid of stupid thoughts and misconceptions i develop in between practices by tiring me out and throwing the basics back in my face....

I love it...but its hard at times.

[Atama]

There maybe better kihon exercises but kirikaeshi has all the basics, okuri-ashi, men cut, spirit, breath control ect....and for myself its something I'll always have to work on, as I belive it evolves along with your kendo.

[Jon Seay]

I hate to steal Mingshi's thunder on the subject of kirikaeshi but here goes....

What is the purpose of kirikaeshi?

For the life of me I can't figure out the purpose of kirikaeshi. It's not a bad excersice but is it really as fundamental as it is claimed to be? Can't other kihon replace kirikaeshi, maybe even more efficiently? I suppose that the combination of so many things into one exercise counts for something.

I'll ask my own sensei in a few days but right now I'd like to know what all you virtual sensei think (by virtual sensei I mean anyone, from the rank beginner to the humble, or not so humble, 8th dan).

Are there any competing views on the purpose of kirikaeshi?

I dug this out from my notes, this was part of a study guide my sensei gave out and I beleive it comes from the metropolitan police in Osaka.

Kirikaeshi develops strong kiai and breath control, large motion, correct cutting angle ( hasuji), correct grip ( te no uchi, correct footwork (ashi sabaki) all with ki-ken-tai-ichi. It also limbers the muscles, promotes harmonious action of the whole body and correct maai, follow through with zanshin. It is said to provide 10 virtues to the attacker and 8 virtues to the receiver. it make the waza sharp and swift, strengthens the cut, builds stamina, relaxes the stroke and body, improves the motion of the body, improves dexterity and grip, improves the vision of the partner, improves the maai, teaches mental tranquility, improves observation of the opponent, makes the grip firm and flexible.

Apart from that my sensei says kirikaeshi and we do it until he says stop, I do feel that it helps my Kendo if done correctly. I feel that many kensei confuse the steps to learning kirikaeshi.
1 big motion
2 strong motion
3 fast motion
Many jump to speed and never get the first 2.

[kendomushi]

I'd agree with all Jon has said on it. Personally, it also helps me clear the cobwebs and focus on what is happening there and then.

[JSchmidt]

Yah, everything Jon said.
I use it in various ways, both to 'warm up', work on basics, speed, etc. I will vary the style somewhat depending on what I want out of it. I wish we did more of it in my dojo :). We always do one at the end of the practice and I always give it 110%, to make sure I got no spare energy left when the practice is finished.

Jakob

[taiwnezboi]

I voted to not question it, but the real reason I've been told is that when someone does kirikaeshi w/ you, you know right away how good their kendo is. If that makes sense? =P

[emitbrownne]

I did not vote, because I believe each and everytime I perform Kirikaeshi (either recieving or attacking) I focus on a different aspect of my Kendo.

I find recieving sometimes to be more helpful than the attack, beacuse I can see the motions and feel the rythms of my opponent (er.. co-worker?!?). This will then give me something to think about in my own Kendo.

So in conclusion I believe KiriKaeshi is a way to lose ourselves in a preset routine, so that we can analyse our Kendo and the Kendo of our opponent for the better.

:nervous:

[Charlie]

This question, by the way, was the written part of the ikkyu exam where I tested? (I think it still is.) The study guide at kendo-usa.com has a good answer.

[AlexM]

Nuts...

I obviously made a mistake with the poll. Should have asked what is that MAIN pupose of kirikaeshi and left out that catch-all answer. Classic mistake. Bad methodology on my part. The Gods of social science will require sacrifice.

However, I would like to point out, for the sake of argument, that everything Jon Seay said can be gained by other exercises. In fact, every exercise should develop proper maai, zanshin, harmonious action, etc... (almost everything except the proper suriashi, although one can make up for that easily).

So is it really JUST the combo of everything into one neat little package that makes kirikaeshi "special"? Is there an "added" bonus to doing kirikaeshi?

[mingshi]

"It's for the tradition!!!"

Alex, ask your Sensei to explain that to you. Something interesting was taught by Hiragawa-Sensei at the post-WKC Keiko in Edinburgh.

... I voted this one because it looks lonely... ;)

[Karaken]

Nuts...


So is it really JUST the combo of everything into one neat little package that makes kirikaeshi "special"? Is there an "added" bonus to doing kirikaeshi?

Yes, it is the combo that makes it special. If you think about most other suburi exercise, they are repetition of same motion. Kirikaeshi forces you to switch waza and provide continued attacking opportunity not just ONE HIT and ONE HIT. By swtiching waza and target, it'll expose weakness in grip, maai, balance, step as well as lack of tenouchi. Kirikaeshi is closest thing to Keiko without having a real one.

Think about going thru all 10 kata real fast, with lots of speed and vigor without stopping. Wouldn't that be something? Kirikaeshi isn't that complex but somewhere between that and suburi men.

Center.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Here's another way to think about it - it's a standardised complete basics exercise. You can go into any dojo in the world, they ask you to do kirikaeshi and you know what to do. Furthermore, we can look at any beginner's kirikaeshi and immediately know what to work on with their kendo. It's why it makes such a great examination exercise.

Furthermore if you spent the next 6 months doing nothing but kirikaeshi and kakarigeiko, no jigeiko, no sparring, no other drills, your kendo will improve, guaranteed.

[kendomushi]

I know of no other single exercise that is equal to kirikaeshi in combining a warm up/cool down, stretching, practice of movement, posture, technique, respect, maai, timing, grip, tenouchi, stamina, and endurance.
The one and only problem I see with kirikaeshi is a tendency of people to rush through it resulting in small strikes, or helicoptering, or a tendency to aim at the reciever's shinai instead of the men (I just lower my shinai and let them strike my men when juniors start doing this).