School Examination

[Raígma]

Hi alltogether.

I am going to prepare a class for my gym lessons in the far future.
It is more or less an examination where we can choose a sport which
we present and introduce. I have about 80 minutes for all that and I
have to deliver a written script between 5 to 15 sites.
All that is no problem since I am really interested in Kendo and
devoted to bringing it closer to others.

Now my question is more or less if anyone has had experience in
teaching 25 people for the first time and if there are and
recommendations how to teach the basics.

I don't know yet if I can get 25 shinais, I have to check back
with my sensei for that.

I know the basics, kihon waza, is the most elemental part of it
I will also introduce into the history parts, the rules and maybe
a bit of the "belief" behind it.

Now, any suggestions are welcome.

Just notice that all those guys are germans about 18 that have
never heard of kendo before. So how far can I go.
The problem about the whole thing is that I have to do all that
by myself. I shouldn't get another kendoka with bougu though that
would be very helpful.
I'll check that too though because if I am supposed to do a small
demonstration about what a "fight" is about I will need an opponent.

Thanks for you attention.

[JSchmidt]

Tough one. Due to the very nature of kendo, it isn't really suited for a one-off class
I reckon you will have to compromise a fair bit, so that they get around to trying all aspects of kendo, including wearing bogu.
I would draft a couple of helpers from your dojo and try to get hold of as many sets of bogu as you can (at least 4) and run it roughly like this.
10 minutes demonstration, with the basic cuts and some ji-geiko.
40 minutes basics. How to hold shinai, basic footwork, basic footwork and cutting.
Include cutting on motodachi if possible.
30 mins of them doing 'ji-geiko'..no more than 1 minute each.
This is where you'll need at least 4 sets of bogu. While 2 are up, you should have helpers putting armor on the next two.
If time allows, finish off with 1 more demonstration of ji-geiko to show what they should have been doing :).

I know this screams against the traditional way of starting people in kendo, but given that it's an examination, you'll need to show (and let them try) all aspects of it. Just doing footwork/etiquette/suburi wont show them the end result, nor explain why it takes so long to get to the armor stage.

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'm not sure I'd put anybody into armour. Teach them some manners (bowing, equipment etiquette), all the basic suburi, kiri-kaeshi and then fumikomi-men. That's a very accelerated program. Then put on armour yourself and let them take turns hitting you. If permitted, bring an assistant and demo some jigeiko.

[sjp]

I'm not sure I'd put anybody into armour.


Good point from Neil.
It depends on how well you know the individuals and whether you think it will degenerate into just a 'fight'
You would need to exercise strict control, perhaps your idea should be to show them what it feels like to be struck.
Good luck... i would not like to be motodachi receiving their cuts after just 30 mins of instruction. Hope you have strong bogu.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Usually doing this style of demonstration, we line them up and give them each a couple of tries at hitting us, as opposed to some sort of free-for-all. Then we might say "OK, now try hitting us when we're not letting you", and move or block each attempt. This is harder than it sounds because you have to be careful not to hit them, so you're always backing up.

Another fun demo is newspaper cutting. Bring along a iaito, and let them try to cut a piece of newspaper held by the corners. The paper has to be oriented with the grain up and down, which is the way you'd normally read it. They're not really cutting, more tearing along the grain. Still it requires a nice straight stroke, and most people can do it after a few tries so they really enjoy the success. Surprisingly most beginners fare better at this than experienced kendo people - the kendo people are thinking too much.