Did you remember your first jigeiko?

[LNGUYEN]

The last two Saturdays, we started to practice jigeiko for the first time. It was terrible, no technicques, no timing, no zanshing, and no controls. The very much things we did was banging each others and swing the shinai like a lunatic. One men was almost loosing the Men during the sparring too due to not tying the Men properly. My Sensei told us to not worry, we would get better but oh boy we were bad even in our own eyes. What is the Kendo rule for us at this time? There is no rule. How about yours?

[Neil Gendzwill]

What is the Kendo rule for us at this time?

Don't worry about getting hit, don't block. Attack the best way you know how, ie exactly the same way you were taught. Don't attempt to change your technique just because you're hitting a moving target. And always try to get in sessions with your sensei. As you've observed, it's a lot harder to learn from people your own level.

[Sanjuro]

...My first jigeiko was very similar to yours, except I was paired off against an experienced kendoka.

Needless to say, it was terrible. My shinai flew everywhere, and all I felt was the thunk, thunk, thunk of my partner's shinai hitting kote and men consecutively for the full two minutes.

Wearing the men in the first jigeiko was so disorienting that I couldnt even hit my target with my shinai...I must have ridiculously silly.

All I can say is, be sure to tie your men and tenegui properly, so at least you don't have to worry about it loosening over your eyes. In terms of waza, the first few jigeiko that you have should be done with the aim of acclimating yourself in fighting with bogu on. So...just try the most basic waza (men, straight kote, maybe do). Get used to being hit and keeping your bearings when you do.

Hope this helps.

[samurai999]

I was so slow it was ridiculous. I thought too much, just stood there and got pounded like a nail.

Wasn't sure what to do. Then I faced our "drill seargent" Brad and French know him as Nishiura sensei. He then proceeded to run me ragged. That was my first day.... He still runs me ragged at times.

Tim

[dorkusxmaximus]

I realized it was my first ji-geiko the moment one of my senseis started hitting me back. I was so clueless hahah. I just did kakari-geiko drills because I didn't know anything better. I never once tried to imitate any sempais because their moves just looked way too hard, even though it looked kewl. If the basics suck, so why bother trying out a tyte-ass waza? I didn't know what a lot of things such as seme was until this year T_T, and I still dont really know it that well!!! Monku ,monku ,monku =). I'm proud to say that I never blocked even once until I got into taikais :tongue: . Anyway, everything falls into place sooner or later. Just hope you never end up as clueless as me when I first got into bogu. You probably won't though. Good luck.

[akacz]

I remember my first ji-geiko very well. It was two years ago. I had been training only 5 months when i had my first fight. But it wasn't hard expirience for me, I liked it. I fought with my older friend who had been training for 2 years then. It was super. He stood and waited for my attack. I tried to hit his men and i missed only a few attacks.

One think is for sure. You should do your first ji-geiko with someone older. Otherwise it will be horrible and it will be without sence. The general idea for your first time is not to worry. Just hit stright men when ever your opponent wants to attack you, dont try to attack kote or do at the begining. Stright men is the best.

So dont worry and train. Always during ji-geiko try to fight with as many opponents as you can manage. I always go and fight with my sensei and more expirirnced friends.

[sminki]

The last two Saturdays, we started to practice jigeiko for the first time. It was terrible, no technicques, no timing, no zanshing, and no controls. The very much things we did was banging each others and swing the shinai like a lunatic. One men was almost loosing the Men during the sparring too due to not tying the Men properly. My Sensei told us to not worry, we would get better but oh boy we were bad even in our own eyes. What is the Kendo rule for us at this time? There is no rule. How about yours?

Don't approach it from a "sparring" point of view. You are NOT sparring. Do basic movements as you've been taught & make proper strikes while not worrying too much about scoring. Correct posture, distance, strike and zanshin is so much more important during your first jigeikos rather than "beating the opponent" aspect.

[Miravil]

My first jigeiko is also with a senior. It was so embarrasing. I practically stood there for ages and not conducting any cuts. Not sure either I'm scared to be hit or scared to hit someone. But of course, the other side will keep on pushing. It took me some time to really dare to start hitting... :silly:

My advise is, always remember that the opponent is well protected. Just conduct your cuts like what you practice in basic classes. Don't worry about being hit as you are also well protected. Just concentrate on what come first in your mind, don't hesitate.

[akacz]

Oh.. And one more thing.. Don't think while doing jigeiko. It may sound stupid but its true. When I start thinking what to do, where to atack or how to defend i cannot concentrate and usualy I end with my shinai on the floor:) Just do what you feel: action - reaction. Thinking is waste of time:) Good luck!

[tango]

I don't really remember my first couple jigeikos, but I remember what it was like wearing full bogou for the first time.

I borrowed some VERY old bogou and the men was so soft that it occasionally hurt VERY much to get hit on the men.. and when I would kiai, my voice seemed to be so loud inside the men, it almost made me dizzy (coupled with continuing to get hit)..

Eventually, when I bought my first bogou (8mm! :shocked: ), I always seemed to get the men too tight on my head and it gave me a headache just to wear it until it eventually it got broken in and molded more to my head..
A couple years later, I spent a nice chunk of change on a 4mm (which you can get even cheaper nowadays) and that was really nice.
(sorry I know that's a little off-topic)..

Anyway, my first few fights were ok.. I didn't know how to do anything but the most basic of waza (straight men and straight kote... no do whatsoever at that point).. and the more experienced players I came up against still took it easy on me.. they did stuff on me that I'd never seen before, but they didn't overwhelm me.. and I think that was important for not discouraging me early on. When they would block my shots, I started falling into doing more blocking than attacking, but thankfully, they got me away from that and more into an attacking mindset. .... and then one day everybody started really pouring it on me and I started getting my butt kicked on a regular basis. ... it hasn't really stopped since then (haha), but nowadays, I can give about as good as I get with everybody in the class...