Unnatural Kendo Movements

[jackchen]

I found this article, written by Takaoka Jiro.
The actual article is very long, and so I only included the first segment of it.
Wonder what everyone thinks?

__________________________________________________ ________________

The Unnatural Movements on (Modern) Kendo.

When I (Author: Takaoka Jiro) was young, I enjoyed watching Samurai sword-fighting shows, and I wanted to be as cool, swinging those swords. This is why I joined a Kendo school. This was when I was still in primary school.

When I was still a child, I thought of Kendo as a strange sports. I was taught that Kendo was practiced by Samurai who wanted to be strong in Kenjutsu (live-blade swordsmanship), using Shinai (bamboo sword) and Bogu (protective gear).
I proudly thought to myself, "Oh, so this is the same kind of Kendo that Samurai used to practice in the past." when I was a primary school student, and my heart raced when I thought I was experiencing the same kind of real sword action as I've seen in the movies/TV.

However when I was started Kendo, I couldn't hide the disappointment on my face. The movements in Kendo was clearly different from the sword-fights that I've seen on television. I couldn't see how Kendo was an accurate reflection of a real sword-fight, and I started to have many doubts.

Firstly, when is that we must always move with our right-leg forward, left-leg backward?
Why are we always making strikes while jumping forward and backward? (This was how I saw it at the time.)
Secondly, when can we only strike at Men, Kote and Dou?
Thirdly, even in cases where the strike leaves a swell/bruises, why doesn't it score a point sometimes?
And there were still more doubts.

Kendo movements only works in Kendo, and will not work in real sword-fights where people are running all over the place. When I attempted to use Kendo movements, it seemed like a ridiculous thing to me.

As a sport, fighting for victory, is afterall fun to a kid. Before I knew it, the doubts that I originally had went to the back of my mind, and I didn't ask my Sensei about it.
__________________________________________________ ______________

[b8amack]

How dare he form his own opinion!

[Missingno.]

Can we have a link to the full article please?

[jackchen]

This article is actually in the book "Nihon no Kenjutsu", Part 2.
The overall title of this article is: "How did Kenjutsu become Kendo?"

I believe a lot of people bought the "Nihon no Kenjutsu" book series.

I just took the time to translate the article from Japanese to English.

I'll translate another segment tomorrow.

[FastKendo]

cool.. I'd like to read more.

Thanks

[turboyoshi]

I don't know why this is in the flames section, it probably should be moved. I almost didn't read it but now I think it could be an interesting thread. If you're up to translating it, I'd like to see more of the article.

[jackchen]

I was originally concerned that most people will react like b8amack did.
But now I see that most didn't, I'll post a bit more.

My many doubts with Kendo
===================================
Then I (Author: Takaoka Jiro) went to High School, and had a discussion with the Kendo club members, our topic was "In a real sword fight, Sashi-men wouldn't have really cut someone, would it?". Now that I thought of it, I was really young and I asked that question with a pure mind. It was a question that was with me since Primary School, and I only recalled it in High School.

Sashi-men, which is a small Men strike, was a popular move during my High School days. You strike at your opponent's Men without really raising your sword, more of making use of a snap with your wrist. It's a very light strike and it's clearly lying to your opponent, because you didn't really cut him. Speed became a big weapon for matches during my High School days.

However, even if the judges raised their flags and declared it a point, the strike was clearly very light. I became more aware of the doubt that is this really true Kendo? And then the discussion became bigger and bigger.

There were some who thought, "The sharpness of a Japanese sword one of the sharpest in the world, if it were Sashi-men and the cut was pressed down, the injuries will be severe".
And there were others who thought, "If you do not pull-and-cut (Hiki-kiri), you won't be able to cut with a Katana, and modern Kendo is the reverse of this truth. Modern Kendo has detached itself from the world of real sword-fighting (Shinken Shobu)."

The discussion didn't stop and questions started to get broader.

Questions such as,
- "The footwork of right-leg forward, left-leg backward is conflicting with the Kendo Kata."
- "It's weird to limit the available striking portions to Men, Kote and Dou only. Hitting the shoulder and shin should score a point too, isn't it?"
I allowed the freedom of thinking I had in my youth to come up with opinions.

I believe those who had experienced Kendo, would have some point pondered about these doubts that I've raised. However, to try and ask such questions to Sensei or Sempai, would be an arrogant and audacious move. Everyone observed discretion and didn't asked in the end. Furthermore, if we appeared to have thoughtlessly ask these question, we would be scolded, "Instead of taking time to think about such pointless questions, you should be doing Kakari-Geiko and taking multiple Ippons!".
==============================================

There's still more to go, I'm not even half way through!

[ben]

Hard to formulate an opinion on the first half of the essay. The author has so far only related how he initially felt disappointment as a child because kendo didn't resemble TV or movie chanbara. So far he hasn't really revealed what his current feeling is, or what conclusions he has drawn from what I assume is a life spent practising koryu kenjutsu. IOW, need more info. Who is he? What does the rest of the article say?

The attitude to kendo of people who practice koryu bujutsu varies greatly. For example Otake Risuke sensei, Shihan of TSKSR is quite disparaging of kendo. OTOH Kato Takashi sensei, 21st Headmaster of Tatsumi Ryu Hyoho, believed that essentially there was no difference between what kendo was aiming to achieve and what koryu kenjutsu was aiming to achieve. Neither is 100% right or wrong, but of course I prefer Kato sensei's view! b

[ben]

OK, stlll the author hasn't declared his final opinion on the matter. Need more. b

[Missingno.]

Thank you for the translation, this is a very interesting article.

[hathandir]

I'm enjoying this. Thanks a lot for taking the time to translate.

[turboyoshi]

I was originally concerned that most people will react like b8amack did.
But now I see that most didn't, I'll post a bit more.


The problem with only a partial translation is that the author's true insights are not realized and his thoughts can be too easily misinterpreted. This makes it unfair to the author if you can't provide the whole context to allow us to understand his meaning.

I'm pretty sure b8amack's post was sarcasm, and not really aimed you.

Even though I think I know now where this is going, it's still very interesting. Thanks for the work and please continue.

[jackchen]

Continuing: My many doubts with Kendo
==========================
Let's now investigate these doubts of Kendo.

The modern Kendo that we see today is a result of evolution after evolution.
This is what think:
"Respectfully, even though I have to sound arrogant, I have to say that the Kendo that our Shihan, Sensei and the world is practicing, is not a reflection of the real sword-fight as experienced by the swordsmen during the Bakumatsu period who put their lives on the line. We come from a world who do not understand nor experience that. We come from a world where we try to hit each other, without getting hit ourselves, and being judged by others, rather than putting our lives on the line with the fear of losing it."

If I were from the past, always having a real sword sashed by my waist and I understood the fears involved in a real sword-fight, I will be different from modern people who are using Shinai and agreed to hit only Men, Kote and Dou.

In other words, people from the past (Samurai who had carried real swords), they will not be moving like how it's done in modern Kendo. They will definitely move in a manner more like how it's done in Kenjutsu. Today, we do not have an idea of a real sword-fight, and our movements become more sports-like.

That is to say: "The Kendo that we are doing is incorrect (with regards to a real sword-fight)".
The actual Japanese words are: "Sunawachi, ware ware no Kendo wa machigatteiru no da".

And thus, I looked for answers in ancient knowledge and scrolls before the war (WWII).
For example, Nakamura Hanjiro, a swordsman from Satsuma, who can draw and resheath his sword 3 times in the time it takes a droplet to fall from a house. And Sakakibara Kenkichi who successfully performed Kabuto-wari (splitting a Samurai helmet). And in more recent times, a sword-saint recognized by everyone from Meiji to Showa period, Nakayama Hakudo. No matter how the youngsters tried to run, he can use Ayumi-ashi (walking footwork) slowly and still manage to close the distance and catch his students.

In other words, I tried to assemble the knowledge from people who knew about the realities of a real sword fight, and I wanted to find out how did Kendo came into the picture during the evolution and progression of sword arts.

I'm not saying I will quit Kendo.
I look forward to some day where I can use Ayumi-Ashi (walking footwork), without jumping/leaping, to apply pressure on my opponent. And I want to make big true swings, using true pull-cuts (Hiki-kiri) and attack my opponent's Men, or even cut Kesa-giri (diagonal cut). I want to have the freedom to understand and comprehend my movements.
==========================================

I'll continue later on, the next segment in the article is titled: Watching Kendo from the past from video

So far I'm only close to 1/3 in the whole article.

And perhaps these 2 links might be interesting to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFyNHx7zcH4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INB1odZkZo0

[JSchmidt]

Hmm, reads like someone who should be doing some form of koryu instead of kendo.

[Raindrop]

Continuing: My many doubts with Kendo
I'm not saying I will quit Kendo.
I look forward to some day where I can use Ayumi-Ashi (walking footwork), without jumping/leaping, to apply pressure on my opponent. And I want to make big true swings, using true pull-cuts (Hiki-kiri) and attack my opponent's Men, or even cut Kesa-giri (diagonal cut). I want to have the freedom to understand and comprehend my movements.


This is sort of the key for me. All those things could still be done in Kendo. You need to work hard to get your ayumi-ashi that great and own your opponent. And if you train hard you can make "big true swings" in the same amount of time someone else snaps a sashi men. Maybe you cannot "cut through" (maybe "do") but the intention should be there. If you want to stick with kendo instead of doing kenjutsu, you also kind of need to accept the limitations it has as compared to kenjutsu. But within those limitations you can make it as realistic and un-sportslike as you want. At least that's how I feel about.

Make those big swings, make it count as one cut, one kill. It's a mind set. And maybe one day, in the far, far future, I'll even get there myself :rambo:

Thank you for translating all that, it's an interesting read!

[jackchen]

Footage of Kendo in the past
========================
I continued training in Budo, especially Kendo and Kenjutsu, and later started thinking more deeply about Iaido. However, still the question of how Kendo movement in the past looked like remained unanswered.

Of course there was no way to see such movement, unless I'm in a science-fiction drama and entered into a time-slip, I would visit the top dojo during the Bakumatsu period. If I can do that, I can identify for myself if their training looks anything like today's Kendo, and also if their Kata-Geiko looks anything like the sword-fights I've seen on TV. I can also see if the Kendo and Iaido which I'm doing today is correct or incorrect.

One day, I had the chance to see footage of pre-war Kendo. The footage was from Showa 5th Year, at Tairan-jiai held at Kyuchu-seinei-kan. From the subtitles, I saw that it was a tournament, attended by the royal family, and the swordsmen were the top best of during the time.

Among them included Nakajima Gorozou from Keishitei, who trained in the Yushinkan founded by Nakayama Hakudo.
Haga Junichi, and also Noma Hisashi, who later claimed the National Victory (Zen-koku Yushou) at Tenran-Jiai.

I was surprised that such old footage existed, as I always thought that to see footage from the Bakumatsu period was impossible.
I was stupid to not realise that perhaps footage from a slightly later time than Bakumatsu (pre-war) could be possible.
I spent all my time watching these pre-WWII footage, even if it means missing a meal. What I was most interested in was the "movement".

The result was a surprise. The movement captured in the footage from these pre-WWII matches were almost identical to modern Kendo.
I wondered, what these pre-WWII Kendoka will have to say if they were still around today.
However, wouldn't you be interested in watching footage that's even older, and see how the movement was really like during the Bakumatsu period itself?

I wanted to watch such footage, I couldn't of course.
Even then, if there were people from the Bakumatsu period who are still alive today, they'll definitely comment that, "Today's modern Kendo is definitely different from old Kendo and doesn't work. There were really skilled masters in the past."
The comment in Japanese was: "Ima-no-Kendo nanka mukashi-no-Kendo to chigatte, kanzen dame da. Mukashi wa hontou ni sugoi tatsujin ga ita no da."

At the very least, I could confirm and see for myself how pre-WWII Kendo was like at Showa 5th Year.
After watching the pre-WWII Kendo footage, I noticed certain things.
Things like, not limiting ourselves to Chudan or Jodan, and react accordingly with flexibility.
Or adjusting our Men if it gets askew, in the middle of a match, like it's a natural thing to do.
These are things that you wouldn't want a modern Kendo Shihan to see.
The one thing that I was most interested in and noticed the most, was the basic movements.

No matter how many times I watch the pre-WWII Kendo footage, the basic movements were identical to modern Kendo.
Immobilising your opponent through pressure from your "Ki", get close and score a point. It was different from what I expected the old masters would do.
Even though the technical levels of these old masters were very high, however the fundamental movements remained identical to modern Kendo, which is to have your right-leg forward and score a point by jumping forward (Tobi-komu).
===========================

Next up: Bakumatsu Kendo movement

[jackchen]

Bakumatsu Kendo Movement
========================
I search for more old footage to watch, and these just normal matches. During the intervals of the matches, there were demonstrations of Iaido and Koryu Kata.
Through these old footage, I failed to prove right my previous hypothesis, which is "Today's Kendo is different from Kendo in the past. Today's Kendo movement is like a sport, whereas Kendo movement in the past will be more like the Kata which we see in Koryu Kenjutsu", to the point in history at Showa 5th Year. In other words, Kendo movements today is largely identical to Kendo movements 70 years ago.

However, what if we can go even further back than Showa 5th Year in history? Where and when did Kendo become the way it was? If we can go back to the Bakumatsu period, that will be a time where Kendo, or rather Shinai Kyogi (Shinai sparring), was very widespread. Furthermore, this was a time of chaos, and real sword fights were still around. During this chaotic period, how were the movements like? We can only guess.

In the (pre-WWII) footage were the top Kendo practitioners of that time. But if they were to do things differently, they will definitely not be recognized by their own masters. Budo and Arts were not meant to satisfy the disciples. Even though there was no footage, their masters Nakayama Hakudo (Shindo Munen Ryu), Takano Sazaburo (Nakanishi-ha Itto Ryu), Naitou Takaharu (Hokushin Itto Ryu) and such, legendary strong as they may be, would have been using the same kind of (sports-like) movement as well.

Take for example Shindo Munen Ryu. Nakayama Hakudo's Sensei was Negishi Shingoro, who found in the Boshin War as a Nagaoka Clansman. I don't think it was between them that Kendo became sports-like. If Nakayama Hakudo (defied his Sensei) and changed Kendo to become more sports-like, he probably won't become as famous.

Though I'll like to think that Kendo has changed (to become more sports-like), from pre-WWII to post-WWII, and the blank period from the WWII Japanese defeat at Showa 20th Year to the revival of Kendo in Showa 28th Year. It was during these times that the 3-men judges (san-nin shimpan) was introduced. I am of the opinion that today's Kendo, which is the sports version so as to speak, already became a sports even further back in history.

I think a lot of people will agree with me on that. However, even though till now I still have doubts and questions with regards to the "movements", I think that there was no change. In other words, I think that during the Bakumatsu period, movements identical to what we see in modern Kendo today already existed.
=====================================


Finally I'm at half-way through the article!

Next up: Kendo is just one factor in Kendo

[jackchen]

Should we move this thread to a more appropiate forum?

[turboyoshi]

Should we move this thread to a more appropiate forum?

Thanks for the update. I'd suggest the history or concepts forums.

[Shinsengumi77]

Very interesting thread. I wonder...back in the bakamatsu and even earlier, if stength/skill in shinai kyogi translated to actual skill with a sword?

I second moving it.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Moved to history. Perhaps if the author had read this article (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/content.php/45-A-Brief-Synopsis-of-the-History-of-Kendo), he might have had some of his questions answered on how kendo came to be.

I don't know who this author is. Is he writing from some position of authority, or is he just some curious guy who hasn't done enough research yet? I don't understand his point about always "jumping forward and landing on the right foot". If you have enough experience in kendo you see people scoring moving in a variety of directions and on either foot. I'm not sure why he thinks pressuring someone and then moving in close to cut is somehow not authentic. Why would you risk attacking unless you first create a chance, especially when the blades are live?

[jackchen]

I don't understand his point about always "jumping forward and landing on the right foot". If you have enough experience in kendo you see people scoring moving in a variety of directions and on either foot. I'm not sure why he thinks pressuring someone and then moving in close to cut is somehow not authentic. Why would you risk attacking unless you first create a chance, especially when the blades are live?

Hello Neil, this may be due to my bad translation and I apologise for that.

The "jumping forward with right leg" is written in Japanese as "Migi-ashi mae ni shite Tobikomu". "Tobi" in "Tobikomu" means jump, so this is more a literal translation.

And regarding "pressure", the actual words in Japanese is: "Chouyaku-sezu tomo, Ayumi-ashi de semeru koto ga deki".
Which is translated as "Without jumping, and being able to apply Seme by using Ayumi-Ashi".

Thanks

[ZealUK]

This kind of argument isn't particularly new. I can't find the book at the moment, but I have an article called 「直心影流への批判」(A criticism of Jikishinkage-ryu) from the mid 1700s which basically refutes the usefulness of bogu and shinai when studying kenjutsu. I am sure there are plenty of documents that swing the other way as well.

[turboyoshi]

This kind of argument isn't particularly new.

Well, it may be premature to decide that, we've only seen half the article so far. I have to say I'm looking forward to the rest. Although you may have access to the original since it's in Japanese.
This article is actually in the book "Nihon no Kenjutsu", Part 2.
The overall title of this article is: "How did Kenjutsu become Kendo?"

[rfoxmich]

The words that keep coming back that concern me whenever I see them are "...looks anything like the sword-fights I've seen on TV." When I see that I cringe. Sword fights on TV are entertainment not history. The question that should follow that phrase and never does is "..and whether sword fights seen on TV bear any resemblance to sword fights at _any_ time in history". I'm also surprised I've not seen some thinking about how the shift from sword to shinai has changed what >can< be done in manipulating the weapon and how that changed what >is< done.

I should say that I'm not saying that modern kendo or even kendo quite far back is like 'traditional swordsmanship' in any way shape or form. But my opinion is that given the goals of kendo I'm not so sure it matters that much. What matters more is how, why and what you practice for, and the sincerity with which you approach that practice.. but what the hell do I know.

Going back to lurking and looking forward to the next set of translations

[Kokoro777]

I can see where the author is coming from. I'm sure modern Kendo bears very little similarity to the swordsmanship the Samurai used in battles/skirmishes and I'm sure a battle-ready Samurai would make mincemeat of a person using Kendo technique with a katana! I'm sure Kendo training isn't as vigorous/rigorous, physically and mentally, as a Samurai's was. But has Kendo ever claimed to be as such? My understanding was that Kendo was a distillation of swordsmanship into a competitive sport, for the masses rather than an elite fighting 'caste', so that everyone, man woman and child could glean some of the benefits of the very hard training a samurai would've endured, without having to endure their level of hardship and devote as much time to it. Its dipping ones little toe into what the Samurai must have gone through to become adept with a sword and Kendo is a valuable, worthwhile sport to be involved in.

I think the problem is that practitioners of Kendo begin fancying themselves as Samurai and get caught up in the whole idea of it and don't like hearing that maybe...just maybe they're not even in the face of overwhelming evidence against the concept. Its only human nature, I suppose!

[jackchen]

Kendo is just one component of Kendo (Part 1 of 2)
==============================
Gradually, I began to understand that it is important to practice both Kendo and Iaido. They are like the 2 wheels of a car. If one practices Kendo, he will sway more towards the competitive side of things. In order to help that, he can practice Iaido in order to learn the techniques of a real sword better. Likewise, if one only practices Iaido, he lacks a reactive opponent and things will become a dance.

And then we add Kata. In history, there weren't any Kenjutsu styles that just practices sparring alone. Like the book "Nihon no Kenjutsu" has illustrated, all Koryu Kenjutsu have their own Kata passed down from generations to generations. Like how the Hanshi of Ono-ha Itto Ryu, Sasamori Junzo, has written in his book, he stated that originally training was purely Kata, and only once in a while Bogu will be put on and practitioners will engage in sparring. Kendo can be similar in this aspect by practicing the Kata, before moving on to sparring.

The Zen-Nippon Kendo Renmei considered the importance of this, and made the Nippon Kendo Kata as part of the rank promotion tests. And also, they are working hard to promote Zen-Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai as well.

Originally, the ideals and idea of Kendo, Kata, Iai are the same, and even though they share many similar points, "movement" is a separate issue all together. Each of this contributed to the broader meaning of Kendo. I'm of the opinion that it is not surprising that most practitioners are not aware of this.

Historically, in the process of transmission, the various Kenjutsu Ryuha made sure that Kata is at the center of the training. The effectiveness of sparring caught their attention, and they began to put it in as part of their training. The Kendo Renmei painstakingly tried to be at the center of all these Ryuha. And before long, in the late Edo period, if practitioners can put on Bogu and freely hit each other, they would have being able to cross the borders of "styles", and cross-train with one another. Practitioners also became aware that this is also a good way to determine the effectiveness of their techniques. In the center of Edo, the famous Ryuha such as Hokushin Itto Ryu, Nakanishi-ha Itto Ryu, Shindo Munen Ryu, Jikishinkage Ryu etc..., caused the widespread of Bogu Kenjutsu.

[Kokoro777]

Gradually, I began to understand that it is important to practice both Kendo and Iaido. They are like the 2 wheels of a car. If one practices Kendo, he will sway more towards the competitive side of things. In order to help that, he can practice Iaido in order to learn the techniques of a real sword better. Likewise, if one only practices Iaido, he lacks a reactive opponent and things will become a dance.Isn't that just spot on?

[Are2]

... or one could just practice a koryu art which probably is the whole cart with two (or more) fitting wheels in itself.

This whole text seems somewhat weird, with kenjutsu "becoming" kendo, the "effectiveness of sparring" and other common but somewhat... colored views of history.

[Kokoro777]

But what Kendo has, that is lacking in koryu (as far as I understand them), is 'free' combat. Kendo is mainly about ones ability to overwhelm another combatant with ones technique and fighting spirit and this is a very difficult facet to practise, study and excel in.

What the article is questioning, in my opinion, is the relationship between Kendo and Japanese swordsmanship. I think its suggesting that Kendo is so far removed from swordsmanship in regards technique and to an extent, spirit, that it is now a stand alone, valid, exciting, rewarding discipline in itself. Kendo is the product of social and historical evolution and as such has little in common with its ancient ancestor (Japanese swordsmanship) in the same way humans have little in common with shrew-like early mammals. However the article is hinting that perhaps Kendoka like to suggest their art is the same as swordsmanship, for added kudos, just made a little safer when in fact it isn't that simple.

[Josh Reyer]

But what Kendo has, that is lacking in koryu (as far as I understand them), is 'free' combat. Kendo is mainly about ones ability to overwhelm another combatant with ones technique and fighting spirit and this is a very difficult facet to practise, study and excel in.

Aside from the fact that some koryu still do free practice, in some koryu the kata can get quite a bit more intense than the Kendo no Kata. Right now my hands are bleeding and my forearms and calves are black and blue, and I'm sitting here wondering how that happened when I (ostensibly) knew "what's coming".

[Kokoro777]

Aside from the fact that some koryu still do free practice, in some koryu the kata can get quite a bit more intense than the Kendo no Kata. Right now my hands are bleeding and my forearms and calves are black and blue, and I'm sitting here wondering how that happened when I (ostensibly) knew "what's coming".Ouch!

[jackchen]

Kendo is just one component of Kendo (Part 2 of 2)
=================================

The chaotic period of Bakumatsu was probably the starting point of Sports Kendo. When one puts on Bogu and engage in sparring, there has to be a clear way to define who's the winner in a match. If we consider that: Victory = Hitting your opponent faster than he can hit you, then it is more advantageous to use movements unique to Shinai Kendo than to use the movements we learn in Kenjutsu Kata. The question of "Will this work with a real sword?" will probably not be at the top of your worries. In order to facilitate the smooth-flowing of tournaments and matches, the practitioners most probably understood this and incorporate these sports-like movements that we still see in modern Kendo.

Before long, the focus shifted from hitting without getting hit, cutting without getting cut, to a form of fun excitement and self-improvement. This is the origins of sports Kendo, as we go through a series of economical rises and falls from Meiji era to Showa era.

So, how about the traditional Kata by the various Kenjutsu Ryuha? Those who had the passion regarded the Kata very highly and importantly. Those who practiced only Shinai Kendo were regarded as tasteless, ignored and looked down upon. With the widespread of Shinai Kendo, and because they couldn't overtake or catch up with the Koryu Kenjutsu Kata, the instructors in the Meiji era created the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kendo Kata.

Eventually, in the Meiji 44th Year, Kendo became one of the official subjects in junior high schools. During this time, the Kata training was conducted in Koshukai and this was regarded very importantly. In the publications about Kendo during this time, importance was emphasized on both Kata and Uchikomi-Keiko. This was to highlight the relationship between Shinai Kendo and Kata, and to practice any one of the two by itself will be inadvisable.

If we think about it this way, the unique movement of Kendo is one portion of Kendo itself, and not everything about Kendo. Shinai Kendo is both mentally and physically tough training, seeking out and striking at your opponent's weakness. However, Kendo has detached itself very far away from the original meaning and purpose of "Cutting/Killing your enemy". It became something artificial, used as an educational tool. As Kendo became more widespread, Kendo began to evolve as something stand-alone.

Under this stand-alone system, as long as practitioners understand this, there should be no problems. But why are Kata and Iai necessary? Practitioners will have to taught that it is to become stronger in sparring matches. Which is true, as it will also help spread Kendo further, and make its practitioners stronger. However, if the only reason why someone is practicing Shinai Kendo is just to be stronger in sparring matches, that training will become hypocritical and the original lessons of "Meaning of Life" will be lost. This might be hard to understand, especially beginners. It is only natural that practitioners will think that, "I must increase my training time in Kata, Iai, Kakari-Geiko, Ji-geiko, in order to become better."

So, originally, how should the mentality be? Thought it may be difficult to comprehend in a modern society, without the fear of being misunderstood, we must still try to instill the mentality that, "Kendo is the harsh way of using a real sword in a sword-fight. To understand that. we must learn the Kata was developed by our predecessors who put their lifes on the line, handling a sword in Iai, actually pressuring each other (Seme-ai), and training ourselves physically, mentally in Shinai Kendo.".

Therefore, learning Kata and doing Iai is to understand the broader and original meaning of Kendo, and not just to become stronger in Shinai Kendo.

==================================

Last segment in this article is: The Real Kendo that is not possible to re-construct. (Saigen Dekinai Hontou no Kendo)

[Kokoro777]

I think this translation should be collated and posted somewhere so everyone can read it-I think its very interesting indeed.

[Fonsz]

The place for educated thoughts and musings.
http://kenshi247.net/blog/

[jackchen]

Final Part: The Real Kendo that cannot be re-constructed (Saigen Dekinai Hontou no Kendo) Part 1 of 2
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Now back to the original questions and doubts about "movement. So just what were the movements like during a real sword-fight? Shinai Kendo appeared in the last periods of people actually using swords in combat. Perhaps these (Shinai Kendo) movements were different from the real sword-fights movement.

However, suppose we consider that the many Kenjutsu Ryuha out there created their Kata based on their experience in real sword-fights. Then perhaps in the case of a real sword-fight, we will see people using more of Ayumi-Ashi (walking footwork, stepping left and right). And also fighting not from Issoku-Itto-no-Ma (the distance of one-sword one-foot), but rather changing into various stances based on the opponent's movement and stances, and probably running and chasing opponents down.

While there are people who thinks that jumping (Tobi-komi) allows one to win more easily in sparring matches, there are also others who thinks that hitting (cutting) anywhere, even without much power, with a sword will result in bleeding, and therefore a Kendo match is more like a boxing or karate match as compared to a streetfight. Furthermore, your opponent will not be limited to just movements taught in modern Kendo. If he can make full successive swings and chase afer you, I wonder if modern Kendo jumping movements like Tobi-komi will still help you to survive?

Summing up what we've gathered so far, as expected, the movements found in Koryu Kenjutsu Kata are the ones which will be efficient in a real sword fight. However, as these movements cannot be put to use in a modern Kendo match, there will be doubts in modern Kendo practitioners on whether these Koryu Kenjutsu Kata movements are actually effective.

[dillon]

Thanks for the translation!

[Mako]

Does anyone have any more detailed information on who Takaoka Jiro is?

It would help put his statements into better context. The tone of his statements in regard to Kendo is quite different to what I have come to expect from experienced kendoka.

[jackchen]

Final Part: The Real Kendo that cannot be re-constructed (Saigen Dekinai Hontou no Kendo) Part 2 of 2
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One difference about Kendo is that, there is no "re-match" in a real sword fight. To speak in a very extreme manner, practicing with Bogu will be like practicing to swim on a Tatami (Tatami no ue no Suiren). However, to still enjoy the practice will be the limit and destiny of Kendo, Kenjutsu. Today, in our modern times, it will be impossible to have Shinken Shobu, a real sword fight.

This article addressed the questions and doubts I had with Kendo since I began training in martial arts. This is just one aspect of what I've considered regarding how Kendo evolved from Kenjutsu. And I'm not claiming to be an expert in history. This is just a brief research and there are still a lot of things which I don't know about the world of Kenjutsu. If I were to branch off into too many things, then this research would not have advanced.

When I was still conceptualizing for this article, I had the unexpected chance to take a look at a special book, highly regarded by Mr Koyama from Bokuden Ryu Kenjutsu. (The title of the book is briefly translated as: "Details regarding the evolution of modern Kendo from Kinsei Ryuha Kenjutsu.) Mr Koyama is also a researcher of folkloristics. Research was made on why the movements of modern Kendo is different from Kenjutsu, from the point of view of folkloristics based on the widespread of Shinai Kendo in the Hirosaki clan. If I had the chance, I will definitely make a deep study into this book.

Herafter, I look forward to deeper research being made about Kendo and Kenjutsu.

[Josh Reyer]

Does anyone have any more detailed information on who Takaoka Jiro is?

It would help put his statements into better context. The tone of his statements in regard to Kendo is quite different to what I have come to expect from experienced kendoka.
"Nihon no Kenjutsu" (Swordsmanship of Japan) was compiled by Gakken's Rekishi Gunzou Henshuubu (Editorial Department of the magazine "Historical Group", a monthly magazine on Japanese history). As such, the contributing writers are basically amateur historians, rather than professional, academic historians. If we take Takaoka's claims about himself at face value, he's been doing kendo since elementary school, which probably puts him more experienced in kendo than most of the contributors on this forum.

The ideas expressed in the article are not especially unique. They are shared by many kendoka who quit kendo to join a koryu, and no few who continue to do kendo while doing a koryu as well. It basically comes down to what a person wants. ZNKR kendo has focused on certain abstract principles of Japanese swordsmanship (e.g., training seme, sutemi, and making/exploiting suki), and less on certain practical aspects of cutting an enemy in an actual swordfight. One could make a good argument that kendo as we have it today is the budo distilled down to the very essence that makes it relevant to modern day practitioners, who will never raise a sword in anger. For some, this essential budo is all they want or need, and they are happy focusing on it, without worrying about the nitty gritty of efficiently swinging and cutting with a shorter, heavier sword instead of a longer, lighter shinai. Others want a more practical, realistic kind of training. Neither is "right" or "wrong", it just comes down to what speaks to a particular person.

I also don't think we should take his comments about "fighting like in the chambara movies" too literally. He's talking about what got him into kendo originally, as an elementary school-age boy. All he's saying is that he had an image of what katana combat looked like, and hoped with kendo to learn the same kind of swordwork used by the samurai. He was a kid after all.

Also, it should be taken into consideration that one purpose of the book was to publicize koryu kenjutsu ryuha. It should come as no surprise that one of the writers then makes the argument that there's a lot a modern kendo practitioner could learn from doing a koryu as well.

[ben]

Thanks for the background info Josh. It seems to make sense. I was getting a bit frustrated with this guy's circular logic, and the bleeding obviousness of some of his conclusions. If he is writing from the point of view of an amateur historian and not an expert practitioner of koryu, then the article makes much more sense. He also happens to be examining an issue that personally I have never had any trouble with. Nevertheless, I find koryu practice to be an important part of my kendo practice. Interestingly, and far more than I would have imagined, I have found my kendo has been just as important for my koryu. b

[Mako]

Yes, thanks Josh for the information.

There are some interesting points in the text, but lines like this threw me a bit:

" Before long, the focus shifted from hitting without getting hit, cutting without getting cut, to a form of fun excitement and self-improvement."

I have not seen any evidence that Kendo, in its original state as a training exercise for Kenjutsu students, ever had the goal of 'hitting without being hit'.

Taking care that you do not die while defeating the enemy is not a course of action that is in keeping with the key value of martial cultures like the Samurai, which is "kill the enemy without reguard for you life".

Understanding this goes some way to explaining why in Kendo shiai hitting the opponent first gets the point even if you are hit just after.

The last words in the line are interesting too.

I found it odd that anyone who practiced Kendo for any length of time would have the notion that changes have been made just to make it more fun and exciting.

Aspects like footsweeps and a thrust to Do have been left out of the shiai practiced by the majority of Kendoka, but not for reasons of entertainment from what I understand.

[Josh Reyer]

Well, I can only speak for Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, but in the practice of our kata, and historically in shiai (practice matches), "hitting without getting hit" was of paramount importance.

There's the story of Yagyu Renya, 5th soke of YSR (1625-1694) doing free practice with neighborhood kids, him versus the lot. If he got hit, he'd have to pay them money. While of course it was important for a samurai not to be afraid for his life, "koubou-itchi" attack and defense as one, was also an essential concept. As was the idea of "katsuninken" - letting the enemy move freely, cut as he likes, and then naturally responding to that to defeat him. If killing the enemy without regard for your life is most important, no need to bother with that. Just go in as fast and as hard as you can.

[dillon]

Perhaps some koryu kenjutsu could be introduced into kendo so that it is practiced alongside kendo-no kata the same way various koryu iaijutsu is studied alongside seitei iai kata. It could be introduced initially as an optional study and with more widespread adoption become expected knowledge. There's an issue with some ryu-ha being the IP of some families but there are some ryu-ha which are in the public domain so to speak. If I'm not wrong Mizoguchi-ha Itto-ryu as practiced by Ozawa-sensei or Shinto-ryu which is already part of koryu jojutsu are such ryu-ha.

[Mako]

[QUOTE=Josh Reyer;419207]Well, I can only speak for Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, but in the practice of our kata, and historically in shiai (practice matches), "hitting without getting hit" was of paramount importance.QUOTE]

From my admittedly basic studies of history, martial arts and military warfare, but especially from reading Platos Republic, the importance of this value of fearlessness above all else, of bravery not technique or physical prowess as defining what the true warrior is, explains a lot about the history of specifically martial cultures like the Samurai, Spartans, Zulu, Maori and so forth.

I have no knowledge about the offensive and defensive principals of Koryu so thanks for putting me right about making too sweeping a remark about Japanese Budo.

[Are2]

Taking care that you do not die while defeating the enemy is not a course of action that is in keeping with the key value of martial cultures like the Samurai, which is "kill the enemy without reguard for you life".

Yeah, that's the usual romatic picture we have of samurai nowadays. However, they were professional soldiers, not just religious nutjobs. Not being afraid of death is essential to being decisive in battle. Throwing your life away is not; you can't do much more soldiering if you're dead. Most koryu I know of are pretty down-to-earth in this regard.


Perhaps some koryu kenjutsu could be introduced into kendo so that it is practiced alongside kendo-no kata the same way various koryu iaijutsu is studied alongside seitei iai kata.

Koryu iai isn't really practiced "alongside" ZNKR iai in that way; the former isn't meant to augment the latter (or vice versa). ZNKR iai's function (one of them) is more like a pathway leading to proper koryu practice. Of course seitei practice continues after starting koryu,because of its other functions.

Also, that does sound a bit interesting and could be useful, at least to some, but if it leads (as it probably would) to the koryu peing practiced with the same... enthusiasm... as kendo kata, then there's really no point.

[Mako]

Thanks jackchen for your translation and Josh for your informative replies.

In case you think the tone of my posts are critical of the author, I'd just like to state that I think Takaoka Jiro's questions about Kendo are reasonable.

The actions in Kendo shiai are so different from other forms of sword training and also the popular notion of swordfighting portrayed in media like movies and television, that its just natural for anyone to have such questions about the legitamacy of the techniques demanded in the match format.

I am more puzzled by those who are NOT curious about why Kendo form is so unique.