why is there so much running after striking in modern kendo?

[Filipp]

I know its part of zanshin, but why is that you have to go foward after you strike, technically you could also run backwards but its generally considered worse and maybe not reward a point in low rank shiais, sometimes kendo feels like jousting


from what i've seen in kenjutsu there isn't any running, you strike your opponent he dies thats it, and in old kendo videos also i have nerver seen so much moving and running either, from a real sword fight point of view you could hurt yourself if you run like crazy in your opponent direction even if you hit him first so there isn't much realism on it...

so why in old kendo there wasn't all this running but in modern kendo somebody decided to make it as part of zanshin?

[Cutie_honey]

I wouldn't describe as running. Think of it more as momentum.
And it doesn't always have to be forward (e.g. Hiki-waza) and you will see videos of high ranking sensei not follow through on occasion.
But for most of us since forward is generally the direction we are moving, the momentum of committing your body to your cut should carry forward through your opponent and to safe distance.

One of the ideals we try to achieve is ki-ken-tai-no-ichi. Spirit, Sword, Body all as one.
So I think that if you just cut and stop, a lot of the energy and power in your body generates (tai) also stops. And If you miss your target in this instance, you are very vulnerable to be cut yourself.
If you can generate that energy in the cut and not follow-through like high ranking sensei can do, then great. But as you said, in some shiai the shimpan will not award you a point as in their minds you have not committed yourself to the cut

[Neil Gendzwill]

Have a look at this recent thread (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php/25298-zanshin-equal-readiness?).

[turboyoshi]

, from a real sword fight point of view you could hurt yourself if you run like crazy in your opponent direction even if you hit him first so there isn't much realism on it...


I think Cutie gave a better answer than I could so nothing to add there. But I'll say this, you have to get rid of this idea that kendo should reflect a realistic sword fight. The purpose of kendo is not about teaching you to fight with a sword. It's about teaching you the proper state of mind. Zanshin and sutemi are critical aspects that you (sort of) learn by this moving through after your attack.