Is this a "wussy" thing to do?

[Abe Froman]

Whenever we do kirikaeshi(or any other excersise where I have to recieve a men strike), I find myself flicking my head up just a little right at the moment of impact, so I take the strike on the very top of the men grill instead of the top of the head. As far as I know my head and back are straight(sensei tells me if I am slouching at all), but the bogu(which is dojo bogu) is definitely made for someone smaller.

Anyway, taking one on the top of the head smarts much more than taking one on the grill, that is why I flick my head up. Is this in any way a bad thing to do? I don't want to cheapen my kendo at all, so if it is bad form I'd like to know.

Thanks

[AlexM]

I do this too (mostly in keiko) and it's a bad habit. Not only does it look bad but you're helping to damage other people's shinai.
As an added bonus you'll get use to lifting your head before a strike and open your throat up to attack (the tsuki guard goes up and leaves you unprotected). I'm assuming this could kill you, although I've never experienced it myself...getting hit too hard in the throat not dying.
But then, what the hell do I know.

[ben]

It shouldn't hurt to receive (correct) cuts on the men-buton (padded part). Is your men a bit soft? Try pressing in hard with your thumb on the top just behind the men-gane (grill). Ideally it should be hard as a rock - there should be no give whatsoever. A *little* give is OK, but if it's any more than that you should invest in a padded men insert.

AlexM is spot on, not only is it bad for shinais (this was all mentioned on another thread I think), it also opens your throat to potential injury.

And it is bad for your posture too, maybe not so much now, but later. What you do with your head alters the way you hold you body all the way to your feet.

b

[supernils]

Lifting your forehead like that also makes it impossible for you friend to practise correct cuts since he/she isn't able to strike you the righ way.
It is better to tell the other person to strike lighter or change his/her te no uchi

[Charlie]

Although I have noticed that if a men is too small, it hurts one's head. Either you need a bigger, newer men or slip some padding in between your head and the men. They actually sell men padding that fits right in there, or you could fold a hand towel for some extra protection.

BTW, is that you're real name? You know that movie: "Abe Froman? You're the sausage kind of Chicago?"

[CypherSushi]

a mousemat is perfect for menpadding... and cheap too. One might have to cut it a bit to make it fit, but it perfect thickness.

[Abe Froman]

Maybe I explained it a bit wrong; when I do flick, it's not a huge tilting my face to the heavens deal, I am just angling a LITTLE bit. I don't think anyone has even noticed, there are some guys there who would tell me if it was wrong. I can see what you are saying about shinai damaging though, it's the difference between the force of impact being absorbed by 5 inches or 1 inch.

There doesnt seem to be much give in the men, but I will double check tonight. I'll ask sensei if he thinks I should use a pad.

Yes, the name is from Ferris Beuhler. Great movie.

Thanks guys and gals.

[Abe Froman]

I also don't flick during jigeiko(is that the correct term for sparring? Keiko and geiko sound so much alike coming from sensei). It's only when I know it's coming and I'm not allowed to block or move.

[lewis]

CypherSushi

The mousepad is great idea! Good on ya.

[CypherSushi]

*rei*
The credit goes to my sempai who unforuanlly do not frequent there forums. Still a great idea though :)

[ben]

I used to think mousepads were totally useless. Thanks Cypher!
:)

b

[KhawMengLee]

Lets not forget the good old beer stubbie holder! Just take off the bottom and you have a great kote guard...and you can use it in the pub after a good keiko to keep them beers going...heh

[Hyaku]

CypherSushi

The mousepad is great idea! Good on ya.
....
A Gel one? Sounds fun.

More than thirty years of standing a lot of that time in Motodachi allowing people to hit me on the head.

Worst of all I have had bad neck problems.
Sometimes I have not been able to move my head to one side. Impacted neck joints have squeezed on the nerves that travel from the spinal cord down the arm.

I did used to use a pad some years ago but the main thing is a good Men. In Japan daily practice armour and competition armour is different quality. If you are on that side of the dojo for long periods you take a lot of punishment and need protection.

It is better here in Japan. Because apart from the initial kiri-kaeshi cut, everyone travels through fast and power is directed forward. In teaching, generally if its too I hard I will step back on the cut to encourage people to stretch out more. They have too reach for it and the impact is not so hard and it improves the practice.

Hyaku

[KENSHIN]

I especially do this when i am faced with a senior, i have to say that even though they may seem well with their strikes, but i think that most of them don't realise that their strikes are killer hard, and i for sure am not gonna end up brain damaged in my later years...hehehe. however, i do this just to absorb some of the impact, but as the others have said about the tsuki being exposed. I am preety sure that there are paddings that you can invest into, i will have a look into what its called and where it might be possible to get one, i know that one of the senior girls in my dojo wheres one. so just hang in there dude, i will try to find out the info.