Learning Footwork

[Old Warrior]

After 2 months and countless hours trying - the footwork is exasperating. I can push off the left, slide the right, and get the left back. Of course, by then, any live opponent would be in the next town having a beer. When I try and string the steps together, I look like a 3 year old playing like he's riding an imaginary horse. I've read everything I can and seen all kinds of pictures and read numerous explanations on the body mechanics.

Now, its true I'm impatient. But is there a realistic time that it takes a reasonably coordinated fool to - get it? (before quitting and taking up bowling).

[kendokamax]

ya about a few years maybe !

hey duuuude it really depends on what you want to attain by doing kendo. You strive for perfection?? well then it will take you years to have it as you like. I personaly dont strive for perfection as far as other's people standart, I just do whatever I think is working.

Anyway kendo footwork is simple....I personaly always see if my two feets are paralelle...so I know i'm going straight foward.

hmmmmmm i feel stupid today .... and champagne is good :rolleyes:

[Steve]

Footwork is by far the hardest part of Kendo, and takes the longest to learn. Its almost magic when you start to get it though. One day, you'll be practicing it whrn all of a sudden...BAM! you hear your self making the "stomp" noise. When you get that noise consistently (not a thud, but a slap. The first one hurts, the latter does not) you know you are landing correctly. Thats the first step to getting it. It took me about two years before i could do proper footwork consistently during geiko with a live opponent, and about one year to be able to do it during drills. Not that i have perfect footwork....that'll take a lifetime (or more).

[Steve]

Here are some key points for learning footwork that helped me. Most are from books, some are from Sensei, and some are personal. Note that i use "Front" and "Hind" leg instead of right and left, since the same applies to "reverse" footwork.

1) be sure your hind leg is straight at all times. Don't bend your knee!
2) be sure your hips are aligned with your shoulders during the entire motion from start to finish.
3) Keep your front foot as close to the floor as possible; do not do the "rise and stomp" motion, if you will.
4) If something hurts (excluding blisters) your doing something wrong.
5) Your "hip-flexor" muscle group in your hind leg should be the first muscles to tense as you begin your motion. Anything else results in sacrificing power/stability/speed.
6) If you have mirrors in your dojo so that you can see your feet/posture from the side, make use of them. Or, have a classmate video tape you doing a few drills. They are both invaluble tools for picking out errors.
7) Ask your classmates to make comments while watching you (or your video tape). This is one of my favorite learnig methods, and is quite effective.
8) Allow yourself some time. Practice makes perfect right?

[Haowen]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the tips. I'm afraid I don't understand (1). Could you elaborate? I'm thinking if the hind leg is dead straight then it loses its natural springiness and it's harder to push off. Do you actually mean the heel of the hind foot should be close to the ground? Because that is possible to do without straightening the leg at the knee. Your advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[nodachi]

I am a little confused on the straight hind leg thing. I have one head sensei that says keep it straight. Then the head sensei at my other dojo says to keep it almost straight, but slightly bent. They both have been practicing all their lives and are at some ridiculous level (although I don't know exactly what) and they have famous family swordsmanship ancestries and all that jazz. Their "credentials" are equal so I don't know who I should listen to. Any thoughts?

[kendokamax]

I think keeping the left leg straight helped me a lot in my kendo, just feels more comfortable and easier to attack like that.

I thought everyone would agree that the "having the back leg straight and butt solid (hahaha)" was the way to go....so try out both and choose the way you want to do it.

Here in canada there is that guy named Asaoka, he is the best kendo player here. His kamae is different from what others normaly do: He keeps his back foot on the ground.

Seeing that for the first time I was like what the ...?! but having heard the explanation why so he does it like that I understood why. However even thought his kendo is the best you could see in canada I dont feel comfortable at all trying to mimic him....so I do it the way everyone else here does it.

Sorry my post is dull but it's always a personal choice uh?

[scbang]

Nodachi, I have struggled with the very same thing over the years and have received same perplexing answeres from various senseis. But being an oriental sport Kendo is, I don't think it's only one way. In my opinion, the senseis are basically saying what works for you is the right way.
Based on my experience though, if you keep the hind leg so straight as it locks on you, you don't have much power or resistance ( when you received a body check ) and you also don't have much power to jump ( to attack ). So only question is how much do you bend - This is where the personal choice comes. You should try and experiment and choose what works for you.

Afterwhile, you won't be thinking about this. As I often do, I can compare Kendo with Golf. If you're thinking about mechanics, you're not having much fun or good game. When you're thinking about the pin or strategy to get to the pin, you're not thinking about whether you tuck your right elbow or not..

Somewhere in this forum ( or a book I read - I don't remember ) it has been mentioned that learning Kendo is three step approach.

1. Learn the technics
2. Forget what you learn ( Get individual style )
3. Do what comes naturally ( Now you're not thinking technics at all )

Thoughts? SC

[Steve]

ok, here goes. you may have to stand up and try this a few times to understand what i'm getting at.

First, there are two reasons for keeping your leg straight. One is for physical reasons, the other is philosophical in nature. I won't describe that since I'll most likely butcher it. But you can read about it in "The Definative Guide"...there is a whole section on keeping your leg straight.

As for the physical one, a straight leg is your source of power for your footwork. I don't mean keep your knee locked and rigid, but make sure its not bent either. Just stand up for a sec. Your legs are straight, but you aren't locking your knees. same idea. Now flex your leg muscles. Your leg is still just as straight, but now your knee is locked. get it?

Ok, now assume your kendo footwork posture, but have your hind knee bent (exaggerate it). Lunge forward. To get any speed or power you need to straighten your leg before your body really begins to move right? Now, try the same lunge but keep your leg straight...not rigid, but straight. If done correctly, you should feel MUCH more stable for one thing, as well as faster and more powerful.

For a mental image of what you are trying to do, think of a boat oar as your hind leg and the boat as the rest of you (front leg and body). The whole boat moves forward from the oar pushing the water. Would it still work if the oar was flexible? Sure, but not nearly as well.

If you do this right, your hip-flexor should be the first muscles to tense, not your calf. If it is your calf, straighten your leg a bit more. Try walking with your knees locked (big steps) as well. This will give you the feeling of what its like to use your hip-flexor to propel you (the largest muscle group in your leg!).

hope that explains things a bit. Once you get used to it, you'll see and feel the difference!

[Steve]

Instead of using a boat as your mental image, think of pushing yourself with ski-poles. Why aren't ski-poles flexible? Answer that question, and then apply it to footwork in kendo.

[Neil Gendzwill]

The kind of straight leg Steve is talking about works for the attack. So when you are in position to attack, your left leg should be in that "almost straight" position he's talking about. Also your hips should be rotated, "kendo hip" as we say (butt back, gut out, pelvis rotated). This makes a strong mechanical connection between your leg and your hips and ensures a direct transmission of the forward motion to your body.

Once you've made your fumikomi (stomp), you'll need to bend your leg somewhat again. Keeping it straight all the time will lead to awkward motion IMHO. So straight for the attack, then slightly bent as you move forward through the opponent.

[Haowen]

Got it. Works great! Thanks Steve and Neil :)