Contemplating My 1st Bout

[Old Warrior]

I've read all the excellent advice on the anticipation vs reaction thread. But, I'm a beginner and therefore my ability to anticipate or react is going to be minimal and crude.

So, what the consensus of advice? When my name is called out and I have to face my first opponent what should I be thinking and trying to do?

My initial analysis is to try and use my developed sense of timing (from European fencing) to avoid the expected straight mori (men)attack and to look to counter with the same as my opponent comes into range? My own footwork is presently too unsure to think I could overpower anyone with my speed or the accuracy of my cut. Lastly, I am concerned that when the adrenaline starts to flow I will hit too hard.

[JSchmidt]

"When my name is called out and I have to face my first opponent what should I be thinking and trying to do?"

You should focus on cutting straight and going through. Dont worry about counters or getting hit.

Jakob

[Atama]

My sensei anlays said to me when I first started kendo ....."Attack, don't think just attack". Just go all out kakarigeiko I think it the best thing to do when you are fresh in bogu as it helps you develope your spirit and stamina.

[Old Warrior]

The replies are good general advice. Now remember, I can't do, real well. that little two foot hop, followed by the long slide step, with the left foot snapping back, so I'm likely to be swinging at air. Or, my predictable movements will be met by a hori cut (do) and no one will be there to receive my strike. Or, my preparation to move will result in a sharp cut across my wrists.

I'm looking for real specific basic help. I thing you guys are worlds beyond where I'm at. I just don't want to stand frozen without some plan. The plan may be a bad one, but I'm at least thinking about it.

[JSchmidt]

I think your fencing experience is going against you here. No matter what you do, you will most likely get hit, so you might as well start getting basics right, ie cut big and straight and go through. You will learn much more from that, than trying obscure techniques. Focus on posture and footwork in a pressure situation. Once you can deal with that at a reasonable level, then you can start working on the rest.
Remember that a huge part of the learning process *is* getting hit. That's why we are wearing armour!.

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

Matches between beginners usually just look like a lot of running and flailing. If you can follow the previous advice of sticking to proper basics, then you are likely to land something nice in the middle of all the flailing.

One specific opportunity I guarantee you will see is that your opponent will be slow to turn around. After he makes his attack and goes by, follow him quickly and catch him just as he turns around. That's your best chance as a beginner to show that you understand a particular opportunity, and can exploit it. You should have loads of time to execute a very nice basic men strike when this happens.

[Old Warrior]

"One specific opportunity I guarantee you will see is that your opponent will be slow to turn around. After he makes his attack and goes by, follow him quickly and catch him just as he turns around."

That's a great idea. Now, I have to remember - try not get hit first. Excuse me, get ready to be hit, expect to be hit, get used to being hit - and if the action isn't stopped at the first pass hunt down your opponent and be merciless with control.

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Show lots of strong spirit. Attitude goes a long way, so don't let your spirit be defeated. Good loud and strong kiais and lots of them. You may be hit and you may be scored on but only you and can let your spirit be defeated. Big Basics, Big Kiai and Big Spirit. Just keep going and don't quit!

[stevemcgee99]

BTW, I didn't realize it was "kosher" to strike as the opponebt was turning around. I haven't been watching a lot of K-geiko, though.

I think the advice of "don't think" is very sound. It's implications resound in what I'm reading here. Stick to basics (which is all you've been taught) instead of using obscure techniques (which would be the creation of the inexperienced). Sometimes, imagination, or a "smart mind" are a total liability.

It makes perfect sense to try to do the best you can at ONLY basic forms. After all, the experienced kendoka, your sensei, decided that's what you need to know first. THEN they decide you're ready to join in the kakarigeiko. Why use any other "technique"?

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by stevemcgee99
BTW, I didn't realize it was "kosher" to strike as the opponebt was turning around. I haven't been watching a lot of K-geiko, though.
Oh, yeah. This was discussed in another thread. You can be extra-polite and wait until they're just facing you - they still won't be ready. What do you think all this "zanshin" stuff is for anyways? It's to train you to be ready all the time, and especially after you've just attacked and tend to let your defences down. It's something beginners do very badly, and it's a good chance for other beginners to exploit. Which they also do badly. So any beginner who knows and uses this chance tends to clean house. Shhhh... don't tell the other newbies :)

[Gorget-the-Frog]

I'd just like to chime in here and say it works very well. I've managed to pop this off a few times on other beginners...

...when your as terrible as me you have to look for some advantage!

[Paburo]

on this weekend's seminar with Kurasawa sensei 9thdan we got the chance to learn a lot of things. among them there are some that might be helpful to you now.

he said there are 4 concepts that should be used in kendo.
dai - big
kyo - strong, potent
soku - fast
kei - agile, light

newbies should start with dai and kyo, and evolute into soku and kei.

this has a lot to do with another technique he taught us. ittoryuu kiri otoshi.

basically is just a straight cut holding the center no matter what. so even if your aite is faster, you can still hit him if you go straight and 'gain' the center deviating his cut.

another thing that helps is not stopping in the middle of a technique. so, if you throw a men and in the middle you see it won't score, don't stop and stand there. most newbies do this.
even if you fail an attack, go through it till the end with zanshin and try again until you make it.

[Old Warrior]

I think I'm getting the idea. Most important thing is to look the part. Show good posture and whatever you do, do it with confidence and kiai like you mean it. When you miss, just be ready to strike again. Fight like your life depended on it, but be respectful, follow the Rules and show manners.

Whatever meager knowledge I may have from other pursuits - leave it home for the moment. It's not scoring points that counts but doing whatever you do - properly.

Am I getting closer?

[sminki]

I think you are getting the idea. Be confident, relaxed and just do it like you've been taught. Master Seong is a great teacher & you'll do just fine.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I think you'll do fine. Do it like you mean it is fine advice. Commitment to the attack is something we like to see. So many beginners are tentative and stop if the point doesn't go in. This means 3 things: 1. They weren't committed enough to start, lessening the chance of scoring the point 2. They've left themselves open as they're standing around or slowing down or whatever and 3. Maybe that point did go in, but no judge will give it to them because the zanshin was absent.

Another bit of advice: ignore the judges until you're told to stop. The flags go up, the flags go down, it don't mean a thing until they tell you to stop. If they have to repeat themselves several times, that's OK - you won't be penalised. So many beginners see a flag go up and stop assuming they've got a point or their opponent has a point. Or hear a command from another match and think it applies to them. Then they get clobbered while they're trying to return to centre with the match still in progress. Corollary: if your opponent stops and the judges haven't called a point or said stop, hit him!

[JSchmidt]

" It's not scoring points that counts but doing whatever you do - properly."

That's it...and dont get lead astray like the rest of us, who think we're good enough not to do that anylonger :)

Jakob

[munenmuso]

Always maintain a strong chudan. strong chudan less bluff. If you don't overreact to bluffs that is by maintaining a strong hudan there would be less openings and intimidations to strike from your opponent.

[ben]

I'd just like to chime in here and say I have no useful advice whatsoever. Everyone else has already given it.
:)
b

[alexpollijr]

Raise from sonkyo a little forward , look into his eyes and scream your a$$ off ;)

That'll do for the first time :D

[Old Warrior]

I just returned from class. In the midst of our usual practice with rotating partners, doing the techniques called out by the Master, we were told to spar until he blew the whistle a second time. At that moment, I, the last student in the line was opposing the student at the top of the line. Of course he's 17 and I'm 54, but he's been doing this 5 times longer than me. Nevertheless with all my good advice from the forum, I was ready.

I might as well report at the out set that it went as I anticipated. He was inching in trying to close the distance, so in one quick movement he could hit mori. I was more than content to let him, and I confess, I even dropped my point an inch to make it look more inviting.

I could feel the start of his attack and I raised my point up and to the left, just deflecting his blade to the side. I stepped to side and immediately swung for the left side of his head and hit a glancing blow. He yelled out at me "Kiai, don't forget to Kiai". It was too late of course, but I was satisfied that I seemed to have the idea.

The next attack set up the same but I knew he would never try the thing twice. This time I raised the point upward, but kept my hands at waist heght in case he really was looking for hori (which he was). So, since I didn't bite for the feint, I got whacked on the right forearm as he flew by.

The third pass found us hands to hands. I pushed him to see if he would push back and he did. The second time I pushed and he responded the same way. I jumped back (like in our practice) and did a big mori. It was a good one, except my partner shouted "Kiai, don't forget to Kiai".

The whistle blew and I was safe. I'm sitting here sorting out the brief encounter to see what I learned. First lesson - the Kiai must become reflexive. Second lesson - speed counts, hitting hard only hurts people who you like and with whom you want to train. Third lesson - you can't swing if you have bad footwork. Fourth lesson - class was great, I can't wait till tomorrow.

[Steve]

Great news oldwarrior! Keep that up and you'll soon get the hang of it. I'll add a few helpful comments (hopefully).

1) Always analyze what you did. WHY did you get hit? WHY were you able to hit? WHY did this or that work/not work? etc...

2) Ask your classmates the same questions. They can see things you may not notice while watching you.

3) Use Kiai ALL THE time, even if your not striking. It'll help "get you in attack mode". If you are sparring, there should be no silence. EVER. (this'll do wonders for strengthening your lungs)

4) When you actually hit, you need to differentiate your kiai. Meaning, the kiai you use when you know you've landed a hit ought to be longer and louder than the kiai you give for an unsuccessful strike.