Speedy Big Cuts --Is it ever possible?

[mingshi]

Aaawwww~:(

What is the secret to cut "big" AND "fast"?

I am getting into the habit of "flicking" for Kote when fighting against visitors... Proven to get a few ippon from them just because of the speed, but then all my Senpai/Sensei is shouting "BIGGEEEER!" afterwards...

There sure is a way to win with the fundamental big cuts, right? Without going into "Sports Kendo"?

(---------- Screaming for help ----------)

[munenmuso]

Lift your sword high first, then go for the step. Executed in well coordination in a fraction of a second.
:D

[AlexM]

Your sempai are just upset that you're getting ippon on them, they want you to go big so that they can look good at your expense. :D

My senpai sometimes tell me to swing smaller, get faster.

Are you doing this against visiting sensei? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that sometimes they like to see your "big" kendo before the shiai stuff.

Just a thought.

[JSchmidt]

Jenny, have you ever seen Yanai-sensei practice?.
The answer is yes. You can cut fast and big.
I think the trick is to relax and use muscles at the right time..but it seemingly takes a long time to learn!

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

The key to fast big cuts is to relax your shoulders. One exercise for this is to practice two-step men. The first step should take you very deep, to where the shinai are half-crossed or even deeper. Then hit big men on the second step. Be sure to hit correctly with the monuchi (last third of the blade). In order to do this you'll have to relax your shoulders and learn to swing in one motion rather than two.

That's kind of an advanced exercise. At ikkyu you probably don't have much power in your small technique yet. That's why they want to see bigger motion.

[alexpollijr]

Myiazaki has won all those titles with this fast but relatively 'big' techniques, thus giving birth to the 'myiazaki men' motion. These days an old japanese sixth dan was showing me the wrist and finger position in this technique.

Anyway, there's this japanese video called 'Myiazaki - Winner's Strategy' (or something like that) that might shed some technical light on the subject.

[ben]

Relaxation definitely. Neil I'm not sure what you mean by "two-step technique". Most mudansha I know of need to be drilled in the concept of "ichi-byoshi" or completing both the backswing and the cut forward in the 'timing of one'. There is frequently a minute pause before the shinai lands, as if the mudansha in question is making a last minute adjustment for accuracy. When this is discarded they realise ichi byoshi.

Mingshi, it's also good to try and analyse how your kensen is travelling through the air. How far back does it go (usually too far)? How does it get there (usually in a twisting figure eight direction rather than straight up-and-down the centre)?

I've never done this but I think it would be a great diagnostic tool. 1) Attach a small light or phosphorescent spot on the end of your shinai. 2) Switch off the lights in the dojo (do this at night) 3) Get someone with a manual camera that has a "bulb" (or "B") function where the shutter can be left open 4) Photograph your men cut from the front and side in time lapse in the dark. Result: You should get a photo of a white line that shows exactly how your kensen travels.

Or, more simply, get one of your sempai to look at your cut in some detail. I think you might find small things like this that can be eliminated and will speed up your cut without having to shorten it or use any more muscular strength.

b

[Steve]

I have the Miyazaki winners strategy video. Its quite good. Although, it is in japanese so i can't understand the commentary.

The other thing about BIG strikes is that they all look the same until its too late (if done right, men,kote,do all start exactly the same way). So, if you have strong seme and can force the opponent to break kamae with the begining of your strike (the upswing), you'll be able to hit whatever opens. Perhaps this gives the illusion of the strike moving faster than it does, i don't know.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Two step men means one step to close distance, then cut with the second step. In other words, no shinai motion on the first step.

[Paburo]

Originally posted by mingshi
There sure is a way to win with the fundamental big cuts, right? Without going into "Sports Kendo"?


kote nuki men is basically a big fast cut.
if your opponent is around your same height or shorter you can even try a men nuki men.

i don't see why the other moves should be big?
shouldn't debana waza be small? and most oji waza?

i think that if you want to improve your speed at long range, do joge suburi in haya suburi speed, until your shinai makes woosh with every swing and your arms are relaxed enough.

[sminki]

If you have any access to All Japan Kendo Championship videos, check out Sato Mitsunobu from Miyagi in 47th and 49th. He has big men cuts and he is FAST.

[mingshi]

Er... How big is big enough?

Say, in terms of where your Men-gane and your left hand are...

Jakob: Did fight against Yanai Sensei but don't remember much. HOWEVER his daughter has the worst example (or is she someone else's daughter?)

Genzwill: Don't quite understand why you recommend 2 steps for one cut...? That would mess up footwork, no?

Ben: Nice, but I have been watching some films of myself already. But it's either "cutting in the time of two" or "flicking" :p

Paburo: I am already making wooshes doing Joge Suburi in max speed. But I don't quite see why this is related, since you can make wooshes even when you cut small, no?

Sminki: On replaying AJKC videos, I actually noticed that NO ONE made their cuts with their left hand above their mouth-level!!!

:(

[sminki]

Not true. Watch carefully. Definitely above mouth level. Sometimes Sato's left hand even clears the head level!!

[Paburo]

Originally posted by mingshi
Paburo: I am already making wooshes doing Joge Suburi in max speed. But I don't quite see why this is related, since you can make wooshes even when you cut small, no?


then you're fast enough to hit 'big'. i was told that in oowaza, you raise your left hand until you see the target below it. so it's not really that 'big' anyways.

i get preached sometimes in the dojo too because instead of small or big waza i do 'medium' waza :D

but generally they dont complain cos i mix small waza with big waza in jigeiko so it's not that bad i guess. maybe if you mix a lot of stuff they will leave you alone too? hehe

[JSchmidt]

First, I think it's rather rude to slag other people off publicly.
Secondly, she's only 13 and was still able to come second at the Mumeshi's.

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by mingshi

Genzwill: Don't quite understand why you recommend 2 steps for one cut...? That would mess up footwork, no?
First step closes distance, second step is the cut. I'm sure you've done it lots in class. The idea behind the exercise is to get real close with the first step, so that you're forced to swing quick and easy to make correct distance when you cut on the second step. It also helps to learn to avoid jumping in from the outside.

[sminki]

Thinking more about it, I think that this also a matter of having better footwork. In addition to having your shoulders relaxed, your footwork should be fast, stable and big which will help the big swing of the shinai. Furthermore, this will contribute to your overall kisei being bigger and grander.

[Stoldark]

Hmm...all you guys are wrong.
To cut fast and big, "use no hand" to do it.

[dorkusxmaximus]

i wish i could do speedy big cuts *sigh*.

[Nishi]

If you can practise with suburi bokken, then try to do 500 cuts, at least once per week.
Not only is this good exercise for your body, but it will also help you find "your cut".

I find that when i am cutting correctly (not often), I am unaware of the weight of the shinai, i can then cut as fast as my technique allows me too!

I think when you do 500 cuts (or more) with suburi bokken, because you can become fatigued easily, you are forced to find more ecomomical ways to wield your weapon. This should, in time, result in a weightless cut.

I try to make my kendo as big and fast as possible, and i find that this method does wonders for developing my cut, you can add speed later, that part is easy.