What's normal for an ikkyuu

[zmcnulty]

Is it normal for ikkyuu to be doing everything "ookiku"?

Here's the thing...At my high school in Japan, we only did stuff "ookiku" for like 2 months. After that, we moved into the speed and accuracy sho-ni-dan type stuff.

And apparently I was doing something correctly; when I took my test for ikkyuu, there was nobody doing things "ookiku". One of the requirements of passing was a short jigeiko, and nobody did anything "ookiku" there either.

But now that I'm back in the good ol' USA, I've started at this new kendo club in Atlanta. They all seem well aware that I am ikkyuu, but they all get mad at me when I don't do things "ookiku". They tell me I should not be doing this as quickly, and "low key" as I am doing.

So what gives? I realize that it probably depends on the teacher, but it shouldn't be this much of a difference. It probably also depends on the student. My teacher in Japan was confident enough in my "ookiku" skillz to let me move on to more efficient waza.

What are normal ikkyuus supposed to be practicing? Are there any ikkyuus out there whose dojos require they do things "ookiku"?

Thanks,
zmcnulty

[alexpollijr]

Hi,

Me and Hyaku just had a quick discussion over this issue in the 'kumdo' thread in this same forum, please take a look there.

In my point of view, you should do big waza from Issoku ito anywhere, anytime with the only exception of shiai matches, and that includes gradings, as Hyaku mentioned. By practicing large, okiku techniques, the small ones become faster and more polished. I don't see any point in practicing small waza in daily keiko, unless preparing for a tournamento, and so and so.

I also have a japanese sensei, and i'm about the same rank as you and he insists that all of us must use 'okiku' moves with attention to form all the time.

Cheers,

Alex Polli

[gszab]

Hello,

In my club we ment to do almost all exercise with big movement, kendokas with dan grade either. Kakari geiko is the only exception if I don't count the special cases (preparing for a tournament...) when we use short wazas.
I 've got shodan and I agree with alexpollijr.

[JSchmidt]

Practice both. During kihon-practice, make them big. During uchikomi, sensei-ji-geiko,etc. it will usually wary, but the teacher will make you aware of that. (So if they tell you to make it big, make it big).
Having said that, the Japanese highschool kendo I've seen, tends to be distinctly small and quick, which may enhance the difference between the kendo you were taught in Japan and what you are being taught now.

Jakob

[Will]

zmcnulty "Here's the thing...At my high school in Japan...."

That is the thing...high school kendo is different from the kendo that is instructed in the united states. High school students are suppose to be fast, hell that's because we are, so that's why the kendo instruction at the high school level is different than the kendo instruction you would receive when you're in your forties. They're teaching more of a shiai-type of kendo, which the young body can handle, while here in the states, most instructors insist on teaching more of the traditional fundamental type of kendo with ookiku because that's how good kendo comes to be. Check out my previous post "high school" it may explain the different types of kendo instruction.

[Will]

oh yeah, you'd have to go back a couple months for that post :p