Kote-Men speed...

[JSchmidt]

Beginners usually make the kote step as big as a men step and then adjust the distance with their hands.

I strongly disagree with that. They will end up being too close for the kote and *far* too close for the men.

Jakob

[s][nFesT]

here's a really quick suggestion just to try out if no one has said so already: just say kote-men faster. as you practice more, form will come and the pop from the hits will come too. just relax and don't try to muscle it.

[Fonsz]

I strongly disagree with that. They will end up being too close for the kote and *far* too close for the men.

Jakob

I think I was trying to say that, but it obviously wasn't clear thanks for ponting that out.
Alphons

[Koki]

Well, to do a fast kote-men, I jump with both feet like in haya-suburi when I hit kote... so my left feet is right behind and ready for the men.

Oh yeah, when jumping forward with both feet, i keep my weight on the left foot.

[tantadi]

Interesting...have to try that...

[crabbi]

Taking two steps with the right but only one with the left is more of a competitive technique than a correct one. It works OK if the maai is close or if your opponent is also moving towards you. But you should practice the full two steps.

Here's the key points I usually make when teaching this:

The fumikomi on the kote should be much lighter than on the men. If you have a strong fumikomi, then your motion will tend to stop and you'll have kote, then men rather than kote-men. So think light. You can also say "te-men" rather than "kote-men" to emphasize this. Remember that most of the action is with the left hand. Keep it light on the kote and let the shinai naturally rebound up so that you're ready for men. The right hand should just be moving on a steady path towards the kote and then smoothly up towards men rather than pulling back. Make sure you get a nice little rhythm with the light kote and stronger men - pa-PUM, not BAM-BAM.

Excellent teaching point Neil-Sensei... I will try this today in training...

Sungmin-San... thanks for starting this thread,...!

Cheers

[mark]

I would like to add that if you put your right foot in the same line as your opponents right foot all you have to do is swing your shinai down (Oki kote), or strike with left hand through the middle (Zashi Kote) and you always hit a clean kote. You don't even have to lower your head you can keep looking at the men of the opponent. When you hit men you can put your right foot in the line between the two feet of the opponent. This way you don't have to think about aiming so you can concentrate on the form and the proper te no uchi.
Also if a Men is one step then kote is half a step, and the men will be the next half step. Beginners usually make the kote step as big as a men step and then adjust the distance with their hands.

Fonsz, this is the first time I've heard of aiming the feet I would like to discuss this more. I will start a new thread on the topic.
Thanks
Mark

[tantadi]

I would like to add that if you put your right foot in the same line as your opponents right foot all you have to do is swing your shinai down (Oki kote), or strike with left hand through the middle (Zashi Kote) and you always hit a clean kote. You don't even have to lower your head you can keep looking at the men of the opponent. When you hit men you can put your right foot in the line between the two feet of the opponent. This way you don't have to think about aiming so you can concentrate on the form and the proper te no uchi.
Also if a Men is one step then kote is half a step, and the men will be the next half step. Beginners usually make the kote step as big as a men step and then adjust the distance with their hands.

You mean right foot at his left foot?

A straight and centered kote attack will brush his/her shinai away and open for men. Your description sounds like more sideways movement and that can be countered. (That is what I find really difficult with kote-men, if it is not strong and centered it is countered..)

[Fonsz]

You mean right foot at his left foot?

A straight and centered kote attack will brush his/her shinai away and open for men. Your description sounds like more sideways movement and that can be countered. (That is what I find really difficult with kote-men, if it is not strong and centered it is countered..)

Your right foot opposite his right foot, not a sideways movement but a forward movement. Kote right foot opposite his right foot, Men right foot between his legs since they are small steps the faster you do the steps the faster your hits. Someone mentioned this here before. If your right foot is opposite his left foot then you have to aim for the kote. You have to go round/past the shinai and this way you can easily hit the tsuba instead of a clean kote. It works for me.

[tantadi]

Well, sideways..forwards..if you have that foot position on kote (and men) you are connecting at an angle. It is a big no-no in my dojo. But if it works for you, it works :-)

[Fonsz]

Well, sideways..forwards..if you have that foot position on kote (and men) you are connecting at an angle. It is a big no-no in my dojo. But if it works for you, it works :-)

It works for me and others, but I beg to differ with the angle connection, you are going straight forward. If seen from above I suppose you have an angle but the cut is straight and clear. We are of course nit picking here I guess because the other recommendations here are very usefull. And it doesn't hurt to try things at your leisure. Nothing is engraved in stone with things like these. If you compare Kendo manuals they differ here and there but it is all advice that has worked for the authors and their students.

[Paburo]

Well, to do a fast kote-men, I jump with both feet like in haya-suburi when I hit kote... so my left feet is right behind and ready for the men.

Oh yeah, when jumping forward with both feet, i keep my weight on the left foot.

i've always been taught that both feet in the air is a big no no...

for one simple reason. what happens if they taiatari you while you have both feet on the air? you are sent flying/fall flat on your butt. specially if youre a girl or a small person....

[Koki]

Well, I start my fast kote men at either tip to tip or isso ikto no maai... It's just like a small hop...how could the opponent taiatari me?

Be a bit logical, will ya?

[Fonsz]

Well, I start my fast kote men at either tip to tip or isso ikto no maai... It's just like a small hop...how could the opponent taiatari me?

Be a bit logical, will ya?

And what for the sake of argument will happen if the moment you try to hit kote he lunges forward for whatever plausible reason? Debana kote, Ai kote, nuki men?
It all depends on the height of the person. I have seen tall guys do a perfect kote men with the left foot in the start position until the men uchi. They step a little bit forward at the kote and after the men they pull up their left foot. There's no hayasuburi movement here. I think I know what you mean but I personally think that you should do the things that always work and not because you're faster.

[Koki]

Well, the fact that you can't do it or don't wanna do it that way doesn't mean that it's impossible to be done or it's wrong.

Anyway, I think you don't even understand how I do it. I just want you to know... oh yeah... it works perfectly... and not just for a fast kote-men but kote-do and kote-kote....