Kote-Men speed...

[Fonsz]

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....

I think I know how you do it because fast folks rely on that technique. There is nothing wrong with it. It's just that you rely on speed and thus the weakness of your opponent. But it's usually (IMO) better to rely on your own strength. The way I described how tall guys do it always works and gives you some ample time to do something else if the opponent is doing something else. Your way is preset and gives little room for other things. This is not a criticism to what you are doing. It's just some advice and you can discard it at your leisure. But I always like to try what works for other people. And sometimes something trivial as height or build are the limits of certain techniques. No offense meant or anything.

[Mikeyprime]

This is how his kote men technique is translating in my head. When he lunges forward, his kote cuts when the right foot hits the ground. Just like hitting men, the feet will naturally cross eachother for that zanshin effect and explosive speed afterwards. His men cut, after the kote, is when the crossing of the feet happens making it sound like he is jumping when in reality he is not.

If that is what he is explaining, then there is no danger of being caught with both feet in the air. Many people practice that form of kote men and it gives you more explosive power forward.

To address you question on speed, speed does come naturally but you have to practice increasing your speed as well. Most speed comes from leg power. To increase leg power, cut your kote men from to mai, almost tip to tip. You will find the more you do that, the faster and more powerful your kote men will become.

[Kingofmyrrh]

This is how his kote men technique is translating in my head. When he lunges forward, his kote cuts when the right foot hits the ground. Just like hitting men, the feet will naturally cross eachother for that zanshin effect and explosive speed afterwards. His men cut, after the kote, is when the crossing of the feet happens making it sound like he is jumping when in reality he is not.

If that is what he is explaining, then there is no danger of being caught with both feet in the air. Many people practice that form of kote men and it gives you more explosive power forward.

To address you question on speed, speed does come naturally but you have to practice increasing your speed as well. Most speed comes from leg power. To increase leg power, cut your kote men from to mai, almost tip to tip. You will find the more you do that, the faster and more powerful your kote men will become.

I don't quite get what you mean... are you saying that the right foot comes in front of the left!?

[JSchmidt]

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.

That's a distance issue and short guys should do the same if they're close enough. With ai-kote-men, you'll often find you need to do the first fumikomi on the spot in order to avoid being too close for the men-cut.
It got little to do with whether the kote-men is correct or not...purely a distance issue.

Jakob

[Mikeyprime]

I don't quite get what you mean... are you saying that the right foot comes in front of the left!?

no, the left foot will cross the right foot after you hit the kote. when the left crosses the right foot and it sets, you cut the men. It happens pretty quick but you are still cutting each cut on the right foot.

[bullet08]

with kote-men.. your right foot makes contact with floor for kote.. you left foot follows very quickly, then your right foot makes another contact for men sort of like really quick dance step in irish jig x) once you get that down pack, the shinai will follow.

pete

[Neil Gendzwill]

no, the left foot will cross the right foot after you hit the kote.

Sorry, I'm lost now - is this still trying to figure out what Koki is doing, or is this your advice? Because you should avoid crossing the left foot over the right, especially in kote-men - this will make it even more difficult to hit the men correctly (you'll probably be too close).

[Kingofmyrrh]

no, the left foot will cross the right foot after you hit the kote. when the left crosses the right foot and it sets, you cut the men. It happens pretty quick but you are still cutting each cut on the right foot.

Sorry, I made a mistake in my question. Anyway, you gave me the answer I wanted. I have to agree with Neil - putting your left foot in front of the right (if we're assuming standard chudan) is not really something to be recommended. I've read a million and one (not quite true) kendo manuals, and except for the extremely left-field 'nami ashi/nanba aruki' folks, I have never come a single instance of this being recommended. My own experience also makes me think that this would actually be rather slow, although I'm happy to be proven wrong.

[Fonsz]

That's a distance issue and short guys should do the same if they're close enough. With ai-kote-men, you'll often find you need to do the first fumikomi on the spot in order to avoid being too close for the men-cut.
It got little to do with whether the kote-men is correct or not...purely a distance issue.

Jakob

You are right but when you're shortlegged like me then the tall ones won't let you come close and can perform it a bit easier than me. You're also right with the ai-kote-men, because the opponent is also closing in a bit. But what I had in mind all the time are the perfect conditions when you are practicing this waza, not during Ji Geiko. I don't know why but 7 out of the 10 kote is hitting the tsuba. Maybe because they are trying to do their very best to perform this technique. It could be that they are overconcentrated and then this happens, or at least I have seen it happen. Usually with people who practice a year and are just settling in in Bogu. When I tell them about the lining up their feet it gets better.

[samurai999]

Well rainmaker, you have the suggestions from the members on this board, but since I know you learned kendo under Tanaka sensei and Matsuda Sensei, why don't you ask?

If you are still on the message list for SJ dojo, why don't you email Matsuda sensei and i'm sure he'll gladly give you some advice.

Tim

[ratdeau]

I don't know why but 7 out of the 10 kote is hitting the tsuba.

It often comes from a diagonal cut instead of a vertical cut, and sometimes with a to strong right hand.

[rainmaker]

arrr... I moved.. T T;;;

Well rainmaker, you have the suggestions from the members on this board, but since I know you learned kendo under Tanaka sensei and Matsuda Sensei, why don't you ask?

If you are still on the message list for SJ dojo, why don't you email Matsuda sensei and i'm sure he'll gladly give you some advice.

Tim

[rainmaker]

So, in order to be fast with Kote-men, you have two options with your footstep;

1) Left leg stay, two steps with right foot. Not recommended for beginners but I once heard it is okay depending on distance..

2) Hop with both leg (short hopping) for kote and bigger step for Men..

Am I right ????

[Fonsz]

So, in order to be fast with Kote-men, you have two options with your footstep;

1) Left leg stay, two steps with right foot. Not recommended for beginners but I once heard it is okay depending on distance..

2) Hop with both leg (short hopping) for kote and bigger step for Men..

Am I right ????

Yep, but doing it is always the hardest part, but understanding is the end of the begin, or something similar.

[samurai999]

arrr... I moved.. T T;;;

No email Matsuda sensei or reply to the SJkendo yahoogroups thingy if you still have it. Maybe he can give you some hints through email.. or did you sever your link completely???

Tim