Hilary Term '10 Week 1 (18/01/10)

Hi all; welcome back to Oxford if you have been away or on holiday. The blog will once again be maintained weekly to describe the Monday sessions during term time, so look forward to the updates (even if they do turn up quite late in the week)!

This week, Monday’s focus was on an aspect of kendo that beginners may not have encountered before: Nihon Kendo Kata. This is a set series of movements using the bokuto, meant to teach, amongst other things, range, concentration, correct movement and accuracy, and connection with the opponent. There are ten sets of movements in total, an increasing amount of which are required for gradings from ikkyu onwards. The first seven are performed with both uchidachi (teaching side) and shidachi (student side) using tachi (long sword), while for the last three shidachi changes to using the kodachi (short sword). On Monday, the first two were taught. The first three are required for ikkyu. Often, grading questions ask that one of the sets be described. Due to space considerations, this entry will cover only the movements involved in the first kata; this only scratches the surface, but of course learning this is the first step in terms of being able to perform it correctly.

When one begins to practice kata, one does sonkyo normally, and stands into chudan at tooma. Each set begins at nine pace distance, and to reach that distance, both sides tip the sword down and to the right, at about the height of gedan and with the edge pointing in. The point should be slightly outside of the opponent’s right knee. Five small steps (ayumi ashi) are taken backwards by both sides to reach nine pace distance.

Ipponme (first kata):
From nine pace distance, uchidachi takes hidari (left foot forward) jodan, and shidachi takes migi (right foot forward) jodan. Both sides take three steps (ayumi ashi) into a range such that uchidachi would be able to cut shidachi with stepping forward with the right foot: issoku itto no maai. Uchidachi watches for the opportunity to cut shidachi, and does so with a large swing all the way down to gedan. The kiai used is “yah”. When uchidachi does this, shidachi steps back (okuri ashi) to avoid the cut, and then forwards (again okuri ashi) cutting to the head with kiai “toh”. Uchidachi steps back (okuri ashi) half a step to test zanshin; shidachi brings the tip of the bokuto down to point to the face of uchidachi. Shidachi then steps forward into hidari jodan, forcing uchidachi to step back another half step (okuriashi). When satisfied with zanshin, uchidachi brings the bokuto back into chudan, signalling the end of the movements and that shidachi should return to chudan. Both return to nine pace distance in the manner described in the earlier paragraph.

Please consider the kata movements and rehearse them, either physically or mentally, so that the next time it is practiced, the emphasis and improvements can be not on what the movements are, but the quality of execution. Look forward to future updates in which later sets and implications will be discussed!

CANCELLED: Wednesday 13th Jan 2010

Today's session (13th January 2010) is now cancelled due to Oxford School closing early.

Snow in Oxford

Dear OUKC members,

Please note that some of our practice sessions have been disrupted due to snow and ice, which caused schools and some sports facilities to be closed.

I can confirm now that our Saturday session planned for 9th January 2010 is cancelled, since Cheney School will be closed.

Monday session on 11th January 2010 is also cancelled (Updated 11th Jan).

Please pay close attention to your emails to receive updates on our practice sessions.

Also, anyone who was intending to attend a Kyusha Taikai (Competition) that was planned for this Saturday (9th January 2010) is now announced to be postponed on BKA website.
(http://kendo.org.uk/2010/01/06/kyusha-taikai-travel-update/)

Lastly, do take a lot of care on the roads. Hope to see you all soon.