Beginner’s Course Michaelmas Term

Here is an outline of the beginner’s course, running the 8 weeks of Michaelmas term.

This is intended as an introduction to kendo for total beginners, but the exercises used should also be beneficial to advanced kendoka in improving kihon (basics). The aim of the course is to teach all the basic movements so that the shinai can be handled competently and exercises can be carried out safely on live targets.

An overview of everything on the course will take up the first two weeks, to give an idea of what will be achieved over the term. Following this, the next few weeks will revisit each aspect, using exercises intended to polish them. Finally, in week 8, a grading will be held in the same session as the Oxford Winter Cup.

The course is structured such that each session builds on what is covered the week before. The purpose of this document is that if you are unable to make a session, it is possible to check what was covered here. Also, this blog will be updated weekly for duration of the beginner’s course, will describe the exercises used in detail and the points covered that week.

Beginners can join any time in week 1, 2 or 3; however, membership forms must be in and paid for by the end of 3rd week in order to cover insurance with the British Kendo Association (BKA).

Week 1: Overview I
An short crash course quickly covering all that will be done over the next few weeks. There will
be a demonstration of a tournament (shiai) environment match at the end.

Week 2: Overview II
Continues from Overview I. The demonstration at the end of this session will be Kihon and practice exercises.

Week 3: Footwork, Posture, Kiai
A session focussing on the footwork and posture used in kendo. Suri-ashi, okuri-ashi, ayumiashi, hiraki-ashi, fumikomi. Smooth movement with correct posture, with and without shinai. Kiai (shouting).

Week 4: Shinai Handling
Correct holding and swinging the shinai (bamboo sword). Arm, elbow, wrist and finger action. Te-no-uchi, suburi.

Week 5: Ki-Ken-Tai no Icchi
Correct timing of movement and impact. Coordination of body, sword, and kiai.

Week 6: Men and Kote
Cutting of the head (men) and wrist (kote) targets. Use of te-no-uchi and ki-ken-tai no icchi.

Week 7: Kirikaeshi
Execution of kirikaeshi, an exercise involving a set pattern of cuts.

Week 8: Grading
Beginner’s grading. Testing of suburi, striking and kirikaeshi.