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beating
opponents and striking more times than their
opponent has. This sort of attitude in Ji-geiko
reflects an attitude that is concerned only
with winning at that precise moment in time.
In contrast, there are other people who
focus only on their posture and form and
pay less attention to the exchanging of
taking Chu-shin and Seme-ai. (Control of
the center) This is also ok, if these people
are doing intentionally in order to overcome
their problems (i.e. trying to keep their
back straight when they attack). If they
are not trying to overcome their various
problems however, then all such attitudes
degrade Ji-geiko into just a performance
and therefore we cannot experience the real
pleasure of Ji-geiko through this failing.
2.
What Ji-geiko Should Be
There
should not be an imbalance of preference
between Kihon-geiko, Kata-geiko and Ji-geiko.
It is important to tackle Ji-geiko while
we are considering how to use Waza acquired
in Kihon-geiko and Kata-geiko. By doing
so, we can grasp the meaning and purpose
of each Keiko and become more interested
each time we practice any Keiko. As mentioned
earlier, Ji-geiko is aimed at giving us
opportunities to grasp our abilities under
unrestricted situations. In addition to
this, Tomiki (1991) points out that the
purpose of Ji-geiko in modern Kendo is allow
us to grasp the strict spiritual aspects
of Kendo as Budo. In the past, Bujutsu-ka
could grasp their abilities only by beating
their opponents and surviving life or death
situations. The place of battle for life
or death in the past has been converted
to a competitive place where everyone is
protected with Bogu and one can attack and
defend safely. In modern Kendo, the Kendo-ka
is expected to try to control emotional
conflict in competitive situations. Thus,
developing our skills and spirit as proper
Kendo-ka, it is essential then to understand
how to undertake Ji-geiko and do it properly.
The way of approaching Ji-geiko is not the
same for everyone. At the beginner's stage,
there is a way for them to engage in Ji-geiko
according to their level. Likewise there
is also a way for seniors to approach Ji-geiko
according to their level. Moreover, the
application of Ji-geiko changes according
to what a person tries to acquire and improve
through Ji-geiko and also whom we have Ji-geiko
with (i.e. with Kohai, Sempai, someone older,
women and so on).
The
remainder of this article explains how to
tackle Ji-geiko according to one stage of
development.
3.
How to Tackle Ji-geiko in Each development
Stage.
3-1.
Kyu Grade
Firstly,
the most important point for Kendo-ka of
this level to keep in mind is: to try to
use Waza (Shikake-waza) on your own initiative.
It should not be just Men and Kote, but
you should use all Waza you have learnt
in Kihon-geiko and Kata-geiko. You should
not be afraid of failing and being defeated.
It is expected that you will gradually grasp
the timing of using each Waza whilst you
try to attack using your own initiative.
Another important point is that you should
not stop your movement after striking and
thrusting, but try to complete your attack
and quickly prepare yourself for the next
action. It is quite often seen in beginners
Ji-geiko that they loose their attention
and guard as soon as they finish their first
attack and that they walk back to where
they were before attacking. It is important
to always maintain concentration wherever
you are and to prepare for the next action
as soon as you have finished your first
attack.
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is to have a proper
understanding of Ko-bo-itchi and Ken-tai-itchi.
These terms illustrate the importance of
always being mentally and physically ready
to defend against the opponents counterattack
whilst attacking, and ready to counterattack
while defending (All Japan Kendo Federation,
2000, p. 47). There is no defence just for
the sake of defence, in Kendo. Defence is
done for the next attack or counterattack.
Using a proper defence enables you to immediately
attack after defending, but you should not
just be standing and defending by using
only your Shinai, you should keep your knees
relaxed and defend by using both your Shinai
and your footwork. As you gain more experience,
you come to acquire a wider variety of Waza
and better timing. What you are encouraged
to do for your progression at this stage
is to use big techniques involving all of
your body and not relying on small techniques
or trying to strike more times than your
opponent has.
If
you form bad habits on the way you attack
and defend at this stage, it will take a
long time to get rid of them in the future.
It is important to reflect how you have
been tackling Ji-geiko by listening to your
Sempai and Sensei's advice and by self-examination.
3-2.
1st dan~3rd dan
The
Kendo-ka at this level is required to further
refine their Shikake-waza and it is important
to try a variety of Shikake-waza on your
own initiative. It is also important to
attack not only going forward, but also
to actively use Hiki-waza (going backwards)
and you should always keep in mind that
you should try to complete your attack.
As mentioned earlier, beating or being beaten
is not the priority in Ji-geiko. You must
not focus only on how many times you strike
or are struck by your opponent, but reflect
on the process of how & why in each
case [strike or struck] Utte-hansei, utarete-kansya
(to reflect on ones attack after successfully
scoring and thank your opponent after getting
scored against) is an attitude that is expected
of Kendo- ka.
Kendo-ka
at this level should also start considering
three ways to overwhelm the opponent (San-sappo)
in Ji-geiko. One is to kill the opponents
Ki (spirit). This is to overwhelm the opponents
Ki by showing the fullness of your Ki. Another
is to kill the opponents Ken (sword). This
is to control the movement of the tip of
the opponent's sword by restraining or deflecting
the sword. One more is to kill the opponents
Waza. This is to anticipate the opponent's
attack by giving the opponent no chance
to attack (All Japan Kendo Federation, 2000,
pp. 79-80). At this level, it is still ok
to make more use of Ken and Waza than Ki
in order to overwhelm and anticipate the
opponent's attack. Kendo-ka at this level
still has more Waza to acquire. (It is too
early at this level to start doing Kendo
that places the most emphasis on overwhelming
your opponent by force of personality or
by presence, as 6th dan and 7th dan Kendo-ka
can do). They are still encouraged to try
to use a variety of Waza in Ji-geiko by
using Shinai, footwork and the body actively
and they are encouraged to use Oji-waza
in a ratio of 2 to 8 with Shikake-waza in
Ji-geiko. What is important here is to understand
the fundamental idea of Oji-waza. You must
not wait for the opponent to attack you
and respond to it. You must lure the opponent
into a position where you wish them to attack.
You will be too late to execute successful
Oji-waza if you just wait for the opponent
to attack. You should try to show your attacking
spirit to the opponent without stopping
your footwork and Shinai movement and lure
them into a position where you welcome them
to attack. There are some people who think
that the reason they cannot do Oji-waza
is due to their techniques (movement and
form). What should be considered, however,
is whether you are trying to lure the opponent
into attacking you. At this level, it is
not necessary to be able to execute Oji-waza
without thinking, although you are encouraged
to practice it in Ji-geiko, by keeping the
fundamental idea for successful Oji-waza
in your mind.
3-3.
4th dan~5th dan
Kendo-ka
who reach this level are called senior or
Senpai Kendo-ka at this level are expected
to have developed their ability to read
the opponents mind (intentions), to deal
with information in various situations and
to make decisions. Kendo-ka at this level
should also be able to use various Waza
according to the various situations, without
thinking. 4th dan and 5th dan is the stage
at which to start practicing to acquire
Kendo that dominates the opponents Chu-shin
(center) by small Shinai and body movement,
by controlling the opponent and by taking
use of the opponents intentions and movements.
Kendo-ka at this level should place more
emphasis on attacking after dominating the
Chu-shin and on rational and economical
Shinai control and footwork. This does not
mean, however, excessively and immediately
restraining Shinai control and footwork.
You should gradually change your Kendo from
Kendo that relies mainly on physical ability
to Kendo that controls the opponent by small
movements and the interior action of Ki.
At this level, it is recommended that the
ratio of the use of Shikake-waza to Oji-waza
should be 60 % and 40 %.
It
is important to maintain good balance so
that you can move in any direction smoothly
and keep your Hikagami (back of the left
knee) tensed (not too much, just enough)
so that you can kick the floor anytime without
doing Tsugi-ashi (to pull left foot in close
to the right foot before attacking). If
you keep these points in mind during Ji-geiko
but you feel or actually get cramp in your
left leg, then it means that you have not
previously been using your left leg correctly
and that you have just started using it
correctly now. What you must avoid, is feeling
embarrassed at being struck by your opponent,
this is caused by having too much pride
in the fact that you are 4th dan or 5th
dan. You are supposed to develop your Kendo
by being struck in Ji-geiko. It is important
not to hesitate to use big Waza and to use
them as soon as you see an opportunity.
There are some 4th dan and 5th dan who adhere
only to Men and do not use other Waza. It
is, however, still important to try to use
all the waza you have, in Ji-geiko. Especially
in Tsuba-zeri-ai, as there are some who
do not pay attention in Tsuba-zeri-ai and
loose their concentration, and it is important
to keep good concentration and prepare yourself
to attack whenever you see the opportunity.
3-4.
6th dan~
It
is not possible for me to describe how Ji-geiko
should be done at this level because I have
just become 6th dan. Therefore, I would
like to refer to "Michi no kaori"
written by Masatake Sumi, Hanshi 8th dan,
and discuss how Ji-geiko at this level should
be.
Kendo-ka
who reach this level are called Sensei.
Sumi (2000) points out that Kendo-ka at
this level should not be arrogant, but be
modest and have a desire to improve themselves
even if they become 6th dan. In Ji-geiko,
it is needless to say that Kendo-ka at this
level are required to show further rational
and economical Shinai and body movement.
Kendo-ka who have reached 6th dan and above
are usually at least middle aged or older.
This means that their physical abilities
are now lower than in their younger days
and they cannot use the Shinai and move
the body as quickly as before. It is important
to try to compensate for the decline of
your physical abilities by further improvement
of your Ki and Waza. Sumi (2000) also points
out that Kendo-ka at this level should try
to change their Kendo from one which initiates
an aggressive attack to one that attacks
when the opponent is about to attack (de-bana).
He also encourages them to practice not
only straight attacking Waza, but also Suriage-waza,
using Tai-sabaki moving sideways or diagonally.
At this level, it is more important to read
the opponents intention and movement and
to practice reacting properly in comparison
with before. To acquire Debana-waza, Sumi
(2000) explains that it is important in
Ji-geiko to work it out for yourself, i.e.
what situation and how you should move to
break the opponents balance, upset the opponent
and lure the opponent into where you wish
the opponent to attack., as it is often
difficult for Kendo-ka at this level, compared
with lower grades, to have the chance to
get advice from other people. It is necessary
to always reflect after each Ji-geiko on
how you performed with the opponent in the
process of attacking, defending and counterattacking.
For
Kendo-ka at this level, Sumi (2000) also
suggests one of the methods for a Ji-geiko.
You decide on only one target you can attack
and on only one Waza you can use. Then you
use that Waza against any opponent and any
Waza the opponent is about to use and in
any situation in that Ji-geiko (however
it should not be just Men!). This is for
acquiring the timing of Waza you would like
to acquire. The way to acquire the timing
of each Waza is never supposed to be easy.
Sumi (2000, p. 202) also explains that there
are a lot of things for Kendo-ka at this
level to consider, such as how to take your
Kamae, how to keep your balance, where and
how much to tense and relax your muscles,
how to breathe and what type of Shinai to
choose and so on. In the end, what he says
comes back to the same important points
in Kihon-geiko and Kata-geiko. This proves
the importance of the connection between
Kihon-geiko, Kata-geiko and Ji-geiko. Kendo
requires Shugyo throughout your life. There
is no exit or easy way out in your training.
Kihon-geiko and Kata-geiko should not be
neglected even if you reach high grades
such as 6th dan and 7th dan. Then it is
just as important to tackle Ji-geiko while
considering how to use Waza we have acquired
in Kihon-geiko and Kata-geiko.
4.
Summary
So
far the importance of the connection between
Kihon-geiko, Kata-geiko and Ji-geiko, and
how Ji-geiko should be approached at each
level has been discussed. In the next article,
therefore, what attitudes should be taken
in Ji-geiko and how to tackle Ji-geiko with
various types of opponents will be covered
and giving examples on how to tackle Ji-geiko
with lower grades, higher grades, the same
grades, someone much older, women and so
on will be discussed.
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