Students of the Sword
Wadokan Training 01/06/12
Last night was the first training of June. Do you know what this signifies?
There is only 2 weeks before the Yokkaichi City Kendo Competition!!!!
If you are new to my story (hello all new followers!! Thank you for being interested!!!) I have just moved to Japan recently, and this is my first competition in Japan, with my new club (who awesomely asked me to be their sempo for their womens team) so I am so excited!!!
Last night I had three fights!
First one was with Saka sensei, who is really nice (though they all are :3)
We did kirikaeishi and then a long ji geiko session. I was sick with a chest infection on Monday and Wednesday so yesterday was the first day back after it, and I was still a little on the weathered side, though I thought I kept up pretty well considering!!
After was a uchi-komi geiko session… T_T
Next was Ichigawa sensei, the recently-scary-but-actually-really-nice sensei.
We also had a long ji geiko session, and then a follow up uchi-komi geiko, but he was nice and could see I was coughing a little so he didn’t push me too hard (still pushed me though) ;D
I keep forgetting to update what they have been drilling me on - both those sensei.
Kihon Geiko
I had never heard this term before I came to Japan, but its basically just the name for repeated training of strikes done big and proper. Like they always get me to start with kihon geiko by 4 big men cuts, followed by 4 big kote-men, then 4 big kote-men-dou and lastly 2 men cuts to finish. That usually happens after kirikaeishi, and then we launch into ji-geiko. I remember in the beginning where I would do like 2 big cuts to start with, and then (not knowing it was ‘kihon’ and therefore only supposed to be big) did like 2 small cuts at which they would be like ‘NOOO NO NO!!’ haha - I soon got the gist of it~
Lastly I had an ippon-shobu with Saka sensei again at which I (very proudly) scored a men within the first 3 seconds, so it became a nippon-shobu haha - he didn’t let it happen again though LOL so it was about 3 minutes until I could get him with a hiki-kote.
We finished and I went up and talked to all the ladies and gave a few of them some flyers from my work with my picture on it and we all had a laugh~
It was a really nice night!! So pumped for the 17th!! >:D
Is it weird that I think this is AMAZING? I really want it just for the novelty.
(Source: outoforder69)
Couldn’t go to kendo yesterday because of a chest infection that sprung up after Fridays training!! Whyyyy!??
In other news can’t stop listening to the song ‘One Day’ by Charice, only just discovered it (and her) and feeling mega motivated right now!!! >:D
ok, should be able to see them better now -
top one is the reply I got back, bottom is my email. tumblr support should be commended - they were excellent.
Finally should be fixed now! No more porn under the kendo tag! /fist pump!
@Chainz30
In answer to your question, (because I can’t reply on the post itself)
I have been competing in taikai for about 2.5 years now, in my 4 years in kendo, and have traveled all around Australia to do it. (fun fact!) I have also been to watch taikais in Japan where I live at the moment.
I am pretty sure I know the ippon you are talking about in the finals, but like I said before - the judges had their flags up and gave it a point. I trust their decision as they are trained to do it, and the level of kendo they were judging was at a very high standard.
I don’t mind a bit of discussion, but I won’t argue. Not like it can be changed anyway.
Wrap up of the 15th WKC mens team finals
I am really quite disappointed. Did anyone else watch the finals and feel this way?
Korea showed very bad kendo etiquette, and the audience were disgusting.
You don’t BOO the judges? For an event that represents the world in kendo, the finals are judged by esteemed shinpan who would have years of experience. I can bet that by the way they introduced each shinpan by name that a lot of consideration was taken in to decide the last judges. So if they give or don’t give a point, there was a valid reason and there any outside opinions from the audience are not needed - thank you very much. The judges are trusted with their decision, and whether you like it or not that is it.
And Korea? Why are your national team members - the people who you chose to represent your country - such bad sportsmen? The first, second and third fights were filthy - you don’t GLARE at the judges - and then refuse to take chudan when the match is over because you lost? Suck it up man.
But in the third fight when Japan’s chuuken fell over and the Korean extended his hand to help him up, that was the best moment of the whole thing. He deserved the applause the audience gave. At least one of the Korean men showed some kind of sportsmenship.
Overall pretty disappointing, though great kendo of course. But the women’s finals were much better in my opinion.
Waaa OMG watching the final match of the semi-finals of the mens teams between U.S.A and Korea was amazing!! I am SO inspired now with my kendo. They were on such another level.
Of course Korea and Japan are the finals matches, but well done U.S.A and Hungary. you guys put up a great fight. Really amazing.
I love kendo.
Epic line up - but what followed was massacre… haha no all the girls did valiantly! And we won against Hong Kong so now just to beat Sweden and we are through!! Fingers crossed!!
A tumblr created specifically for us three people [Alex, Esther and Kate] to share stories about our kendo lives, and to interact with other kendoka all around the world!
