１７th Detroit Kendo Tournament
２月１５日、デトロイトにて「１７th Detroit Kendo Tournament」 が開催されました。
約２００名の参加者が、近郊都市のみならずシカゴ、ニューヨークからも集まりました。
コロンバス剣道部からは子供１４人、大人６人が個人戦と団体戦に参加し、ベストを尽くしました。
個人戦 1１歳以下の部
優勝 片山朋英 準優勝 片山昂英 ３位 堀田千賀
ベスト８ 松永美咲 松永美波 小池真花
個人戦 １２歳～１８歳以下の部
準優勝 堀田力正
ベスト６ 田村健太
団体戦 子供
優勝 ColumbusJLS A（片山朋英 田村健太 堀田力正）
３位 ColumbusJLS B （片山昂英 松永美波 松永愛美）
団体大人
優勝 ColumbusJLS A（AlexGeorge 秋本 松永 都木 片山）
Last Sunday,February 1５,1７th Detroit Kendo Tournament was held in Detroit .
About 2０0 kenshi came from not only the suburban city but also Chicago and New York.
From the Columbus Junior Kendo Club, １５ kids and ７adults participated in individual and group matches and did their best.
Individual under 11
1st place Tomohide katayama, 2nd place Takahide Katayama, 3rd place Chika Hotta
Best8 Misaki Matsunaga ,Minami Matsunaga,Mahana Koike
Individual 12-18
2nd place Rikimasa Hotta
Best6 Kenta Tamura
Team Youth
1st place ColumbusJLS A(Tomohide Katayama,Kenta Tamura,Rikimasa Hotta)
3rd place ColumbusJLS B (Takahide Katayama,Misaki Matsunaga,Manami Matsunaga)
Team Adurt
1st place ColumbusJLS A (Alex George, Akimoto,Matsunaga,Takagi,Katayama)
スポンサーサイト
ケンタッキー大会開催
３月１４日、ケンタッキー大会が開催されます。
３月１４日 試合
３月１５日 昇級審査
参加希望者は２月２７日（金）までに申込書を提出してください。
Kentucky Kendo Tournament held on March 14th.
March 14: Tournament (anyone with or without bogu can participate --- there will be multiple divisions)
March 15: Promotion Test (for those applicants who would like to obtain a certain rank, kyu or dan. Consult Katayama sensei for details)
Those who would like to participate should fill in and turn in the application forms to Katayama-sensei by Friday, February 27.
３月１４日 試合
３月１５日 昇級審査
参加希望者は２月２７日（金）までに申込書を提出してください。
Kentucky Kendo Tournament held on March 14th.
March 14: Tournament (anyone with or without bogu can participate --- there will be multiple divisions)
March 15: Promotion Test (for those applicants who would like to obtain a certain rank, kyu or dan. Consult Katayama sensei for details)
Those who would like to participate should fill in and turn in the application forms to Katayama-sensei by Friday, February 27.
第62回 全日本剣道選手権大会
日本では毎年文化の日、１１月３日に全日本剣道選手権大会が行われます。
昨年行われた第62回 全日本剣道選手権大会の全63試合、その試合をダイジェスト編集した一本集、およびハイスピードカメラで撮影したスロー動画など、約100本を全日本剣道連盟ＨＰにて探しやすく一覧にしてまとめてありました。
興味のある方はご覧ください。
http://www.kendo.or.jp/competition/champ/62nd/gallery/
Every year on November 3, an all-Japan kendo championship is held in Japan.
We can watch the game in federation of all-Japan kendo HP.
There are approximately 100 videos , all games(63 match) , the scene of getting point and the slow animation which I photographed with a high speed camera.
Look at the one with the interest.
http://www.kendo.or.jp/competition/champ/62nd/gallery/
昨年行われた第62回 全日本剣道選手権大会の全63試合、その試合をダイジェスト編集した一本集、およびハイスピードカメラで撮影したスロー動画など、約100本を全日本剣道連盟ＨＰにて探しやすく一覧にしてまとめてありました。
興味のある方はご覧ください。
http://www.kendo.or.jp/competition/champ/62nd/gallery/
Every year on November 3, an all-Japan kendo championship is held in Japan.
We can watch the game in federation of all-Japan kendo HP.
There are approximately 100 videos , all games(63 match) , the scene of getting point and the slow animation which I photographed with a high speed camera.
Look at the one with the interest.
http://www.kendo.or.jp/competition/champ/62nd/gallery/
黙想
●黙想ってどうするの？
剣道では稽古の前と後に黙想をします。
「姿勢を正して、黙想！」という掛け声で、全員が軽く目を閉じて黙想をします。
背筋を伸ばし、あごを引き、肩の力を抜いて姿勢を正します。
この時に手はおへその下くらい、丹田（たんでん）と呼ばれるところの辺りで右手の上に左手を重ねて円を作ります。
鼻から息を吸い込み丹田に息をため、口から長く細く、肺の息も全て吐きだします。
この動作を、「やめ！」の号令がかかるまで続けます。
●なぜするの？
稽古前に目を閉じてこの呼吸をすることで、心を落ち着かせ、剣道だけに集中するように気持ちを切り替えます。
また稽古後には、その日の稽古を振り返り、先生から教えてもらったことや反省点を考えます。
そうすることにより、次回の練習で同じことを指導されることなく上達していくことができるのです。
黙想は、剣道だけでなく勉強など、今から行うことに集中する必要があるときにも役に立ちます。
黙想することで短時間で心を落ち着け、一つのことだけを考え集中するように、気持ちを切り替えるができるのです。
● What is "Mokuso(meditation)"?
We meditate before and after practice in kendo.
In shout "Shisei wo tadashite,Mokuso!(with a positive attitude, meditation!) , everyone close your eyes lightly.
Keep your back straight, pull the jaw, and make relaxed your shoulder.
At this time ,hand makes a circle around the belly button,called "Tanden" ,putting the left hand on the right hand.
Breathe in breath from a nose and keep it in the stomach ,around "Tanden" and discharges all the breath of the lungs from a mouth slowly.
Continue this behavior until the word of command "Yame! (Quit)"
● Why do you do "Mokuso"?
By making this breathing with our eyes closed before practice, we can calm down and switch the feeling to focus only on kendo.
Also, the practice after, we can consider the reflection point and look back on the practice of the day .
we will continue to progress without being instructed to do the same in practice next.
Meditation is also useful when you need to concentrate on and study as well as kendo.
We can calm down in a short time by meditate and make to focus thinking only one thing.
本の紹介
「武士道シックスティーン」（小説）
剣道に青春をかける対照的な2人の女子高生剣士を描いた小説です。続編に『武士道セブンティーン』及び『武士道エイティーン』があります。
日本舞踊から剣道に転向した「柔」の早苗、剣道エリートの「剛」の香織。2人は中学最後の横浜市民大会で戦いますが、早苗が香織に勝ってしまうところから物語が始まります。この因縁の2人が一緒の高校になり、敗れた悔しさを忘れない香織と、そんなことは既に忘れている早苗が切磋琢磨しながらお互い成長する、というストーリーです。
2009年5月から『月刊アフタヌーン』（講談社）、『デラックスマーガレット』（集英社）にて漫画化作品が連載され、2010年に映画が公開されました。
この作品は、普段私たちがしている練習はもちろんですが、より高度な技などについても書かれています。
ぜひ読んでみてください！
Bushido Sixteen [Novel]
This novel depicts how two high-school girls, whose characters are opposite to each other, dedicate their youthful passion to Kendo. Its second and third volumes are titled "Bushido Seventeen" and "Bushido Eighteen," respectively.
One girl, Sanae, used to do traditional japanese dance (Nihon Buyoh) but changed her interest to Kendo. Partly due to this background, Sanae's style is somewhat "soft." The other girl, Kaori, is a Kendo elite and her style is "hard/strong." The novel starts with a scene where the two girls fight a match at Yokohama Citizens Tournament just before they finish their middle school, when Sanae beat Kaori. These two rivals started to go to the same high school. Kaori long remembers the frustrated feeling she experienced when she was defeated by Sanae, while Sanae almost forgot that event. Then the two grow up practicing Kendo and challenging each other.
The manga version of this novel was serialized in two monthly magazines, Gekkan Afternoon (Kodansha), and Deluxe Margaret (Shueisha) since May 2009, and a movie was released in 2010.
In this book, you can find the detailed descriptions about regular Kendo practices that we are now doing, as well as more advanced techniques.
Please check them out!
(Translated by Mayu and typed by Yujiro Nakano)
有効打突（一本を取る、ポイントを取る打突）
今回は、有効打突（一本を取る、ポイントを取る打突）についてお話しします。
簡単に言うと、有効打突とは
「正しい姿勢と攻める気迫をもって、 打突部位と呼ばれる部分を、竹刀の正しい部分を使って、正しい竹刀の振りで打突し、打突後にも相手の攻撃などを返すことの出来る油断のない身構えと心構えをしている打突」
のことです。
詳しく言いますと、有効打突は以下の条件を全て満たす必要があります。
１ 「充実した気勢」
２ 「適正な姿勢」
３ 「竹刀の打突部で打突」
４ 「打突部位を打突」
５ 「刃筋正しく打突」
６ 「残心あるもの」
１．「充実した気勢」とは、気合のことです。
打ち込んだ場所を充分な気合とともに発声することです。「小手」「面」「胴」といった発声を、打ちこむときに同時 に行わなければなりません。
２．「適正な姿勢」とは、正しい姿勢のことです。姿勢が崩れた打突では一本と認められません。
３．「竹刀の打突部」とは、「物打」と呼ばれる、竹刀の先革から中結の間で弦の反対側の部分のことです。その場所以外 で打っても一本にはなりません。
４．「打突部位」とは、打つ場所のことで、「小手」「面」「胴」「突き」などがあります。
「突き」は高校生以上でないと認められていません。
５．「刃筋正しく打突」とは、竹刀を振る方向と、「物打」の「刃部」の方向が一致している打突のことです。「刃部」と は「弦」の反対側の部分です。竹刀を振る方向と「刃部」の方向が合っていないと「有効打突」とは認められないので す。
６．「残心」とは、打突後も油断することなく相手の反撃に対応できるように身構え、気構えを示すことです。打突後も打 ちっぱなしになるのではなく、きちんと最後まで気を抜かず相手に正対して構えないと「有効打突」にはなりません。
このような有効打突につながる打ちができるようになるには、練習中での素振りや打ち込みの時に、しっかり意識することが必要です。
Today, we will talk about yuko-datotsu -- valid striking and/or thrusting to get one point ("Ippon" = one point).
Simply speaking, a stroke or a thrust is regarded as yuko-datotsu when you strike the right part of the other competitor's body with the right part of your shinai, with the right way of swinging your shinai, and with the right posture and vigorous, aggressive spirit. You should also show your alertness to intercept the other's attack even after you gave him/her the stroke.
More specifically, yuko-datotsu needs to fulfill all the following conditions:
1. Fully courageous spirit (Ki-se-i)
2. Appropriate (physical) posture (Shi-se-i)
3. Stroke or thrust with the right datotsu part of shinai
4. Stroke or thrust at the right datotsu part of the other's body
5. Shinai should follow the right path as if you are drawing a line with the cutting edge of a sword (Ha-suji)
6. Showing physical and spiritual alertness after delivering a stroke or thrust (Zan-shin)
[* For the Kendo words shown above, please see Kendo America's dictionary, http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/j_e_dictionary.htm#h]
1 -- Fully courageous Ki-se-i is roughly the same thing as Ki-a-i,the state of concentration with fighting spirit.
You are supposed to strike the other competitor's body with a very powerful shout.
When you hit the other, you need to say "Ko-te (wrist) !," "Men (head)!" or "Doh (trunk)!" in a loud voice at the same time. In doing so, you can fully release your power with Ki-a-i.
2 -- Your stroke will not be counted as Ippon if your posture was badly unbalanced.
3 -- "The right datotsu part of shinai" means the part 1) between a shinai's tip and its leather strap placed approx.15 cm from the tip (naka-yui) and 2) on the opposite side of your shinai's string. This part is also called Mono-uchi, and it's believed to represent to he portion of a blade most appropriate for cutting. If you hit the other person with the part of your shinai other than this part, you cannot gain an Ippon.
4. -- "The right datotsu part of the other's body" includes Kote (wrist), Men (top of the head), Doh (left or right side of the trunk) and Tsu-ki (thrust against the other's throat). Competitors who are high-schoolers and up can make Tsu-ki, but other minors are not allowed to do so in a Kendo match.
5. -- Shinai follows "the right path" when the blade side of your Mono-uchi rightly follows the path that an actual blade of a sword should follow. "Blade side of a shinai" is the side opposite to the shinai's string. If this side is not facing the direction of the swing to hit the other, your stroke cannot be regarded as yuko-datotsu.
6. -- "Zan-shin" means to show your physical and spiritual alertness even after delivering a stroke or thrust, so that you can intercept the other's counterattack. In order for your stroke to be counted as yuko-datotsu, you should not just hit your competitor, but also face him or her with full alertness until your match is over.
Let's practice suburi and uchikomi being aware of these points, so that you can make a truly valid yuko-datotsu.
簡単に言うと、有効打突とは
「正しい姿勢と攻める気迫をもって、 打突部位と呼ばれる部分を、竹刀の正しい部分を使って、正しい竹刀の振りで打突し、打突後にも相手の攻撃などを返すことの出来る油断のない身構えと心構えをしている打突」
のことです。
詳しく言いますと、有効打突は以下の条件を全て満たす必要があります。
１ 「充実した気勢」
２ 「適正な姿勢」
３ 「竹刀の打突部で打突」
４ 「打突部位を打突」
５ 「刃筋正しく打突」
６ 「残心あるもの」
１．「充実した気勢」とは、気合のことです。
打ち込んだ場所を充分な気合とともに発声することです。「小手」「面」「胴」といった発声を、打ちこむときに同時 に行わなければなりません。
２．「適正な姿勢」とは、正しい姿勢のことです。姿勢が崩れた打突では一本と認められません。
３．「竹刀の打突部」とは、「物打」と呼ばれる、竹刀の先革から中結の間で弦の反対側の部分のことです。その場所以外 で打っても一本にはなりません。
４．「打突部位」とは、打つ場所のことで、「小手」「面」「胴」「突き」などがあります。
「突き」は高校生以上でないと認められていません。
５．「刃筋正しく打突」とは、竹刀を振る方向と、「物打」の「刃部」の方向が一致している打突のことです。「刃部」と は「弦」の反対側の部分です。竹刀を振る方向と「刃部」の方向が合っていないと「有効打突」とは認められないので す。
６．「残心」とは、打突後も油断することなく相手の反撃に対応できるように身構え、気構えを示すことです。打突後も打 ちっぱなしになるのではなく、きちんと最後まで気を抜かず相手に正対して構えないと「有効打突」にはなりません。
このような有効打突につながる打ちができるようになるには、練習中での素振りや打ち込みの時に、しっかり意識することが必要です。
Today, we will talk about yuko-datotsu -- valid striking and/or thrusting to get one point ("Ippon" = one point).
Simply speaking, a stroke or a thrust is regarded as yuko-datotsu when you strike the right part of the other competitor's body with the right part of your shinai, with the right way of swinging your shinai, and with the right posture and vigorous, aggressive spirit. You should also show your alertness to intercept the other's attack even after you gave him/her the stroke.
More specifically, yuko-datotsu needs to fulfill all the following conditions:
1. Fully courageous spirit (Ki-se-i)
2. Appropriate (physical) posture (Shi-se-i)
3. Stroke or thrust with the right datotsu part of shinai
4. Stroke or thrust at the right datotsu part of the other's body
5. Shinai should follow the right path as if you are drawing a line with the cutting edge of a sword (Ha-suji)
6. Showing physical and spiritual alertness after delivering a stroke or thrust (Zan-shin)
[* For the Kendo words shown above, please see Kendo America's dictionary, http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/j_e_dictionary.htm#h]
1 -- Fully courageous Ki-se-i is roughly the same thing as Ki-a-i,the state of concentration with fighting spirit.
You are supposed to strike the other competitor's body with a very powerful shout.
When you hit the other, you need to say "Ko-te (wrist) !," "Men (head)!" or "Doh (trunk)!" in a loud voice at the same time. In doing so, you can fully release your power with Ki-a-i.
2 -- Your stroke will not be counted as Ippon if your posture was badly unbalanced.
3 -- "The right datotsu part of shinai" means the part 1) between a shinai's tip and its leather strap placed approx.15 cm from the tip (naka-yui) and 2) on the opposite side of your shinai's string. This part is also called Mono-uchi, and it's believed to represent to he portion of a blade most appropriate for cutting. If you hit the other person with the part of your shinai other than this part, you cannot gain an Ippon.
4. -- "The right datotsu part of the other's body" includes Kote (wrist), Men (top of the head), Doh (left or right side of the trunk) and Tsu-ki (thrust against the other's throat). Competitors who are high-schoolers and up can make Tsu-ki, but other minors are not allowed to do so in a Kendo match.
5. -- Shinai follows "the right path" when the blade side of your Mono-uchi rightly follows the path that an actual blade of a sword should follow. "Blade side of a shinai" is the side opposite to the shinai's string. If this side is not facing the direction of the swing to hit the other, your stroke cannot be regarded as yuko-datotsu.
6. -- "Zan-shin" means to show your physical and spiritual alertness even after delivering a stroke or thrust, so that you can intercept the other's counterattack. In order for your stroke to be counted as yuko-datotsu, you should not just hit your competitor, but also face him or her with full alertness until your match is over.
Let's practice suburi and uchikomi being aware of these points, so that you can make a truly valid yuko-datotsu.
反則
今回は、試合中にしてはいけないルールについてお話しします。
このルールを守らなければ反則をとられ、反則を2回すると相手に一本与えられてしまいます。
いくつかありますが、小・中学生の試合でよくみられる反則を紹介します。
☆片足が場外へ出る
試合中、体の一部（足、手、お尻など）が出たら反則とされます。
☆竹刀をおとす
どんな理由であれ竹刀を落とした人は反則とされます。
☆竹刀の刃部をつかむ
自分の竹刀でも、相手の竹刀でも試合時間中に竹刀の刃部をつかんだら反則です。
☆相手を無理に場外に出す]
相手を押したり、竹刀で突いたりして、無理矢理に場外に出そうとすると反則になります。
☆竹刀の刃部を握る
試合中に刃部を触るときは、審判にタイムをかけてからでないと反則となります。
Today, we will discuss the rules about what you are not allowed to do during a Kendo match.
When you break these rules, your play will be considered a foul. If you committed two fowls, your competitor will get one point.
There are several things not to do, but those which are frequently found in matches among elementary-to-middle schoolers contain the following:
1) One of your legs getting out of the court.
If any part of your body (such as your leg, hand or bottom) got out of the court during the match, you have committed a foul play.
2) Dropping your shinai.
Whatever the reason is , if you dropped your shinai, you have committed a foul play.
3) Grabbing the blade part of the shinai.
Whether it's your own shinai or the competitor's shinai, if you grabbed the blade part of the shinai during the match, that would be counted as a foul.
4) Forcibly pushing your competitor out of the court.
If you forcibly pressed your competitor out of the court, say, by pushing him/her or by thrusting him/her with your shinai, you have committed a foul play.
5) Touching the blade side of your shinai
Touching the blade part of your shinai will be regarded as a foul play, unless you have called the judge to request a time-out to do so.
このルールを守らなければ反則をとられ、反則を2回すると相手に一本与えられてしまいます。
いくつかありますが、小・中学生の試合でよくみられる反則を紹介します。
☆片足が場外へ出る
試合中、体の一部（足、手、お尻など）が出たら反則とされます。
☆竹刀をおとす
どんな理由であれ竹刀を落とした人は反則とされます。
☆竹刀の刃部をつかむ
自分の竹刀でも、相手の竹刀でも試合時間中に竹刀の刃部をつかんだら反則です。
☆相手を無理に場外に出す]
相手を押したり、竹刀で突いたりして、無理矢理に場外に出そうとすると反則になります。
☆竹刀の刃部を握る
試合中に刃部を触るときは、審判にタイムをかけてからでないと反則となります。
Today, we will discuss the rules about what you are not allowed to do during a Kendo match.
When you break these rules, your play will be considered a foul. If you committed two fowls, your competitor will get one point.
There are several things not to do, but those which are frequently found in matches among elementary-to-middle schoolers contain the following:
1) One of your legs getting out of the court.
If any part of your body (such as your leg, hand or bottom) got out of the court during the match, you have committed a foul play.
2) Dropping your shinai.
Whatever the reason is , if you dropped your shinai, you have committed a foul play.
3) Grabbing the blade part of the shinai.
Whether it's your own shinai or the competitor's shinai, if you grabbed the blade part of the shinai during the match, that would be counted as a foul.
4) Forcibly pushing your competitor out of the court.
If you forcibly pressed your competitor out of the court, say, by pushing him/her or by thrusting him/her with your shinai, you have committed a foul play.
5) Touching the blade side of your shinai
Touching the blade part of your shinai will be regarded as a foul play, unless you have called the judge to request a time-out to do so.
強くなるための心得
「強くなるための心得」
みなさん、コロ剣杯では、それぞれ色んな勉強をしましたね。
満足のいく結果を残せた人、思うようにできず悔しい思いをした人、色々だと思います。
ではどうすれば強くなるのか。
「強くなるための心得」について、何回かに分けてお話ししたいと思います。
「相手よりも優位に立って打ち込み、先を取る！打った後も油断しない（残心を取る）！」
先を取る、ということは、相手より余裕をもって、優位な気持ちで打ち込んでいくことです。つまり、こちらから先に攻めていく気持ちを持つことです。
残心を取る、とは打った後も油断せず、いつも相手に対する身構え、気構えを忘れないようにすることです。この二つの心構えがないと試合に勝つことはできません。
これらは普段の生活でも同じことが言えます。稽古場には稽古の時間より早めに行って竹刀の手入れをするなどは、余裕を持って次の行動に移れるのだから「先と取る」のと同じ意味になります。
道場で習ったことや学校で習ったことをそのままにせずしっかり復習すること、一つのことが終わった後でもだらしなくない事や気を抜かない事は、剣道の「残心」と同じ意味を持ちます。
普段の生活からこのようなことを意識してみましょう！
TIPS TO BE STRONG
Each one of you must have learnt a lot from the CJKC (Col-ken) Cup the other day.
Some might have had satisfactory results, and some might have had a frustrated feeling that they couldn't do their very best.
Then, how can one be strong at Kendo matches?
For the next few blog entries, we will talk about tips that can make you strong.
Today's tip: Get ahead of your opponent to give a strike, preempt! Be cautious even after you give a strike (take zan-shin) !
To preempt means to be more ready and more confident than your opponent in giving a strike. You need to be ready to give him/her a rapid and accurate attack before he or she gives you a strike.
To take zan-shin means to have a cautious posture and preparedness against your opponent even after you give a strike. If you don't have those two things ---a cautious posture and preparedness against your opponent ---- in your heart, you cannot win.
The same thing is true of your daily life. When you go to the dojo early and start checking your shinai before the practice starts, you can be ready for your next action. That will be the same as pre-emption (going ahead).
When you do not forget but review the practice you learned at dojo or at school, or when you stay careful and tidy even after you finished something, you are doing the same thing as taking zan-shin.
Please try to be conscious of these tips in your daily life!
(Translated by Yujiro Nakano)
みなさん、コロ剣杯では、それぞれ色んな勉強をしましたね。
満足のいく結果を残せた人、思うようにできず悔しい思いをした人、色々だと思います。
ではどうすれば強くなるのか。
「強くなるための心得」について、何回かに分けてお話ししたいと思います。
「相手よりも優位に立って打ち込み、先を取る！打った後も油断しない（残心を取る）！」
先を取る、ということは、相手より余裕をもって、優位な気持ちで打ち込んでいくことです。つまり、こちらから先に攻めていく気持ちを持つことです。
残心を取る、とは打った後も油断せず、いつも相手に対する身構え、気構えを忘れないようにすることです。この二つの心構えがないと試合に勝つことはできません。
これらは普段の生活でも同じことが言えます。稽古場には稽古の時間より早めに行って竹刀の手入れをするなどは、余裕を持って次の行動に移れるのだから「先と取る」のと同じ意味になります。
道場で習ったことや学校で習ったことをそのままにせずしっかり復習すること、一つのことが終わった後でもだらしなくない事や気を抜かない事は、剣道の「残心」と同じ意味を持ちます。
普段の生活からこのようなことを意識してみましょう！
TIPS TO BE STRONG
Each one of you must have learnt a lot from the CJKC (Col-ken) Cup the other day.
Some might have had satisfactory results, and some might have had a frustrated feeling that they couldn't do their very best.
Then, how can one be strong at Kendo matches?
For the next few blog entries, we will talk about tips that can make you strong.
Today's tip: Get ahead of your opponent to give a strike, preempt! Be cautious even after you give a strike (take zan-shin) !
To preempt means to be more ready and more confident than your opponent in giving a strike. You need to be ready to give him/her a rapid and accurate attack before he or she gives you a strike.
To take zan-shin means to have a cautious posture and preparedness against your opponent even after you give a strike. If you don't have those two things ---a cautious posture and preparedness against your opponent ---- in your heart, you cannot win.
The same thing is true of your daily life. When you go to the dojo early and start checking your shinai before the practice starts, you can be ready for your next action. That will be the same as pre-emption (going ahead).
When you do not forget but review the practice you learned at dojo or at school, or when you stay careful and tidy even after you finished something, you are doing the same thing as taking zan-shin.
Please try to be conscious of these tips in your daily life!
(Translated by Yujiro Nakano)
残心
剣道を習得する上で、「残心」はとても大切なことです。
では、なぜ「残心」をとらないといけないのでしょうか。
残心、つまり「心を残す」とは、「打った後にも油断をせずに、相手のどんな反撃にもすぐに対応できるような、心構えと身構えを示す」ということです。
剣道はもともと真剣（本物の刀）での勝負が始まりです。真剣で勝負をしたときは、相手を切ったと思っても、そこで気を抜いたら反撃され逆に切られることがあります。
そうした油断を戒めるために「切った（打った）後にも心を残す」と教えられるようになりました。
実際の残心のとり方は、打った後の相手の横をすり抜け前進、または後退したりして間合い（相手との距離）をとり、再び相手と向き合って中段に構えます。
これは相手の反撃を防ぐと同時に、次の攻めにもつなげるためです。十分に間合いが取れなかった場合も、相手の喉もとに剣先を向けます。
打突ができてもこの残心がないと一本にならないので忘れないようにしてください。
About zan-shin
Now, why do we have to take zan-shin?
Zan-shin, or "letting your mind stay alert," means to exhibit your alertness of the mind and your posture that allow you to respond quickly to anything your opponent does, without relaxing your guard even after you make a strike.
Kendo originates from the fight with real swords. When you fight with real swords, even when you think you strike your opponent, if you lose your attention you could be killed by the counterattack by the opponent.
To warn us of such danger, we are now taught to "let your mind stay alert even after you strike or thrust."
In practice, in order for you to exhibit your zan-shin, you pass by your opponent's side after your strike and go forward, or you go backward and take an appropriate distance from the opponent, and then face the opponent and take the posture of chu-dan.
This is done in order for you to avoid your opponent's counterattack, as well as for you to make the next attack.
Even when you cannot take a sufficient distance, you are to make the tip of your shinai pointed at the opponent's throat.
Please remember that you cannot earn a point (ippon) if you didn't make zan-shin even when you made a strike or thrust.
[Translated by Yujiro Nakano]
では、なぜ「残心」をとらないといけないのでしょうか。
残心、つまり「心を残す」とは、「打った後にも油断をせずに、相手のどんな反撃にもすぐに対応できるような、心構えと身構えを示す」ということです。
剣道はもともと真剣（本物の刀）での勝負が始まりです。真剣で勝負をしたときは、相手を切ったと思っても、そこで気を抜いたら反撃され逆に切られることがあります。
そうした油断を戒めるために「切った（打った）後にも心を残す」と教えられるようになりました。
実際の残心のとり方は、打った後の相手の横をすり抜け前進、または後退したりして間合い（相手との距離）をとり、再び相手と向き合って中段に構えます。
これは相手の反撃を防ぐと同時に、次の攻めにもつなげるためです。十分に間合いが取れなかった場合も、相手の喉もとに剣先を向けます。
打突ができてもこの残心がないと一本にならないので忘れないようにしてください。
About zan-shin
Now, why do we have to take zan-shin?
Zan-shin, or "letting your mind stay alert," means to exhibit your alertness of the mind and your posture that allow you to respond quickly to anything your opponent does, without relaxing your guard even after you make a strike.
Kendo originates from the fight with real swords. When you fight with real swords, even when you think you strike your opponent, if you lose your attention you could be killed by the counterattack by the opponent.
To warn us of such danger, we are now taught to "let your mind stay alert even after you strike or thrust."
In practice, in order for you to exhibit your zan-shin, you pass by your opponent's side after your strike and go forward, or you go backward and take an appropriate distance from the opponent, and then face the opponent and take the posture of chu-dan.
This is done in order for you to avoid your opponent's counterattack, as well as for you to make the next attack.
Even when you cannot take a sufficient distance, you are to make the tip of your shinai pointed at the opponent's throat.
Please remember that you cannot earn a point (ippon) if you didn't make zan-shin even when you made a strike or thrust.
[Translated by Yujiro Nakano]
間合い
間合い（まあい）とは
剣道では向かい合った相手との距離のことを「間合い」と言います。
「間合いを詰める」「間合いが近すぎる」というように、頻繁に使われます。
間合いが遠ければ踏み込んでも相手に竹刀がとどかないし、近すぎては相手から打たれる危険があります。
間合いの基本になるのは「一足一刀（いっそくいっとう）の間合い」です。これは一歩踏み込めば相手に竹刀が届く距離のことです。
一足一刀の間合いは、その人の体格や跳躍力などによって違います。自分の「一足一刀の間合い」をつかむために、練習中に打ち込む位置を変えて確認しましょう。
そうすれば間合いの感覚を体で覚えることができ、試合でも一足一刀の間合いから、いい技を出すことができるようになります。
In Kendo, the distance between yourself and your opponent is called ma-a-i.
This term is frequently used, as in the phrases such as "narrowing the ma-a-i" and "ma-a-i is too close."
When the ma-a-i is too far, your shinai will not reach your opponent even if you step forward.
When the ma-a-i is too close, you can be hit by the opponent.
The basic of ma-a-i is "issoku ittou no ma-a-i (ma-a-i of one-step, one-strike)," which means the distance in which your shinai will reach your opponent just when you take one step forward.
The actual distance of "issoku-ittou no ma-a-i" can vary, depending on how big your body is, how much you can jump, etc. Confirm your own appropriate "issoku issou no ma-ai," by trying a variety of distance during the practice. Through such practice, you will become able to master the sense of taking appropriate distance, and to make good moves during the Kendo matches.
[Translated by Yujiro and Mayu Nakano]
切り返し
切返しは、剣道の技に必要なものがいくつも含まれている大切な稽古法です。
正しい構え・手首の返し方、手の内の使い方、足さばき、打った後のバランス・呼吸法などを切返しの稽古でしっかり練習しましょう。
Scrolling down, you can find the abbreviated English version of this Blog.
切返しには「大・強・速・軽」４つの原則があります。
大・・・大きく伸び伸びと頭上まで振り上げて行う
強・・・打つ瞬間の手の内を強くする
速・・・大と強が十分にできた状態で、切返しを早く行う
軽・・・無駄な力を抜き軽やかに行う。
これらのことを気をつけて練習しましょう。
Kiri-kaeshi
Kiri-kaeshi (slash-and-flip) is an important practice that contains many factors necessary for excellent Kendo skills.
By repeating Kiri-kaeshi practice, you will be able to master how to keep the right posture, how to flip your wrists, how to use both of your arms swift and sharp, the bodily balance right after the strike, how to breathe, etc.
Kiri-kaeshi has four principles: Big, Strong, Fast and Light.
"Big" means that you should swing your shinai big, with a shinai raised overhead.
"Strong" means that you should strengthen the hold of both arms when you strike.
"Fast" means that, when you sufficiently master the big and strong kirikaeshi, you should make it fast and sharp.
"Light" means that you should be relaxed, without having any unnecessary tension, when you do the Kiri-kaeshi.
Please have these four tips in mind when you practice Kiri-kaeshi!
正しい構え・手首の返し方、手の内の使い方、足さばき、打った後のバランス・呼吸法などを切返しの稽古でしっかり練習しましょう。
Scrolling down, you can find the abbreviated English version of this Blog.
切返しには「大・強・速・軽」４つの原則があります。
大・・・大きく伸び伸びと頭上まで振り上げて行う
強・・・打つ瞬間の手の内を強くする
速・・・大と強が十分にできた状態で、切返しを早く行う
軽・・・無駄な力を抜き軽やかに行う。
これらのことを気をつけて練習しましょう。
Kiri-kaeshi
Kiri-kaeshi (slash-and-flip) is an important practice that contains many factors necessary for excellent Kendo skills.
By repeating Kiri-kaeshi practice, you will be able to master how to keep the right posture, how to flip your wrists, how to use both of your arms swift and sharp, the bodily balance right after the strike, how to breathe, etc.
Kiri-kaeshi has four principles: Big, Strong, Fast and Light.
"Big" means that you should swing your shinai big, with a shinai raised overhead.
"Strong" means that you should strengthen the hold of both arms when you strike.
"Fast" means that, when you sufficiently master the big and strong kirikaeshi, you should make it fast and sharp.
"Light" means that you should be relaxed, without having any unnecessary tension, when you do the Kiri-kaeshi.
Please have these four tips in mind when you practice Kiri-kaeshi!
