I now practice hitting kote on my bed (if my mattress compresses significantly, I will adjust power accordingly). I still am mildly hesitant when hitting kote during practice; I find myself apologising to others before we start and having a guilt trip when seeing how badly bruised and batter my partners are after practice.
Kendo-Guide.Com: I like how you feel. Without respect and thinking about others, kendo will lose its way. Good on you!
Mar 25, 2010 Rating
30% strike? by: Agchan
I just came from a training with a swollen wrist.;) I have to train with the freshmen.
I have been trying not to put too much strength in my kote strike. I thought it proper because I noticed I was more precise in my strikes that way. However, our teacher just scolded me for being 'too soft' in my strikes. Good Lord...
I'm trying to compensate the force with speed, but I am told it is not enough.
Could you be so kind to give me a tip on the kote strike?
Kendo-Guide.Com: It is very hard to explain but I'll try :)
First off, it is OK to feel a bit of pain when you are hit. We are getting hit, so usually is should hurt a bit.
Secondly, your strikes should not be hard, but sharp. You need a good tenouchi for this.
Many people do not want to hurt others. Which is a good thing. However, there is a difference between intentionally hurting others and doing kendo.
We must go through the learning phases that include hurting others because simply we just do not know the right amount of strength to use to strike.
You know in kata No.1 we have to kill our opponent. In No.2 we just cut off his/her wrist. But in No.3 we do not kill or hurt our opponent. This teaches us the process of our growth.
We hurt others because we are not good enough. If we become really good, we don't even have to hurt others.
We must learn how to strike properly and our achievement is built on our motodachi's self-sacrifice. That is why we must show our respect and appreciation to each other.
If you do not want to hurt others, you must improve fast. Do a lot of suburi and learn a good tenouchi. You will soon know how to control your strength.
Hope this helps.
Mar 02, 2010 Rating
Think about swinging out not down. by: Matt
90% of kote strength problems I have seen stem from people swinging down on the kote, like chopping with an axe. It is easy to do this with kote because it is so much closer than men.
Try to ensure you are swinging out and forward to the kote, fully extending your arms instead of swinging down and chopping.
If you are regularly getting bruises on the wrist you may also not be receiving kote properly, make sure your shinai tip points upward when receiving kote. If it points sideways or downward the futon will be touching your wrist and the kote won?t offer much protection.
Ideally there is an airspace between the kote and your wrist and the futon acts like a spring bending into this space without actually touching your wrist.
Kendo-Guide.Com: Nothing to add :) Thanks, Matt!
In my way of teaching, arms are never fully extended. But this always vary from sensei to sensei. I just want the readers to know that teachings nearly always vary. :)
