Bow to shomen: formality or not 
A month ago I visited a dojo where they do not bow to shomen in the beginning and end of training. The instructor of the dojo thinks the bow is a kind ...

How to train speed 
How to train speed

They say that in kendo speed means striking in time, i.e. when your opponent is not ready. Nevertheless can we train the speed itself ...

Kendo and Lumbar disc herniations 
Almost two years ago I had a surgery for a lumbar disc herniations (L5-S1) the disc slipped out about 1cm so they had to cut it out. It took several months ...

personal feelings and kendo 
This question may seem stupid, but I'll be very happy if I'll get some sort of answer.

This question is not about waza, not about shiai, but about ...

Weird strikes in shiai 
Very often during shiai we can see some weird strikes, e.g. kote is often executed with curved posture. Like on this picture from FIK website: http://www....

To get shiai review 
Is it rude or not to ask a judge some questions when shiai is over? I mean asking such questions like "What was bad in my shiai?", "why wasn't my kote ...

How old do I have to be to start kendo? 
I've really developed an interest in kendo lately, and I want to learn kendo, but I'm only 14 years old. I don't have any kendo experience and I'm afraid ...

What happens when you are in a fight? 
I have a great interest in learning kendo but my question is this... you mentioned that one should take up another art for self-defense. Then what exactly ...

What to do when unable to fully sit in Seiza? 
I am interested in starting Kendo. I have a background in martial arts but I am just out from rehabilitation from a knee surgery (ACL reconstruction).

At ...

How can I know if my mokuso respiration is good? 
Good evening Sensei,

I am Italian, and cause to the too much expensive dojos in my area, I can't practice kendo in a gym, but thanking you, I can begin ...

Held Back 
I've been taking kendo at my local university for about a year now. I was graded to get my bogu but unfortunately I failed. Unlike the other students who ...

Improving footwork. 
I just restarted kendo after 6 months of rest. I've noticed that I'm pretty slow compared to other people in the dojo I'm attending. When we do drills ...

Drawings for kendo contests  
I have just wondered if there was any source where I could find rules of making the drawing for the individual and team competitions in kendo champs.


I ...

Shinai length, stomping steps and ai-techniques 
I have some questions about shinai length, stomping steps, ai-techniques and some behavior in kendo:

1) I've read that shinai basically is a training ...

Alternate stances 
In kendo there are several forms that one can use to practice kendo. The most common are the forms with 1 sword in chuu-dan no kamae. But there are ...

Basic Men Uchi 
I'm sorry for asking such an elementary question in here, but it's been a long time since I practiced my basics... For a basic men uchi, we move the shinai ...

The Kendo Environment. 
I'm a 14 year old  American girl, looking into kendo. I was just wondering what the environment is really like in kendp. Would it be different for me,...

Kendo and creativity 
First of all, sorry for my bad English. I'm Brazilian. But more importantly, thanks a lot for the site. It's helping me a lot.

Now to the question....

What to do in a first match 
I started kendo 3 months ago. 1 month ago I had my first kyu exam and I passed. My sensei decided to give me bogu and I will have my first practice with ...

Is Kendo a good form of exercise? 
I'm really interested in learning Kendo and I wanted to know if it builds muscle and if it's a good form of exercise like other martial arts.

I understand ...

Hantei 
Can you please tell us about Hantei? What is it exactly, and when is it used?


Kendo-Guide.Com : Thanks for your post. Hantei is a decision made ...

can you practice basic footwork on carpet? 
I am trying to practice basic footwork in my house, but it has carpet. Will that impend my progress?

Answer: Thank you for your post. If you are a ...

The best training duration 
What is the best training duration in your opinion?

I don't know if it is true but I've read that usually in Japan one training session lasts for 1 ...

What to do about a Kendo bully? 
I am a beginner student, barely into my third year of Kendo. I have not taunted anyone or been mean, but a guy seems to have singled me out to pick on....

Hurt Left foot. Impacts ability to train 
I hurt my left foot during practice on Saturday, November 6th.

The toe next to my big toe was bend backwards but did not break. My Doctor suggested ...

How To Train Kikentaiichi 
What are some ways to train your Ki-ken-tai-icchi at home? Sorry if it seems an awkward question.

Answer: Thanks for your post. It is not an awkward ...

How do I know if my kote is too small 
I've just bought my first bogu but kote seems to be too small.

My sensei said that it will break in, but he hasn't seen how it fits my arm yet (he'...

What is Hikitate geiko? 
Can you please advise what hikitategeiko in kendo is?


Answer:
Thank you for your post. Hikitate - geiko has two parts. Hikitate and keiko .


The ...

Age for kendo 
I would like to start practicing kendō but I am 35.

Do you think it is still good to develop a good level of practice?

With thanks

Pierre
...

Back pain when wearing men 
I have bad posture, probably from working in front of a computer all day, but it is something I'm working on. 


However, whenever I put on my ...

Kendo Romanji and Kanji 
I tried several ways to find kanji related to kendo but is more difficult that I was thinking it would be.
The words Kendo is not difficult to find ...

Kendo and reality 

One of my friends was doing kendo about 3 years and quit.  He says that kendo is not real.

That we have rules in kendo but in real world samurais ...

One shiai occurrence 
Recently I watched one championship among kyu holders, judges were 1-2 dan holders.

I noticed that hiki techniques and do was not counted at all. (Though ...

Order of bows at the beginning/end of training 
In your article “Normal Training Procedure” it is pointed that we bow to the shomen, sensei and each other at the beginning of training and bow to Sensei,...

What is the meaning of hanshi, renshi, kyoshi 
I often hear the titles hanshi, renshi or kyoshi used but was never quite certain what they meant.

Unfortunately, the information on the web is a ...

How to hold your shinai when sensei is giving out instructions? 
How to hold your shinai when sensei is giving out instructions?

Before a drill, sensei will take a minute or two to demonstrate the drill, explain ...

Timing is off. What am I doing wrong? 
Recently, I have a lot of trouble with my timing. When I see an opening, my body won't listen to me for no reason. Is there anything I'm missing?

Answer:...

Training kendo at the beach? 
Sometimes I cannot go to the dojo because of work, but even when I do most of the times I don't feel completely worn out after keiko. So I like to train ...

Training with shoes on 
I found a nice place to practice close to my house where I can concentrate.

The only thing is that the floor is not suitable for being bare-footed....

left hand near the tsuba 

I'm left handed. Is it ok to have my left hand near the tsuba?
Answer: That would be no. Please read “Why is the left hand more dominant ...

How to understand sensei in jigeiko?  
During jigeiko with high ranked sensei sometimes it occurs that sensei slaps your shinai away, doesn't allow going through after strike but pushes you ...

Should there be any "play" in your left hand in the transition from raising the long sword to initiating a cut? 
I have two questions that kind of relate (at least in my mind) to the fundamental way I cut with my sword.

I am a beginner, and as I watched and read ...

Thinking too much? 
I recently had a shiai with my master's son. I seem to wait too long when I try to see his opening. He says I think too much. But, I really was not thinking ...

What if motodachi failes during grading exam? 
Recently I saw kyu grading exam performance where motodachi didn't manage to play his role well.

 He opened do instead of men (as a result kakarite ...

Types of kakari-geiko 

I was wondering what the name for the drill used in the 4:17 minute from this video .
It looks like kakari-geiko but the Sensei says something ...

How to do these motions and other names for them? 
How do you do fast motion, one motion, two motion, and three motion? And are there different names for the motions? I'm not very familiar with Japanese....

Kendo among other martial arts 

1) Today there are many budo clubs, groups and many different martial arts types taught. What important things does kendo have for people to choose ...

Potential Unlocked? 
I actually beat an extremely experienced 2nd dan that was stronger than me by a lot. I also beat other dans as well in my dojo (They are all from my dojo)...

How to tie the kote knots 

How do you tie your knots on your kotes? Any help please?

Kendo-Guide.Com:  I am not an expert so I would like to introduce a downloadable booklet ...

Kendo and weight loss 
Does Kendo training help people lose weight or stay in reasonable shape?

The reason I ask is because I think it would be a fun way of losing weight ...

New in bogu and strikes are painful? 

Hi, just a quick question I guess - I'm coming to a point in Kendo where I'm starting to get into bogu (like, try on club stuff for practise). However ...

Shinai size in comparison to the wielder's height, age, and weight. 

I have seen the chart for shinai sizes in comparison to the wielder's height, weight, and age.  However, I was wondering two things. 

First of ...

Can we use different styles (kamae) in shiai? 
Can we use a different style in between shiai in one competition or tournament?

e.g.:

1. I use itto (one sword) style in the first match, and I ...

Ways to handle physical issues with haya-suburi? 
One of the other entries about haya-suburi made me wonder about one of the physical issues I have been having with haya-suburi.

I had asthma as a ...

Questions About Jodan 
I am new to Kendo. I have been doing it for the greater part of the year. I don't have a dojo, just a collegiate Kendo club with a senior student and ...

How big does a sparring area need to be? 

My friend and I who are both doing Kendo are about to be able to start sparring soon and we want to be able to spar outside of the dojo in our own ...

Movements between techniques during exam 
During grading exam what kind of movements should we take between techniques: we should move evenly and calmly or as quickly as possible?

I mean for ...

Spine-related diseases in kendo 
I've got a question about general diseases in Kendo, not injuries.

Probably it is a kind of coincidence but in our group we have about 20-30% of all ...

A little more about sonkyo 
In your article ' How to Take Chudan: Draw Your Sword' it is described how we sit in sonkyo. It is pointed that after taito we draw our sword out and ...

Japanese armor (yoroi) question and more 
1. Do you know much about old Japanese armor creation, or do you know of any good books on say 16-17th century Japanese armor and how to make them?

I ...

Order of some actions 
I've got some questions about order of actions before we put bogu on and after we take it off.

1. Is there any order when we are knotting do himo?...

Different types of bow 
I'd like to ask you about zarei between partners, probably not very kendo-relative since we are making ritsu rei between partners in kendo.

When ...

How old do you start kendo at? 
At what age must you be to learn kendo ?

Answer: It varies. The youngest I heard is 3 years old. The oldest is 55 ( my father ). I started kendo ...

What happens if the shinai falls down in a match? 
In a kendo match, a kendoka gets hit on his shinai and his shinai falls down on the ground...I’m confused this part.

Should he continue the match?...

When is enough Zanshin for Jodan  
Can you please tell me what is considered "GOOD ZANSHIN " for different jōdan no kamae techniques?

For example :

Zanshin ...

Performing kendo kata during exam 

Performing kendo kata during exam

As you mentioned in kata relative articles when performing kendo kata we need to control distances all ...

Kyu exam 
When do you think a beginner in kendo should take a kyu exam?

I have been forced into an extensive training followed by two exams. I am the 4th ...

How can you tell about good instructor or not? 

What qualities should a good instructor have?

Thank you.

Answer: Wow. That is a hard question.

Usually, in Japan if one starts bragging about ...

What about Tameshigiri? 
Zenhihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR) has Kendo (fencing) Seitei Iai (drawing the sword) even Jodo (short staff) but no Tameshi-giri  (test cutting)...

Feet position in seiza 

 What is the correct feet position when we are sitting in seiza in kendo ?: when left and right big toes are close but not one over another; when ...

Aggression in shiai 
I am not very aggressive while in shiai and my instructor says that I should be attacking all the time.

To demonstrate this, he gave us a "...

Dojo plan 

I'd like to ask you to draw a "standard" dōjō  plan with pointing its areas. (Or maybe to give a link where such dojo plan is shown.) 
And ...

Kenjutsu website 
Is there a website like this one, but for kenjutsu ?

Answer: I don't know. Sorry. Anyone?

Kendo and Kenjutsu 
What is the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu , besides the difference in gear?

Answer: Kenjutsu is "the technique of the Sword" and kendo ...

Sexist vs Gender Roles 
I've got some organizational question.

In our dojo boys and girls train together. And before and after training we line up in the order according our ...

When sweat gets into eyes 
If we train hard sometimes it happens that sweat gets into eyes and it stings. When we have jigeiko series without resting that is the most actual.

And ...

How can I get back in shape?  

I came back to my dōjō for the first time after a few weeks. I could barely beat the people who I fought in shiai  (people I could beat ...

What is the appropriate way to hold your tenugui before putting it on? 
What is the appropriate way to hold your tenugui before putting it on? Should the Japanese words ( kanji ) face others or should it face yourself so ...

Solo Practice with a "Real" Sword 
I only recently started Kendo, perhaps only three or four weeks ago.

One night, our instructor had us do one hundred haya suburi . Realizing I ...

Ankle Stretches for Sitting in Seiza 
When my son sits in seiza his ankles do not stretch far enough to lie flat on the floor.  Do you know any exercises to stretch the ankles so that he ...

the way to put tenugui on neatly 
I keep having troubles with my tenugui , and nobody seems to have a solution:

I'm using a default-sized tenugui . I think my head is pretty averagely ...

Solo practice with tachi 
Is Kendo kata with tachi (bokken), as a solo practice, a part of the regular kendo training? Or is it performed only in training in pairs? If so,...

How to use your ki to create a shikai on your opponent. 
Exactly, how would you create a shikai on your opponent with your ki ? I heard that you use your spirit to overwhelm them, but exactly how do you do ...

What's the difference between modern kendo and traditional kendo? 
I was wondering how modern kendo is different to pre-war kendo (traditional kendo). Do you know about it?

Kendo-Guide.Com :  I’m not too sure about ...

Solo Practice Dress Code 
Do you always wear hakama and keikogi for solo practice?

How about the bogu ? Do you put it on even when there is no one else?

Answer:  It ...

Teacher - student relation 
I am a beginner in kendo. I have been taking classes in a sports center in Seoul, Korea. I am the only foreigner in my group (I speak quite decent Korean,...

Datotsu to Hidari kote ( left Kote ) 
I have another question about the valid strike to hidari kote/ left kote.
"Hidari Kote will be valid as datotsu when the opponent out from basic chudan-...

How to fight an opponent who takes gedan-like kamae? 
I was sparring with an opponent who lets his guard down for a while (by having the shinai down diagonally). I at least sparred with him twice.

And I'...

Carbon vs bamboo shinai 
Nowadays you can buy carbon shinai. I noticed that they are rather expensive, so I was wondering...

Are they 'better' (for lack of a better word) than ...

Nito regulations in kendo matches 
I would like to ask about regulations that apply to nito players, including:

1. Shinai regulations
2. Datotsu (will the shoto strike be a yuko datotsu?...

How can I wash/clean the kote? 
My kendo buddy has a problem that his kote are VERY smelly (like 2 week old socks used every day) and it's bugging him a lot since the smell attaches ...

Can I protect my teeth in kendo? 
When someone strikes my men, my jaws shut really fast and after that my teeth start to hurt. I'm afraid they're gonna crack or break. Is there something ...

What is the difference between Hari, Harai and Hajiki? 
I was wondering the difference between these 3 terms:

Hari
Harai
Hajiki

In my research I just found that all of them are included in the term 'Harai'...

Older Newbies to Kendo 
I'm thinking of taking up a martial art and after a lot of reading would like to learn Kendo. I wanted to learn something using swordsmanship that was ...

Do I have to do something before using a new shinai? 
I just bought two Shinai. They are already assembled. Can I use them right away or do I need to do something before using them?

Answer: Good question....

Dangers of Kendo 
I heard that people got blinded by the shinai because it wasn't tied up well. Is it true?

And if it is, how can I prevent it from happening? Check ...

I don't have a dojo in my area and want to learn kendo. 
I don't have a dojo in my area and want to learn kendo, what should I do?

Answer: It is very important for you to get the correct information of kendo....

How to stand up with shinaï from seiza stance ? 
How to stand up with shinaï from seiza stance?

Could you describe this movement from seiza stance?

I don't remember when I must to take the shinai ...

Kiai for Kote 
I was always wondering about the right kiai for the kote. With men and dou it's easy, as it's only one syllable. But what about 'kote'?

I've heard ...

Why cannot I go backwards? 
Kamae Position

We have been told to maintain the proper Kamae Position... However, during keiko, we are told not to move/slide back but always go forward....

Different Bowing Methods During Training 
When do I do a standing bow during an exercise with motodashi and how?

We line up in front of a motosdashi and we wait for our turn to practice with ...

When do I do a taito ? 
I have seen Kendokas who did taito after their bow and walked 3 steps forwards to assume the sonkyo position.

It's confirmed by the rules of competition....

How to do a good okuri-ashi? 
In your kendo guide for beginers (page 54) and video , you said no dragging for the back foot and the left foot can be lift up.

I don't understand ...

Your Review of "Shiai to discipline the human character" 
In you recent review of "Shiai to discipline the human character" in the section "Hit Vs. Cut" you made reference to "the importance of the direction ...

Pump Aerobics 
I want to try to do pump aerobics to enhance my physical abilities to perform better kendo. Or do lifting with small weights and big amount of repeating....

Obi Belt Usage 
Some kendokas in Russia use obi belt. Some of them say that it is traditional and also keeps the gi look neat, and others use it to "fix the back".
What ...

All the proper and allowed Do strikes 
I always assumed that Do had the intention of cutting someone in half (kind of), so any proper Do must be executed diagonally (same applies to both ordinary ...

Different Distances in Kendo  
How do you define:

1. Issoku itto no maai (Issoku itto no ma)
2. Chikai maai (Chika-ma)
3. Toi maai (Toh-ma)
4. Uchi-ma
5. Yokote maai (Yokote no ...

Is it possible to train with two swords in kendo? 
I have an interest in training with two swords. Is that possible and if so how would I find an instructor?

Answer: Is it possible? Yes, it is possible....

The difference between Japanese kendo and Korean kendo  
I had been told that there is a difference between Japanese kendo and Korean kendo, which is Korean kendo is less smoother than Japanese Kendo.

Could ...

What variations on the traditional Kendo study are there? 
Recently I ran across some curious videos (while doing research for a book I am writing) showing young girls practicing Kendo.

In these videos, they ...

Improving hearing when in bogu 
I have been doing Kendo on and off for about 2 years now, but I have only gone to about 3 advanced bogu practices with the seniors in the club.

The ...

How do I begin? 
I am having trouble finding a dojo near me. The nearest one I have found is 161 miles away.

Despite this setback, I wish to begin training on my own ...

How to increase my stamina for kendo? 
I know that stamina is important in Kendo. I have been given some suggestions by someone on how to increase my stamina which is by doing high output workouts ...

Shoulder Problem in Kendo 
My shoulders hurt a lot, and I can't swing properly the shinai to make big men. Small men is bad too :(

Shinai seems to be very very heavy !!

My ...

"Sashi" and "Defence techniques" 
Some of my biggest concerns are "sashi" and "how to defend my self."

Firstly, in Japan, do people feel appropriate with sashi techniques? Most kendo-...

Increase Fumikomi Power 
I want to know how to improve my push off in Kendo. I mean the impulse of the fumikomi.

Answer: To increase the power/impulse of fumikomi, you need ...

How many types of oi-geiko exist? 
Striking while my opponent is running away is oi-geiko. However, I have seen 3 drills that can be called with this name:

- Striking while the motodachi ...

What is kukan datotsu? 
I have tried to find the correct translation to “kukan datotsu” and I have found that means "Striking an imaginary opponent". Does this means all tandoku ...

A shinai or a bokken? 
Which is better for training, a shinai or bokken?

Answer: I prefer doing suburi with a bokuto (or bokken). It is simply because it gives me a sense ...

How to Train Kendo Alone? 
How can I train in Kendo when there is no dojo where I live?

Answer: Depending on your level, but there are many things that we can do.

- suburi ...

Why am I not allowed to dodge in kendo? 
When the opponent strikes at your head why am I not allowed to sway back to dodge it and then counter attack?

Answer: If we talk about what is allowed ...

Kendo Ranking System 
I would like to know how the rankings go from beginner to Dan and the time frame of each.

Answer: I started from no kyu and kyu started from the ...

How do I tie the knot correctly on the kendo-gi? 
How do I get the knot go horizontal? I've just bought my first hakama and kendogi and my sensei explained why the knot needs to be horizontal. Every time ...

How to wear a Hakama 
I've found many different ways of wearing a hakama on the internet, and I've seen a few different ways in my club. I was wondering if there is a "correct"...

Am I using these kendo terms right? 
Am I using these kendo terms right?

I am puzzled by the common use of some words in my country. For example "MENTSUKE" is used here at the beginning ...

When is the best moment to strike? 
When I tried to strike my opponent in jigeiko, I couldn't hit the target. My opponent always hit me first or I missed the target. Is it because I'm only ...

Was it too quick for me to put armor on? 
I started kendo 5-6 months ago and now training in armor. I trained only 2 times with the full equipment but I feel like a kendo-ka who has to learn all ...

Martial Arts is a way of life? 
I've heard not to treat Martial Arts as a sport, however; how is Martial Arts a way of life?


Answer: This can be a long answer but since there is ...

Marobashi 
Can you please clarify term Marubashi (or marobashi, which one is correct)? What do parts of the word mean if translate from Japanese? In what way does ...

Difference and purpose betwen Each Type of Keiko 

We know there is 4 type of keiko which are:

1. Kihon keiko
2. Uchikomi keiko
3. Kakari keiko
4. Ji keiko

(Please correct me if ...

1000 haya-suburi. What is the purpose? 
There is a kendo legend in Russia: Japanese kendokas do 1000 haya-suburi during the warm up. Sometimes even 2000 ones, but it is more often said about ...

What is the difference between katana and shinai cutting? 
How can you do kendo that is like cutting with a katana? Why is the katana blade curved?

Answer: Basically, we have to pull katana to cut. Of course ...

Strong kiai training 
There is such exercise when we strike. For example, 3 men in one breathing without intermediate breath.

If I try to shout louder and stronger, I am ...

Training dummy for kendo 
Has anyone made a training dummy for kendo practise at home. I thought of using a medicine ball for men strikes. With a few free minutes at work I thought ...

Tactics Against Nitto-ryu and Jodan 
What is the most effective tactics in shiai against nitto-ryu and jodan kendokas?

These types of kamae are rarely used so there is almost zero-level ...

reasons why the left hand is more important in kendo 
Explain why the left hand is more important in kendo.

How do I know if my suburi is becoming right handed? 
How do I know if my suburi is becoming right handed?

Answer: It is very hard to explain by writing but I’ll try. There are some tendencies that our ...

Red Strings Tied Around New Shinai? 
I noticed that there are red threads tied in two places around the shinai. Are these strings necessary?

I did not see them on the shinai in some of ...

How to develop a good kiai? 
I have lots of problem with my kiai. Not only I feel they sound funny, but also each time after practice I have sore throat and my voice is not normal ...

This website is for beginners 
Why is this website for beginners?

Answer: That is because it is very important especially for beginners to know the basics of kendō .

How do you train your zanshin? 
Is there a way to train your zanshin?

Answer: That is a very interesting question. Let's think about what zanshin is.

Zanshin has two aspects; one ...

How effective is kendo? 
Is kendo actually effective in a real sword fight?

Answer: To be honest with you, I don't know. I've never been in such a situation and I do not ...

Is double-handed force increased if mastered in single-handed form? 
I have thought if someone had trained himself using a shinai in their main hand (or writing hand) and they trained their other hand for defence (using ...

Validity of Cuts Without Going Forwards or Backwards 
Is a strike valid if I cut without stepping forward? Example, an opponent steps forward and attacks my men, but missed. Then I hit his men but did not ...

Styles of Kendo: Origin/Style Traceable Through Manners? 
According to our sensei, a particular style of kendo could be traced to its origin depending on the way how the bogu is set on the dojo floor and the initial ...

What is yakusoku geiko? 
What is yakusoku geiko? When should I use this term?

What is the difference between yakusoku geiko and "onaji no waza uchikomi geiko" a term I read ...

beaten after asking a question  


Hello, I just started learning kendo and I went to a seminar with my group, we were practicing and I was experiencing many difficulties since I am ...

what dan must i be to open my own school for kendo 
How can I open my own school for kendo? Because I'm going into the army to have the cash for it.

Kendo-Guide.Com: Thank you for your question. To ...

The Japanese Don't Like It When Westerners Ask About Samurai? 
A friend of mine was on a Japanese forum and asked a Japanese guy something about Samurai. That person responded rudely to him.

Based off of that ...

An Academic interest.  Not rated yet
An Academic interest.

I don't practice kendo personally, mostly because the closest place to learn is a 2 hour drive away. However I do have a large ...

What is the Engilsh translation of the things we say when we bow in/out?  Not rated yet
What is the English translation of the things we say when we bow in/out?

I've been doing kendo for a few years now, but I still can't recall or I just ...

Bogu Simulation  Not rated yet
Dear Imafuji Sensei,

Greetings!

First of all I would like to thank you for creating such a wonderful website about kendo! I have learned a lot and ...

weight lifting and kendo  Not rated yet
I have been doing Kendo for the last 7 years, I hold a Jodan degree (you mean, shodan (1st degree)?) and I love this Martial Art. Before I used to go to ...

Is kendo tough?  Not rated yet
Since I was 15 I have been interested in kendo and wanted to learn the history of it. I am now 19 years old and I have a feeling that the class is going ...

Kendo and Kumdo  Not rated yet
What's the difference between Japanese Kendo and Korean kendo school Kumdo.

I have heard different opinions on this matter. I know that the athletes ...

what are the skills needed to play kendo?  Not rated yet
What types of skills are needed to play kendo?

Answer: Thank you for your question. This is a very hard question. You do not need any specific skills ...

How can I prepare to the tournament  Not rated yet
If I have a half of month before the tournament is there a way to prepare during this 2 weeks? It is a short period so I won't be able to learn something ...

Attitude to tournaments  Not rated yet
I have noticed that before (may be a week before) any tournament I feel nervous. I tried to define the reason. And the main reason probably is "not to ...

Payment information  Not rated yet
I am interested to buy the entire "pack" of videos, but checking the titles of lessons, I noticed that in Sotai Dosa, some lessons do not have their correspondent ...

How to prevent bogu odour?  Not rated yet
I'm about to buy my first set of bogu and I'm quite worried about the odour since some seniors have really smelly bogu.

I have heard all sorts of advices,...

Different stances in kendo  Not rated yet
I would like to ask you about the stances in kendo. What stances are used in kendo and what is the main difference between them?

I'm new in kendo. Actually ...

starting kendo  Not rated yet
Is it OK to practice kendo by yourself or is it better to find a dojo and start there because there are no kendo dojos close to where I live?

Answer:...

bowing question  Not rated yet
We recently started practicing kendo at a dojo (judo/tae kwon do) with a raised mat/wooden floor area. I bow when I enter the dojo, but should I also bow ...

How do I get started?   Not rated yet
I recently came across your ebook and was amazed and at the same time...somewhat ashamed.

I found that I was not even close to practicing kendo properly....

Hiki Waza  Not rated yet
How do I train myself to go backwards faster when doing hiki waza because in a recent club shiai I hit a really nice hiki kote but didn't move back fast ...

Snapping (left) achilles tendon  Not rated yet
"Snapping (left) Achilles tendon. Since the left leg is used to kick the floor to jump forwards, snapping the left Achilles tendon is a common kendo injury....

Is my Sensei rude?  Not rated yet
Is it rude for a sensei to strike you in the back of the head as you are following through with a strike?  He does this sometimes, and never really explains ...

Jodan Etiquette: What to say when you take Jodan  Not rated yet
I have a question regarding etiquette in ken dō when taking jōdan .

But before that, allow me to talk a little bit about my belief. I ...

Bad Habit  Not rated yet
When I cut men I sometimes twist to the right. I do not realise I am doing this so how can I remedy this bad habit?

Kendo-Guide.Com:  Thank you ...

Suburi in Seiza  Not rated yet
I want to continue my Kendo training, but can't start classes at this moment.  I want to get a head start by practicing suburi at home. 

I want to ...

Moment of Striking  Not rated yet
This question was asked before, but when do you know it's time to strike? I suddenly had this question when i watched this certain youtube video .

Answer ...

How to prepare for 1st dan Examination for both kata and keiko?  Not rated yet
How to prepare for 1st dan Examination for both kata and keiko?

I'm taking my 1st dan examination this March and I would like to know the right preparation ...

What is the meaning of hassei?  Not rated yet
I encountered the term hassei and found few explanations. What does hassei really mean?

Answer: Thank you for your post.

Hassei is not a kendo ...

Did I do something rude (or what would be the most polite course of action?)  Not rated yet
In my dojo in the Philippines, everyone comes early to clean the floor before training, and then those who have been doing kendo for over a year practice ...

how do you win in a kendo match?  Not rated yet
I'm am just now learning kendo from your website, and heard kendo counts as a sport. How do you win?

Answer: Thank you for your post. Kendo has tournament ...

Challenge  Not rated yet
Is there a proper way to challenge someone to a sparring match?

Answer: Thank you for your post and sorry for the delay of my reply.

If a person ...

Are karate and kendo compatible?   Not rated yet
I've been practicing karate for the last 25 years. I've started kendo almost 2 years ago, but I have a really hard time in ji-geiko: I have a natural tendency ...

rudeness in kendo training  Not rated yet
I sometimes have to take charge in our kendo training when our sensei is busy because I'm highest ranking senior in our dojo.

The problem is when I ...

What team is winning  Not rated yet
I have visited one local kendo tournament and they had a problem of defining a winner in team competitions.

Here it is: 3 teams competed in final pool....

history of kendo?  Not rated yet

What is kendo?
When did it appear?
What material do we use for kendo?
What is kendō (bamboo fencing)?

Answer:  Thank you for ...

Hachimaki  Not rated yet
Some kendoists have long hair and some haircuts can be messy (e.g. long bangs etc.) so as a result hair gets into eyes.

At one seminar during training ...

Feet position when doing sageto  Not rated yet
When doing sageto from chudan no kamae do we move our right foot backward or our left foot forward (to have feet in shizentai position)?

Answer: Thanks ...

Measurements for kendo uniform  Not rated yet
I am taking off to Japan to visit a friend for the month of January. While I am there I am going to start taking beginner kendo classes.


My friend ...

Why fumikomi-ashi in Kendo?  Not rated yet
I just posted the thread "Historical origin of Fumikomi-ashi" in the Kendo World magazine forum (You must be registered to read it), where ...

Tameshigiri  Not rated yet
Is tameshigiri practiced in modern kendo?

Thanks
Dave Wood

Kendo-Guide.Com: Thank you for your comment. Not officially. It's all up to individual ...

Shinsa question  Not rated yet
I'll prepare myself for nidan shinsa in few months, and I would like to know something.

If the opponent always attacks me, what should I do? I mean,...

Timing  Not rated yet

What exactly is good timing. I have always been awkward in my practices in kendo. I think it is my timing. So what exactly is good timing?
[Answer:...

Why not to do hiki waza in jigeiko with high ranked sensei  Not rated yet
At a seminar with 8-dan sensei I heard one thing from other kendoka: during jigeiko with sensei do not do hiki waza unless he tells you to do hiki.

I ...

What would be the translation for Musashi's "Five Approaches" in the Book of Water section of his Book of Five Rings?  Not rated yet
I am very new to Kendo, and I am still trying to understand/contemplate the meanings in Musashi's teachings (which really led me to Kendo in the beginning)...

Rude or Not Rude: some etiquette and manners  Not rated yet
I've got some questions about manners and etiquette in dojo. Here they are.

1. When we have "a little talk from a sensei (or instructor) during line-...

Metal shinai?  Not rated yet
A shodan (Not my teacher, I’m new to this) showed me a metal shinai, and I'm wondering if it's used in normal kendo.

Answer: No. Unless your friend ...

What shinai do you recomend for beginners?  Not rated yet
You say "an ordinary shinai" but can you give some examples? Maybe links to some from you recommend from online shops? Thanks.

Answer: Usually they ...

Diffused opinion about carbon shinai maintenance   Not rated yet
I meet a lot of people who think that carbon shinai users don't pay enough attention to condition of their shinais. They also think that carbon shinai ...

Different types of shinai  Not rated yet
In some on-line shops of kendo equipment in Shinai section all shinais are sorted by types: Kotō, Dōbari, Big grip, Jissen.

Can you please ...

Shoulder injury  Not rated yet
I am having trouble with curing a so called injury at my AC-joint.

The pain is getting less but to my opinion it could be a very common kendo-injury....

The Oldest Kendo Master  Not rated yet
Who is the oldest known kendo master? What era did he live in and later die in? I do not mean disrespect in any way.

Answer: There are two old ...

Bowing ettiquette  Not rated yet
My Dojo has an 8-d an from Japan visiting for the next three months. How often should I bow to him during the course of class?

If he is engaged in ...

Kizeme  Not rated yet
I heard that ki-zeme is some form of highest seme in kendo. So, what exactly is it?

Answer : It is the most difficult seme in kendo . Ki of ...

sempai kohai relationships  Not rated yet

My question is about sempai-kohai relationships.

Can you explain what makes someone sempai? For being a sempai what do you look at if the grades ...

Requirements for kendo  Not rated yet
Do you have to have been doing a martial art to start doing kendo ?

Kendo-Guide.Com: Not at all. It does not matter if you have experience in other ...

Who participated in kendo in the Edo period?  Not rated yet
In the Edo period, who in the social order could participate in kendo ?

Answer: The Edo period lasted more than 200 years so I guess the samurai ...

Different types of kiai  Not rated yet
*This is not about kiai for targets ( men , kote , do , tsuki )

I have heard a lot of different kiai . I mean some people shout something like ...

Is it normal to have the bars that go across my head on my men?  Not rated yet
I’m a newbie to kendo and my sensei let me use a club bogu. When I put my men on, there always seems to be one of the bars from the men going through ...

What exactly is kusarigamajutsu?  Not rated yet
I have seen many people using kusarigamas. I was wondering if they wear the same kendo bogus as kendokas do during sparring. Is it possible?

[Answer:...

Tsuka is loose. What can I do about it?  Not rated yet
My tsuka slides in my left hand when I do tenouchi. It's the same with my newest shinai (1 year of practice with it)

Do you know something for that ...

How to put hakama on   Not rated yet
Can you give us details on how to properly put on a hakama? Thanks in advance!

Kendo-Guide.Com: There is a similar question here . If you need more ...

Shinai Length  Not rated yet
I recently purchased a Shinai online. The store said it was 46 inches in total. On this website, on the section about the Shinai lengths, is it the total ...

Been defeated in kendo  Not rated yet
Have you ever feel defeated by your student even they didn't took IPPON from you?

Answer: Of course. All the time. There are some phases in kendo....

How do you do "DO" strikes?  Not rated yet
In our dojo, we have a visiting sensei from Japan. He told us that a better way to do "DO" strikes is to slide the left hand up to the right hand as we ...

Kiai sound ?  Not rated yet
I don't know how to explain it, but I didn't find yet my "kiai sound".
I try few things, but I always say "meeee atttaa" on men, and ...

Footwork When Receiving Kirikaeshi  Not rated yet
I'm wondering if I could do okuri ashi in kirikaeshi when I’m motodachi.

If not, and if I must do ayumi ashi, is there a method for walk?
I mean, move ...

Problem with first Men  Not rated yet
Problem with my new men

I have a problem with my new men. Last year I bought my first men. I gave the exact measures. The chin and forehead fit ok, but ...

How exactly should I grip my full size katana bokken?  Not rated yet
I was wondering, how I should grip my full size Katana Bokken/Bokuto? I have tried a thumbs up grip and a loose fist grip with my thumb wrapped so it only ...

Two Handed Tsuki and One Handed Tsuki  Not rated yet
One month ago, I started to practice tsuki. But, I practice the two handed tsuki. Is it allowed to do two handed tsuki in shiai? Which one is better, two ...

What makes kendo unique among other martial art sports?  Not rated yet
What makes kendo unique among other martial art sports?

Every martial art sports like aikido and judo promotes self-defence and physical well being....

Is wearing white bogu allowed during grading?  Not rated yet
Last time, I asked my 1st-Kyu instructor whether or not a white bogu is allowed to wear during grading. He said, “Yes”. However, I'm still unsatisfied ...

What is Debana Kote?  Not rated yet
What is the meaning of " Debana Kote"? And when can we use this movement?

Answer: Debana means “a moment something/someone is just about to come ...

Haya Suburi footwork  Not rated yet
I trained in another dojo in another country during my winter break and I have found some ambiguity in the footwork of haya suburi.

My dojo taught us ...

How to practice and gain more knowledge about kendo without a sensei in your country?  Not rated yet
If no sensei or a kendoist who is an expert in kendo, how can we train kendo and earn more knowledge about kendo? Any ideas?

Answer: Make sure that ...

How to overcome my nervousness when I start shiai?  Not rated yet
Even though I have been doing kendo since 2006, I still haven't figured out how to overcome my nervousness in shiai. I started owning a bogu this year ...

Seiza and Mokuso Manners  Not rated yet
Question: As other kendo-ka are putting on bogu, do we look straight ahead or tilt our head and eyes down? I've seen it done both ways and don't know ...

Balance in Footwork  Not rated yet
A major problem I have been having is I lose my balance often while doing basic footwork (okuri-ashi, etc.) The result is that instead of travelling in ...

Cutting properly  Not rated yet
When cutting do I push the sword outward and forward with my right hand while swinging with the wrist of the left hand, or do I just let the left hand ...

Right-Handed Kendo  Not rated yet
What do you mean by you Kendo becoming right-handed?
What is the problem with right-handed Kendo?
How can I avoid it?


Answer: It means your right ...

Shinai lengths  Not rated yet
I was just wondering about the regulations of the shinais...I have a feeling the 37 shinai is slightly too long for me...(college+ category) is it permissible ...

Reach Disadvantage: Sizing Opponents  Not rated yet
I'm only 5'6" and when facing an opponent 6'1" I think I would have a reach disadvantage. I love Kendo and I'm still just working on the basics but what ...

Making a shinai from scratch:
From growing bamboo  Not rated yet
Has anyone tried to grow bamboo to harvest their own Shinai? If they have, can they give complete details?

There is a video in Japanese "The complete ...

Shinai, Bokken, and Suburito: What should I use each for?  Not rated yet
I have a Shinai, Bokken, and Suburito, but I only use my shinai for practice, because I figured that students should only be using Shinai. I read that ...