Can you please tell me what is considered "GOOD ZANSHIN" for different jōdannokamae techniques?
For example :
Zanshin for katate (one-handed) men: Is it better to pass through the opponent for any of the sides or to crash him as going forward? Or doing some kind of mawari movement without losing opponent's sight?
Zanshin for Katate Kote: Is it better to just hit the kote and stay in Zanshin while loud kiai or to move forward to the left?
I ask because I want to seriously take jōdan no kamae and I see a good improvement in my kendo and I'm doing well with this kamae, also the only instructors here for jōdan tell me some different things and wanted to know your opinions.
Thanks
PS: Sorry for my poor English.
Answer: Don’t worry about your English. I am not a native English speaker either.
Now if you can properly take zanshin in chūdan, you should not worry about zanshin in jōdan as well.
You must strike towards your opponent. You can pass through only when your opponent gives way, which is rare to happen in jigeiko or shiai.
Zanshin is to be prepared for the next occurrence, either your attack or your opponent’s. So as long as you are taking zanshin (prepared) mentally and physically, that should be good. Please watch a video below.
The guy in jōdan is Mr. Shōdai who won the All Japan Kendo Championships in 2008.
He executes a kote around 0:21. As soon as he knew he did not get the kote, he prepared for a counterattack from his opponent and also he fixed his posture so that he could be ready to execute his strike.
Soon after that, he executes a katatemen. He passed through. It is because his opponent struck his hidari (left) kote and moved slightly to his right.
This is another one. Around 0:44, he executes a katatemen. See how he passes through and turns around?
He passes through because, again, his opponent strikes the hidarikote of Mr. Shōdai and moves slightly to his right.
Here I found a video of a great jōdansensei. You can see how he takes his zanshin.
I watched all videos concerning jodan available on the internet and I'm still rechecking them day by day so I'm good with that.
The problem is that other people don't and they are sometimes not aware about some things that are considered valid or not ( e.g.: Some gyaku do (left do) ippons awarded at the Kendo Police Championships , Some sei do (right do) releasing the hand , etc etc etc ) .
I will follow your advice, thank you so much but this sometimes makes me a little sad.
Kendo-Guide.Com: Did I make you sad? Sorry. Have a y?k?-datotsu (valid cut) study day or something. Get together and watch a video/DVD. It will really help everyone.
Nov 20, 2009 Rating
How do I convince them? by: Gabriel
Sometimes I hear from my dojo mates that I should pass trough instead going towards them and crash into them.
Or sometimes during shiaigeiko (match practice) they tell me they don't know about zanshin of jodan and they don't count my katate techniques as a valid cut or ippon (sometimes).
This happened to me more than 5 times, especially when doing katatekote.
How do I tell them? : )
Kendo-Guide.Com: You can suggest that you all should watch videos of high level matches like All Japan Kendo Championships and World Kendo Championships.
You must study when they get points and when they don?t. Watch a lot of videos and study them.
When you have a chance to train with people with a high rank, ask them to teach you about jodan. You must be humble when you ask them.
Jodan is considered to be an advanced stance and many people do not take jodan without permission from the person they train with in even jigeiko (sparring).
Tell them that you are studying jodan and you want them to give you advice.
If they allow you to take jodan with them, then it is OK. If not, do not get upset. Do not take it personally.
You just have to accept that and do jigeiko with them in chudan.
