GOALS FOR KENDO COMPLETE BEGINNERS

In kendo, coordination is key. Before putting on your bōgu, you must learn to coordinate your hands, feet, and strikes. But do not forget the importance of etiquette and appearance. Without these, you are not truly practising kendo.

To help you achieve your goals, here is what you should focus on before putting on your bōgu:

Haya Suburi

This is your first goal, and it is explained in detail on page 86 of the “Kendo Guide for Beginners”. Your sensei might call it chōyaku shōmen uchi, but it is the same movement under a different name.

If you master this technique, you will have mastered the basic suburi movements.

Kirikaeshi 

Kirikaeshi is a combination of shōmen uchi and sayū men, and it requires good coordination. Watch the “Different Kirikaeshi for Different Levels in Kendo” video to see how to perform this technique correctly.

Kirikaeshi is not just a warm-up exercise; it includes many of the important elements of kendo. Once you master it, your kendo will improve greatly.

Receiving Kirikaeshi: Benefits

When you learn to receive Kirikaeshi properly, you will be prepared to learn ōji waza, or counterattacks. Watch the “A Practical Way to Receive Kirikaeshi” video for more information.

These two techniques, Haya Suburi and Kirikaeshi, are your main goals before you begin wearing bōgu.

Ideally, you should be able to master them within three months, but it may take longer depending on your situation. Remember, it is not about speed. It is about learning the movements correctly.

Refine and Improve Your Basics

People often rush through the basics, but later they find themselves having to return to them because they skipped important steps.

Take your time and do not skip anything. No matter how far you progress in kendo, you will always revisit the basics.

Our goal is to continually refine and improve our basic techniques so that we can improve our applied skills.

Ready for the next step? Go to Kendo Etiquette and Manners.

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