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Build a More Connected, Powerful Kendo Strike with an 8-Dan Kyoshi
Makoto Sensei's Kendo Video Lessons
Advanced instruction for dedicated adult practitioners
Understand the Mechanics Behind a Strong, Connected Strike
Many experienced kendo practitioners understand what a valid strike should look like, yet their hands, body, and feet may still feel disconnected.
In these detailed video lessons, Makoto Sato Sensei—Kendo Kyoshi 8-dan—teaches the body mechanics behind a strong, efficient strike: grip, surikaburi, core awareness, footwork, and control of the center.
Designed for dedicated adult practitioners, especially those preparing for 4-dan through 7-dan, these lessons give you a clear method to practice, identify problems, and develop smoother, more connected movement.
An Effective Method to Improve at Kendo
How this video will help you
Integrate Mind, Sword, and Body
Learn how posture, intention, and technique work together so your movement is not merely physical, but purposeful and complete.
Build a Clear Path to Improvement
Use a structured method to identify problems, practise with purpose, and continue improving instead of repeating the same habits.
Deepen the Purpose Behind Your Practice
Understand the principles behind traditional kendo practice and strengthen both your technique and your approach to training.
Make Your Strikes Feel Connected
Learn why a strike can feel forced or disconnected, then improve the coordination of your shinai, core, footwork, and timing.
Move Smoothly at Any Age
Develop efficient, balanced movement that does not depend on speed or strength alone—especially valuable for adult practitioners.
Makoto Sato Sensei
Kendo Kyoshi 8-dan
Vice President, Osaka Kendo Federation
After earning 8-dan, Makoto Sato Sensei has guided many practitioners toward a deeper understanding of kendo. His teaching connects traditional principles with practical body mechanics, helping adult students develop purposeful, efficient movement. These video lessons make his detailed method available to practitioners outside Japan.
Contents
Principles of Striking
How to Hold a Shinai (Bamboo Sword)
What is the proper way to hold a Shinai?
The grip on the shinai is very important because it affects the stance, strike, and sharpness of impact. To improve, you need to revisit this foundation several times. You will learn the fundamentals of kendo—how to hold a shinai, how to move the body, and how to strike—in detail.
Surikaburi:
learn a single-motion striking
By acquiring the proper body movements, it is possible to consistently make powerful strikes. “Surikaburi” is the name of a method that makes this possible. Surikaburi has solved the problems of many kendo practitioners.
Strike with Surikaburi,
Focusing on the Core of Your Body
Your core supports your posture, and you can achieve a stable impact by becoming aware of your core. Stand up firmly and strike your target with the surikaburi method. By being aware of your core, which balances the body, you can achieve a more vigorous strike and acquire the correct kendo posture.
Bigger, Slower Strikes
Once you put your armor on, you may suddenly find yourself unable to do things you used to do without it. With your armor on, while utilizing the surikaburi method and being aware of your core, you will learn to execute big and slow strikes. Later, you will learn to make small, slow strikes.
Footwork:
Sharp strike leading with the right foot
Footwork is one of the important elements of kendo. It has even been said that you won’t improve as a kendo practitioner if you neglect footwork. With good footwork, you can execute a seme without breaking your posture. You will practice striking while paying special attention to footwork.
Single-Motion Strike
Accompanied by Footwork
You will learn how to move your body properly by paying attention to your footwork. I will explain a sequence of movements, starting with the right foot and paying attention to snapping up your left foot. By learning the optimal footwork, you can execute powerful strikes and thrusts.
Single-Motion Strike
Accompanied by Footwork 2:
Seme onto the Center Line (Seme on Five Seigan)
The most fundamental stance in kendo is called “chudan.” You have your right hand and right foot forward and grab your shinai with a two-handed stance. This stance is good for offense and defense. Your kensaki should point straight at your opponent, but your opponent's kensaki is away from the center of your body.
You will learn to create a situation where the kensaki of your opponent's shinai is moved away from the center of your body while you take the center of your opponent's body.
“Strengthen your mind and body, and grow as a person”
No matter how many people claim a product is good, of course, you won’t know until you experience it for yourself. However, there are very few courses where you can easily learn and understand the truth of kendo from a kendo 8-dan. Here it is. Sato Sensei will serve as your exclusive sensei, showing you each lesson in detail.
After you finish the video course, you will be able to experience kendo at a higher level and apply incredible new skills in training. That is how valuable these videos are.
A Clear Method for Purposeful Practice
Improvement becomes easier when you understand what to practise, why it matters, and how each part of the movement connects.
Makoto Sensei breaks complex kendo mechanics into clear, observable steps that you can return to during regular training. Watch the preview to experience his teaching approach, then use the guide below to choose the lesson that best fits your goals.
What Practitioners Say
“The videos are easy to understand, with clear explanations. After only a few days of practice, I felt I was improving—and a sensei at my dojo noticed the difference as well.”
— Anonymous course participant
“The English subtitles are clear, the videos are professionally produced, and the techniques are shown from different angles. The detailed instruction focuses on the fundamentals of kendo rather than tournament play.”
— Anonymous course participant
Which Lesson Should I Choose?
Choose Strike and Thrust in One Movement with Ki-Ken-Tai-Icchi if you want to rebuild your fundamental striking mechanics, improve surikaburi and footwork, and connect the shinai, body, and feet.
Choose Kendo High-Grade Examination: Four Practical Techniques if you are preparing for a higher-grade examination and want to improve seme, opportunity creation, and the practical execution of advanced techniques.
Both courses are taught by Makoto Sato Sensei, Kendo Kyoshi 8-dan, with clear demonstrations and English subtitles.
Choose the Lesson That Fits Your Kendo Goals
Two Advanced Video Courses from Makoto Sato Sensei
Strike and Thrust in One Movement with Ki-Ken-Tai-Icchi
Best for practitioners who want to rebuild the mechanics of their strike and better coordinate the shinai, body, and footwork.
Learn Makoto Sensei’s approach to surikaburi, core awareness, footwork, and center control so your movement becomes smoother, more connected, and more efficient.
Kendo High-Grade Examination: Four Practical Techniques
Best for experienced practitioners preparing for higher-grade examinations who want stronger seme and more effective technical execution.
Study four practical techniques with detailed instruction designed to help you understand when, why, and how to apply each movement under examination conditions.
What Practitioners Say
Feedback from Kendo Practitioners
Course Usefulness Ratings
Course Satisfaction Ratings
How These Lessons Helped Their Kendo
“The videos provide comprehensive instruction on how to practise kendo correctly. Makoto Sensei’s techniques brought freshness and new understanding to my practice. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from him.”
— Anonymous course participant
“As an adult learner, I found the surikaburi lessons especially helpful for understanding and visualizing ki-ken-tai-icchi.”
— Anonymous course participant
“Makoto Sensei explains why debana-waza is important at higher levels and demonstrates how to execute it. He also teaches advanced practitioners how to create an opportunity rather than simply react to an opening.”
— Anonymous course participant
“Where I live, there are no kendo dojos, so this instruction gives me access to legitimate kendo teaching. I practise for self-improvement and personal cultivation, and the lessons are helping me develop more efficient footwork and continue progressing as an adult practitioner.”
— Anonymous course participant
“I love the simple and direct teaching points. When you follow them correctly, they work.”
— Anonymous course participant
“Makoto Sensei’s surikaburi method taught me how to initiate movement with my right foot without immediately moving my left foot. It greatly improved my understanding and practice of seme-ashi.”
— Hiro Imafuji
Still Not Sure What You Can Learn?
Learn the Core Teachings of
Makoto Sensei's Kendo Lesson
How You’ll Receive Your Video Lesson
1. Select your lesson and complete your secure payment through PayPal.
2. After payment, you’ll be taken to a download page with instructions for accessing your lesson.
3. You’ll also receive an email containing the download information.
4. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder or contact us for assistance: Ask About Makoto Sensei’s Lessons
Questions before or after purchasing? Ask About Makoto Sensei’s Lessons We’ll be happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I access the lessons?
After payment through PayPal, you will be taken to a download page with access instructions. The same information will also be sent to you by email.
Do the videos include English subtitles?
Yes. The lessons are taught in Japanese and include clear English subtitles. Demonstrations are also shown visually and from different angles.
Can I purchase from outside the United States?
Yes. International practitioners can purchase through PayPal where PayPal service is available. PayPal will display the payment details and any currency conversion before you complete the purchase.
Are these lessons suitable for beginners?
The courses are designed primarily for dedicated adult practitioners, especially those working toward higher grades. Beginners can still benefit from the detailed instruction on grip, posture, striking mechanics, and footwork, but the high-grade examination course is best suited to experienced practitioners.
What if I need help before or after purchasing?
Please use the “Ask About Makoto Sensei’s Lessons” link above. Your question will come directly to our attention, and we will be happy to help.