Seme and San Sappo - An older perspective

Learning the art of pressuring your opponent is one of the biggest challenges in Kendo. It is also the one variable that can continuously change from match to match, depending on your opponents style or training.  A shoshinsha or a beginner would have difficulty in pressuring their opponent except through the rapid succession of techniques. 

By encouraging beginners to do so, it allows for them to understand the basis of pressuring their opponents. Keeping in mind that the opponents are of similar skill level, continual striking will allow the kenshi the time to develop the ability to recognize openings (suki), work on waza timing, and develop stamina for prolonged matches. Once a beginner starts to develop their own style through basic training with sensei and senpai and numerous matches with their peers, an introduction to a more difficult concept can be "introduced" slowly.

I say slowly because it takes time and "patience" to even grasp a fraction of the depth of seme or san satsu or more commonly known as san sappo (三殺法), or literally translated as the three kills law. It is easy for an instructor to explain the philosophy verbally but very difficult to get kenshi to understand as it is a concept they must comprehend and incorporate into their own style. They must also have the ability to be flexible to adjust to opponents and recognize different forms of seme.

Law 1 - 剣を殺す - Kill the sword.

Law 2 - 技を殺す - Kill the technique 

Law 3 - 気を殺す - Kill (your opponent's) spirit

I'll be honest... When I began my training as a child I had no concept or understanding of san sappo. As most children, I was taught instinctively, by repetitive drills, until san sappo was honed entirely by my action and reaction during weekly keiko and matches. I had no appreciation for the subtleties or the depth of pressuring my opponent. To me it was virtually a game to see how I can get my opponent to move, drop his or her shinai, or get them to back down. The best part of this game was killing my opponent's timing. Finding ways to beat them to the punch or learning ways to make their techniques ineffective. Even at a young age, I could tell it was frustrating for my opponents.

I really didn't start to develop my own style of san sappo until I achieved yudansha status in Goju Ryu Karate. As many may know, kumite or sparring is a big part of Karate training but what most don't know is that ideals such as san sappo, zanshin, and shin gi tai, are explored more deeply in the practice of Karate kata. Furthermore, in Goju Ryu, kata bunkai or application has tremendous depth where waza can be analyzed (kakushi waza - hidden techniques) on multiple levels which is distinctly different than Kendo kata, where the basic kihon is the focus.

This is where I find the beauty in Kendo... Strictly in its simplicity. Four basic targets and your opponent, both on equal footing, equipped with only your shinai and your spirit. Every match may have a different outcome but may be equally fulfilling regardless if you win or lose your bout.

What is so important to my training today is that I better understand the concepts of Kendo through my maturity. Winning at all cost is no longer the main objective of my training. This simple realization has opened a whole new world to explore, especially when focused with an opponent and allowing my instincts to take over. My seme is no longer fueled by the wanting or desire to win, it is more methodical to better understand my opponent. Do I pressure with "Ki" or do I focus on speed? Does his or her kamae limit certain strikes or their effectiveness?... are questions that are no longer pondered when in the actual match and more deliberated in my head once the match is over.

They say in Kendo there are five different mind sets that one must master. First is the beginner's mind. Next is the lingering mind, a level where you begin to understand and have a grasp on zanshin. Following is null mind or mushin, which is where your training instinct takes over. The final two are levels I am too far removed from to even discuss, fudoshin-immovable mind and senshin-purified mind. I only bring this up because your seme and how you follow the three kill laws will differ from level to level. In my humble opinion it will also differ from your philosophy of Kendo as well.

As I grow older and gain a better understanding of the martial spirit, I find myself reinventing my Kendo ever so often. These realizations allow me to question my own philosophy, which in turn may change my strategy. The humbling notion is that everything points back to kihon which allows me to break down my style and build it up again. This process also refines on how I follow san sappo and how I choose to pressure my opponents.

Always a work in progress,

Kay

Yuko Datotsu Waza: Remembering how to strike!

Every practitioner has issues of figuring out what is an acceptable strike and what is not. Yuko datotsu waza is essential in Kendo and the only way you can get better is through practicing kihon through uchikomi practice. This is where understanding Ki ken tai ichi - as form/waza, posture, kiai, and zanshin must come together as one, to strike a selected target - one of the most difficult but yet gives Kendo its subtle beauty of being able call your shots.

Well in my absence it appears that I have forgotten how to strike correctly. Regardless I find myself thrown into bogu and attempting to score yuko datotsu waza against kenshi that are at least ten years my junior and have been practicing twice a week for the past five to six years.

The funny thing is, in the past, I would be crying and complaining about my situation. Through my life experience, I've learned that its not about other people... It's more about me... Meaning that I need to learn how to manage my own Kendo, "own it" so to speak, and challenge them as I challenge myself to evolve and gain my ability back.

Luckily I have been working with a good group of members at Covina Kendo Dojo, who have allowed me to practice with them as they prepare for the upcoming Nisei Week Team tournament.

While I know they are practicing hard on situational Kendo, against various levels of difficulty, mudansha and yudansha, they continue to strive to do the same... They aim to be able to strike that yuko datotsu waza.

While only being back a month, I know that I have to build my skill set again. Every week I continue to practice, footwork and timing continue to improve, especially when striking men. I believe that kihon dictates how you should develop naturally. That is one aspect of Japanese and Okinawan martial arts that I love. Nothing is forced. Your development is either reinforced by repetition so that you learn with your body or technique is fostered through application. In my case, focused uchikomi practice and suburi have allowed me to redevelop my kendo faster as my body just needed to just reclaim form. I don't want to sound cliche but it's like riding a bike.

Far from perfect, with my men strike or ai-men timing coming back, it has kept my opponents second guessing my techniques. While I haven't been able to take advantage of the said openings, such as, de-kote or my do strike, I feel optimistic that they will slowly return as I continue to work on form, waza, and my zanshin.

So with that said, I want to wish the Covina Kendo Nisei Week Team good luck this coming weekend... Leave it all out on the floor!

Gambatte!

 

Kendo Bogu: 5 years later - Your equipment = Your Life

To my surprise, my keiko-gi, hakama, and bogu did pretty well sitting in my garage for the past five years. I did find some crickets who made their home in my kote as well as the white streaks in my men because I didn't properly wash it before I stowed it away under the piles of dust and all ancillary bachelor gear that gets thrown out into the garage by your better half after marriage.  This included my old video game consoles, my Japanese manga collection, all my old Karate training equipment, and most of my Airsoft and Paintball gear that I was able to salvage from my parents house and storage.

My shinai were the only things that were spared from the dust balls and the makkuro kurosukke that reside in garage. I convinced my wife that those needed to stay in the house for protection reasons. I don't think there's ever been a Sakaue male who didn't have a shinai/bokuto, a golf club, or some sort of a long blunt object in the house readily available for any unsuspecting intruders. Luckily, none of us have had to fend off any unwanted guests from the house unless it was a skunk, raccoon, or some other pesky critter.

During my years practicing Karate I've managed to injure my hands on numerous occasions. One notably the tendon in my left hand that's connected to my pinky finger. This was a blow for me when I returned to Kendo as I noticed my grip wasn't what it used to be. Due to this a few years ago I switched to a dobari styled large grip shinai after getting some really good advice from my kohai. (Just so everyone knows all the kohai that I keep in touch with are all sensei level kenshi now. This is a unique aspect to the senpai/kohai relationship that I will save for another blog entry)

Compared to the traditional "bulk" shinai that you can purchase from any kendo bogu-ya, such as my favorite Mazkiya (my kohai and his family run this business so I'm kinda partial), or your dojo, the circumference of your shinai grip or tsuka can range in the low to mid 20 millimeters.  Due to my condition, I've been utilizing a grip that runs in the high 20 millimeters and currently utilizing a grip that is 30 millimeters.

I encourage all advanced level mudansha (non-black belt), especially those who are in the 3 kyu to 1 kyu range to start try different styles of shinai. I also encourage to start asking questions of your senpai for any advise about how they manage their bogu or gear.  This is another aspect of Kendo that you are going to have get to know as you move into the Yudansha level (black belt equivalent).

Even though my father was a Karate sensei, he reminded me when I told him that I was going to return to Kendo... "Even Miyamoto Musashi explored different types of katana. Remember that he used a long bokuto, a boat oar he carved, to defeat Sasaki Kojiro." While the story of Miyamoto Musashi is legend, a kenshi must find his own path.  This includes not accepting what is readily available but finding out what equipment works for their style of Kendo.

Luckily in Southern California, we have access to many options for Kendo gear.  As aforementioned Mazkiya and not to mention eBogu. Both have a great selection and are used widely among kenshi on the west coast. If you are a bargain hunter, sometimes they have a buy one shinai get 50% off the next or sometimes even a buy one get one free deal! Great deals for those who have an expensive taste for handmade or smoked bamboo shinai.

I am amazed how many options we have now. The younger generation of kenshi are so lucky in my eyes!

Kendo: Restarting My Journey - 37 years old and grasping the courage to travel down the path of the sword

It was not until I picked up my shinai for the first time in 5 years that I realized that time really does fly. In late 2006, through the encouragement of my senpai, I ended a 16 year permanent hiatus to see if I still had what it took to be an effective kenshi. Getting married in 2009 and with my son being born in 2011, life events slowed down my progress and eventually I stopped training Kendo so that I could focus on my primary martial art, Goju Ryu Karate, which I have been training in since 1990.

One martial art was demanding. As any practitioner knows, training demands time and time away from home and family. Multiply that by two, being newlywed, and having an infant toddler was much more than my wife was willing to put up with.

As you know, "happy wife, happy life..." which I truly believe in today, was a life decision that supported my decision to separate from the path of the sword. However, as fate has it, my wife, South Korean by birth, realized that she wanted my son, Nathan (now 3 years old), to learn Kumdo as it was something that both the Japanese and Korean cultures had in common. She liked the fact that it focused on etiquette and that it could be a great conduit to connect to both cultures as there are both great Korean and Japanese Kendo senseis in Southern California.

I started my Kendo journey when I was 6 years old. Learned my basics from a lot of old traditional practitioners who immigrated from Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan. I've always been a member of the SCKF, Southern California Kendo Federation, as I was connected by family to the ESGVJCC, the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, located in West Covina, California. It was there I took my first lessons and have the fondest memories of working out with some of  SCKF's greats. Senseis Akio Hara, both Yamaguchi Senseis, Masaharu Makino Sensei, eventually being trained by Katsuo Chinen Sensei, who now resides at Gedatsu Dojo, and my uncle, Masataka Sakaue.

These senseis also trained many memorable kenshi such as Adam Isamu Nakawatase and Gary Taguchi, who were key members of the USA men's team for the fifth, sixth and seventh World Kendo Championships, where in Seoul, Korea, Nakawatase earned the Kantosho award.

In recent times, key kenshi, now who are exploring their own paths, such as, Katsumi Chinen Sensei (Shofukan Dojo - San Diego), Katsushi Chinen Sensei (Gedatsu, USA Men's Team - 12th WKC), Fumihide Itokazu (SCI, USC, USA Men's Team - 12th & 13th WKC), and Steven Okada Sensei (Venice), Hideto Kinjo (Covina), George Owaki (Covina), are paving ways for the new generations of kenshi to come.

I think that anyone would agree that making the decision to continue my training and on top of that being completely embraced by the legacy built by the practitioners before me is a bit overwhelming. However, just being a part of it, peeling the huge blister off of my left foot, hearing the kiai, working out with other kenshi, having to deal with the musky "Kendo" smell that only kenshi understand, the streaks of dark blue dye on my body and on the floor, my bogu falling apart, etc... just brought smile to my face and it just felt good being practicing again.

Don't get me wrong. After a five year break, I can't breathe, my feet won't move, my shinai won't react to how fast my mind moves, and I don't recover as fast as I used to... but it reminds me to slow down and focus on what is important.

Kihon

Suri Ashi (foot movement)

Ashi Sabaki (foot work)

Issoku Itto

Ki Ken Tai Ichi

Waza

Zanshin

Again... still very overwhelming. Only thing I can do is to continue to train day by day, week by week and incorporate what I have learned from my Karate training, especially mental discipline.

I am grateful that I continue to learn from words of Kendo greats, that I picked up during my journey prior. They are words that I continue to reflect upon as I continue my journey forward:

剣道は打たずに打たれなさい

In Kendo, be struck without striking　

受けずに打たれなさい

Be struck without waiting to receive a strike

避けずに打たれなさい

Be struck without avoiding

力を抜いて柔らかく

Be gentle and release your strength

相手と仲良く穏やか(odayaka)に

Be unassertive and yielding while building a good relationship with your partner

姿勢は美しく,容顔 (yogan)を解き,残心を

Let your zanshin (situational awareness) linger and persist while reading your opponent and maintaining a beautiful posture

- Words passed down to Tsuyoshi Niibori Sensei, 8 Dan Hanshi -

- Student of Moriji Mochida -

I've been studying the words above very diligently after my decision to return to Kendo. I believe that every kenshi will take away something different from the words passed down through Niibori Sensei and encourage those who have never read this to ponder its meaning. I'm sure that the meaning will change as you mature with your own training.

Kendo... yoroshiku onegaishimasu.  Have mercy on an old soul continuing on his travels.