Nanseikan Kendo Club 南西館剣道クラブ

Since we've been practicing this during second term, I thought it might be good to have it in writing too. Yuko datotsu means having everything correct in order to score a point in kendo. As you know, cutting in kendo involves more than just hitting. It is not enough to hit your opponent any old how. You must do it correctly. 1) You must use the correct part of the sword: the top one third, between the kensen (tip) and the nakayui. 2) You must hit the correct part of your opponent's armour. 3) You must use correct hasuji (angle of the blade). So you must cut only with the side of the shinai opposite the tsuru or string. 4) You must have full spirit and correct posture, showing ki-ken-tai-no-ichi. 5) You must show zanshin (following-through spirit). Yuko datotsu comes from what was required to use a real sword properly. This is why there are so many things to get right! b :)

http://www6.big.or.jp/%7Ebudogu/manu/topm.html This is a free manual for how to wear and look after you kendo equipment. It has great illustrations and a very clear (although somtimes a little Japlish!) text. Some of you will recognise parts of this manual. I have often given chapters to give to people who just received shinai or hakama and kendogi. Check it out! If you have a good connection, download it and print it out. b :D edit note: I made this a live link so now you can just click on the address to go there. Yay!

In case there comes a time when YOU have to be dojo steward, here is a list of the different commands they have to give. Listen out for them next time at training. At the beginning of training: Seiretsu! - line up! Chakuza! - be seated! Ki o tsuke! - take care! look alive! (literally "switch on!") Mokuso! - meditation! (eyes half closed, straight back, hands in a "mudra" or circle in your lap, no thinking, just breathing naturally) Yame! (or clap) - finish! Joseki ni rei! - bow to joseki! (calligraphy on wall which means "kendo") Sensei ni rei! - bow to sensei! (all say "onegaishimasu!") men tsuke! - put on men! (and kote) At the end of training: Seiretsu! Chakuza! Men tore! - take off men! (and kote) Ki o tsuke! Mokuso! Yame (or clap)! Sensei ni rei! Jo seki ni rei! Otagai ni rei! - bow to each other and say "d

Just a couple of group pics from the Ballarat trip last week. I'll post some of the action shots Isobel took soon. :)