[pkopwqzsdcvbn]

I suppose this should be both my introduction and a question.

First off, I just started Kendo, just 1 week in and enjoying it very very much. I am trying to learn as much as I can and see myself being into this for a very long time. The dojo attitude, cool sensei, basic fundamentals, precision, and flexibility really appeal to me. I must admit, I have been researching the topic intensely for the past couple of weeks, and picking up as much as I can. I know what to watch for (through forums, articles, and sensei notes), common folley's for beginners, etc. I have experience in some martial art: tae kwon do, chun kuk do, judo, and boxing - from both tournament guys and practical fighting guys.

However I am having a hard time concentrating on a single aspect when it comes to the dojo. I try to practice what I can without causing bad habits - etiquette, seating, very basic movement, counting, suburi, etc. But there is so much to take in so quickly. How have you singled out important aspects of training to get down pact? In past learning experiences it has been brought to me on a very slow level - but now it seems to be streaming by me at 100 mph. I pick up as much as I can, and take notes after practice. I watch the advanced class to see how they handle the new aspects that I just learned. But I still cannot do well enough to satisfy myself, even in the slightest. The sensei's and sempai's are outstanding - always offering feedback, but I just can't make my body do it all at once and I am concerned about developing bad habits through premature practice. Last notes I took lasted 3 pages of stuff to watch for, but it doesn't seem enough.

What have you all done to help yourself progress? How have you singled out single aspects to focus on, without developing bad practices in other aspects? What outside influences have you used to supplement your own learning? What excercises fit a newcomer? Should I stop doing so much research and watching the advanced class until I have the basics down? Should I ask the sensei about this? Should I be happy with the progress I get during class and just take it as that?

What is a good method to teach yourself to keep a straight left foot after advancing forward? How do you transfer weight back to 50/50 so quickly after stepping forward or rearward? Are there any good examples on a well executed do strike, I find this one hard to watch for semantics in others - and hard to execute consistently. Sensei keeps mentioning a "Wringing" motion near/at the end of the strike, but I do not understand what he is talking about - can anyone explain it?

Most importantly am I better off practicing with what I know now than waiting for class? Do I cause myself more harm by re-inforcing what I believe to be correct through practice than doing nothing at all?

Well I suppose I have asked enough questions for now, I thank anyone who responds.

- Lesh

[Rounteetepehryn]

dude, calm down, no one expects you to nail everything in years let alone one week

[tooratrack]

Sometimes doing martial arts can be like doing a puzzle. You have all these little bits, and the image of the whole picture, but it is difficult to put the pieces together. If you have been doing kendo for a week, don't put pressure on yourself upon doing anything right, because you won't be able to anyway, unless you are a genius. Just try to do what the instructor tell you, and watch other people as well. Taking notes are also good, even if the notes themselves might be confusing since the meaning of the concepts and the execution of the techniques aren't that clear.

What you can do at home, imho: Practice footwork. Preferably in front of a mirror. Also suburi, IF you know how to do it right (which you probably don't) but you can at least watch if there is any lateral or vertical bobbing motion of the head, that the back is straight, and that the feet work together with the cut.

The technical questions: The instructor will teach you how to do it, just be patient. The only advice I have, is that force and muscle tension will not help. Why I say that? Because I think that is what hinders progress the most among beginners. Speed comes through technique. Technique develops by allowing the body and mind the time to implement all the details into a whole. Doing it slow and correctly is the right way to go.

Good luck!

[aceriscoolon]

Lesh, I'm taking this in a completely different direction. I am starting my first kendo (along with iaido) lesson tomorrow (Sunday, June 12th), so I want to thank you for bringing these thoughts and questions to my attention. I've been doing the same thing as you (reading a lot about kendo, etc.) for the past week (that's how new to this I am).

Also, I want to say welcome to the KW Forums! I'm still rather new here myself, but a welcome is still a welcome, even from a fellow newbie. I hope you enjoy kendo more and more as you go.

Thank you again, and enjoy your stay! *bows*

[LarryRda]

Excellent points, I will make a stronger effort to relax (wow that sounds odd =] .) I suppose when I get into something I like to jump in head first, patience seems like it would be a better fit at this stage. For now I will take tantadi's advice and focus on footwork and posture.


Thank you

- Lesh

[Mambattedge]

I am concerned about developing bad habits through premature practice.

You "will" only learn by making mistakes, as in life. The secret lies in are you able to consistenly and constanly correct and better yourself through practice?

What have you all done to help yourself progress?

Simple, do your h/w. How do you make progress academically? Do your h/w and spend every ounce of your "spare" energey (if you have any to spare. while juggling life.) on thinking about what you can do to improve yourself.

Should I stop doing so much research and watching the advanced class until I have the basics down?

Yes, watching NBA basketball games isn't going to make you a better basketball player. Practice is what you need now.

good luck, i look forward to your progress

[WordofViagra]

As other people have said, relax. You've got a lifetime ahead of you to work on getting it right. For now, concentrate on what your sensei asks you to concentrate on. If he is telling you a lot of different stuff and you find it confusing, ask him what are the two most important things for you to work on, then work on those.

[Marat]

Excellent points, I will make a stronger effort to relax (wow that sounds odd =] .)
- Lesh

do some reading beside kendo...like zen bouddhism perhaps ?

just a thought.

[Unhappu]

Zen Buddhism won't help your kendo.

If you want to relax, just practice a lot!!

[Anakattawl]

Do not be afraid to play the student.

Allow yourself to be humble, and in a place of learning.

You will see more if you play your role, and not worry about the judgements of the others around you. Let them make their witness on you, for you teach them as much as they teach you.

Even a master can be as clueless as a boy.

So, this is all new for you, that's great. Just take things as they come to you and do the best you can.

[SkHukV3N]

one thing that i have found helpful to learn is to instead of take notes, keep a journal for kendo with diagrams, what you know, what you want to know and what you want to improve.


just a sugestion. it helps me

[DouseAuthott]

I'm doing kendo for about 4 months now and I do suburi at home.

It's important to know how to do this slow just like it has been metioned before speed will come later.

My sensei and sempai keep mentioning to do the technique correct and speed comes naturally then, if you try to do it the other way then your timing goes way off.

I have this really bad in kirikaeshi when I am making the backwards strikes but this will just take alot of practise.

Make sure you relax and just go with the flow.

It's alot of info right now but it's just as Neil-san just mentioned, you have a life time.

Welcome to the forum and I hope you'll enjoy kendo as much as we all do.

[Clunlippibe]

First off, ignore the advanced class! You are not advanced. You don't even know the basics.

Second, do less reading about keiko. Your sensei is there to teach you everything you need to know. Focus on what is taught, not what you read in books for this forum. Practice at home whatever you can remember.

As for other things, reading up on things like dojo etiquette, Japanese phrases and Japanese numbers is okay.

[MinisuipGaicai]

When I watch the advanced class I try to do so for specific goals relating to what was taught in class, attempting to see more the more experienced in action as it were.

It takes a lot of patience, but occasionally I can see good examples of why things are done, or how sensei or sempai execute something we went over in class. Most of it is just stuff I haven't seen before so I choose to pay it no heed if I cannot relate it to something I have been taught. It also gives me a relaxing environment to go over what happened in class without my usual distractions, but that could be remedied in other ways.

Does it make more sense, with those goals in mind, to continue watching?

As far as the reading, I haven't been looking into techniques or anything. Mostly history, others experiences, and equipment. Research into language, etiquette, and the organizations as well. I will admit that I also looked into common problems / mistakes.

I may have made a rather..... flustered first impression, because that was my feeling at the time, but I think I figured out some of the problems I was having by slowing everything down and thinking about them and sensei's teaching. Figuring them out really made my day =]

I will say this, attacking it from every angle at once sure didn't help - the advice to keep it simple and relax will be getting a great deal of use in my future.