The importance of a good kiai

I have mentioned before that one of the things I am trying to work on this year is my zanshin. This is easy to say – it can be more difficult to maintain, particularly when it is very hot or humid! Showing fighting spirit, and that your fighting spirit does not relax until the very end of a cut or action, has an important place. I did not understand how important until last night at training.

In working on zanshin I also worked on my energy in jigeiko or in kirikaeshi or in whatever drill we happened to be practicising. It immediately paid off. My opponent sensed it. I sensed it. My kendo felt good. One thing that helped, I think, was having a good kiai. At the points where my kiai was at its loudest and most energetic, I sometimes found my opponent taken aback allowing an opening to be made and a successful strike to be executed. At the very least, there was better kendo.

The only frustrating thing for me was the couple of occasions where my right hand took over. After jigeiko with one senior member of the club, she turned to me and said: “Watch your right hand”. I knew exactly what she meant. There were a couple of men cuts that skewed off target. It was annoying because had my right hand not taken control, I would have made some rather decent hits.

Two lessons then:

1. Good kiai and zanshin definitely have a place in leading to good kendo.
2. Watch the right hand. Make sure it does not spoil one’s accuracy and style. Its not a bad habit yet…

~ by timothyscott on 26 February, 2009.