Kendo 4th & 5th - Dan Questions and Answers example
1. What are the important points for a kendo teacher to consider?
In Kendo training, teachers are in an important position. It is not too much to say that it is all up to teachers whether or not students develop their techniques and grow up mentally.
In Kendo there are many cases where teachers and students practice with each other by making direct physical contact.
Therefore, teachers’ personalities and techniques have a great effect on students.
The following is some basic knowledge that Kendo teachers are required to have.
① To teach with an ideological certain belief, passion, and sincerity
② To teach respecting students’ personalities and individualities
③ To cultivate themselves and make efforts to be trusted
④ To practice along with students and make efforts to improve their own skills
⑤ To seek effective and rational teaching, and study teaching methods that are easy for students to understand
⑥ To consider students’ health and safety
2 What do you keep in mind when you consider ‘the Concept of Kendo’ and how it applies to your life?
The following contents are used as a reference.
Candidates are advised to answer the question in terms of what they try to do in their kendo and daily lives in order to acquire meaning from kendo and cultivate their character.
3 Explain what ‘Shin-ki-ryoku-no-itchi’ means.
Shin refers to the mind or calm part of one’s mindset, and it is the ability to intuitively sense the opponent’s condition and movements and to make judgements based upon that. Ki appears as an outward action based upon the judgement of the mind (shin) and is the dynamic part of one’s mindset. Ryoku refers to the action of the body or of a waza. Shin-ki-ryoku-no-itchi is the teaching that when one intuitively perceives a stimulus from the opponent, all three elements must be expressed instantaneously in the form of a waza.
4 Explain the purpose of hikitate-keiko and describe what motodachi needs to keep in mind when teaching.
Teachers and seniors act as motodachi and let students and juniors strike (without showing that this was done intentionally) so that they can experience the pleasure of success and can learn to recognize opportunities to strike.
Focal points
① To let students attack with full spirit, without losing what they have learnt in basic and practical keiko.
② To help students not to be afraid of motodachi and have a more ‘even’ feeling with their opponent.
③ Let them realize that shodachi is important and also let them make each strike with full spirit
④ Let them consider maai, how to find and create opportunities, and what waza to use
⑤ Let them practice with many different motodachi without choosing only some particular teachers
5 Explain differences between ‘Uchikomi-geiko’ and ‘Kakari-geiko’
Uchikomi-geiko is a method of keiko in which one learns basic striking techniques by responding to striking chances provided by the motodachi. Kakari-geiko is a method of keiko in which one practices striking the motodachi in a short period of time with all one’s might, using all the waza one has learnt.
6 Itemize three important points of teaching Nippon Kendo Kata Tachi-no-Kata Sanbon-me and two important points of teaching Kodachi-no-Kata Nihon-me
Tachi-no-Kata Sanbon-me
① Teaching uchidachi not to have both hands go up but accurately deliver a horizontal tsuki to suigetsu (the solar plexus)
② Teaching shidachi not to thrust out the tip of bokuto after trusting back at the chest of uchidachi, but moving forward with kurai-zeme (closing in on the opponent without a waza but with their spirit).
③ Teaching shidachi to move backwards matching the timing of uchidachi’s move after moving forward with kuraizeme and raising the kensen to the centre of uchidachi’s face.
Kodachi-no-Kata Nihon-me
① Teaching uchidachi to shift from wakigamae position to left jodan correctly in one action and not to cut diagonally but to cut straight down
② Teaching shidachi not to get too close to uchidachi when showing zanshin.
7 Describe the necessities and effects of training Nippon Kendo Kata.
Nippon Kendo Kata was created by our predecessors with all their knowledge and developed to have historically significant contents relating to rational and mental aspects of kendo. It is of great significance, and it is also our mission to correctly inherit and pass it on to the next generation. By repeatedly practicing Nippon Kendo Kata, you can acquire the basic manners, techniques and rationalities of kendo. You can also learn the principles of kendo such as the inner workings of spirit and a sense of dignity. Thus, it is important to realise that Nippon Kendo Kata is the norm of kendo and train it on a daily basis.
8 What are important points to consider when acting as a referee.
【General Requirements】
① To be impartial
② To be able to correctly apply procedural rules for shiai and shinpan
③ To be well versed in the principles of the sword
④ To master shinpan skills
⑤ To be healthy (sound body) and energetic
【Points to note】
① Dignified attire
② To be exact in posture, manner, and conduct
③ To use clear language (speak clearly)
④ To acquire as much shinpan experience as possible by diligently studying and reflecting
⑤ To learn from example by watching good shinpan