Information

What is Kendo ?



Kendo means "way of the sword" and is the traditional martial art of Japanese fencing. Kendo players fence with flexible bamboo practise swords (shinai) using both the edge and point of the sword to hit targets on their opponent's armour. The four main targets are the top of the head, the throat, the abdomen and the wrist.



In budo, Japanese martial arts, "do" refers to a path or way to self-improvement through martial training. Kendo teaches not only physical fencing techniques but also a philosophy which is inherent to budo. Kendo develops strong spirit, positive attitude and respect for others.









Practice Location:



Club Tampa Palms

16402 Tampa Palms Boulevard Tampa, FL 33647








Practice Time: Sat. 9am~11am



Price: $25/person or $35/family / month



Also you need to pay to SEUSKF and AUSKF membership fee by March 1, 2012



Adult(18year or older): $70/year

Children(younger than 18years): $50/year

University Students: $45/year



This fee will help our federation to buy liability insurance and help us to organize events. Please keep in mind that only paid members are allowed to take shinsa(test).



For your membership info for SEUSKF and AUSKF, you can check their website. http://www.seuskf.org/html/members.html



Contact: Sungmin Ro, sungminro @ yahoo.com



AFFILIATE DOJO



Summerlin Kendo Dojo



Summerlin Academy



1500 South Jackson Street

Bartow, FL 33830



$30/month



Every Wednesday

5:00pm-7:30pm





New Student Application Form:



Download New Student Application Form(Need MS Word): Please print and sign this form when you come to practice



We are also affiliate of AUSKF and SEUSKF











Frequently Asked Questions..

About Tampa Kendo dojo



Tampa Kendo Dojo is a non-profit organization. The instructors (Sensei’s) are all volunteers. This means that we rely on dues, fundraisers and membership & family member volunteers.









We are also an affiliate of AUSFK and SEUSKF.



Do you have Age or Health Restrictions?







If you are in good health, you can learn and practice kendo at any age. However, we recommend that children wait until they are 6 or 7 years old before starting. This is due to the inability of younger children to concentrate for extended periods of time. If you have any health problems or concerns (i.e. asthma, heart condition, high blood pressure, etc.), as with any exercise program, please consult a doctor prior to starting Kendo. Currently our students range in age from 6 to 64.





I am Very Interested in Kendo Because I just saw..(select movie)..Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill or The Last Samurai. When will we be working on fancy sword work like that? Will Kendo be just as exciting as the movie?



Tampa Kendo Club is a traditional Kendo Dojo strictly focusing on the fundamentals of Kendo. As a beginner, you will be performing the same fundamental drills to learn etiquette, footwork, and how to correctly swing the shinai and bokuto. Please be advised that you will not be wearing bogu (armor) for at least 4-6 months. Please note that YOU WILL NOT BE practicing in a field or practicing forms against a sunset background. Additionally, THERE WILL NOT BE flashy sword work such as spinning the sword, two sword techniques or flying kicks taught. We do not teach that type of swordmanship that you see on the movie screen. It is entertaining and we enjoy those movies too, but that type of swordsmanship is based on cinematic stunt choreography and has little to do with the actual practice and lifelong study in the art of Kendo.











As a beginner, what should I wear to practice?



We suggest you wear comfortable loose fitting clothing such as sweats and a t-shirt.



What kind of Equipment do I need ?



A beginning kendoist will need to purchase a shinai. You may purchase your shinai directly from www.e-mudo.com. We may be able to lend you a shinai in first couple of classes but you will need to purchase your own. For beginner, you will need to buy a "complete kendo shinai with leather parts."











SHINAI SIZE REGULATION



Adult male: Size 39

Adult female: Size 38



Ages & Size

4-6 years old: Size 32

7-9 years old: Size 34

10-12 years old: Size 36

13-15 years old: Size 37



HOWEVER, THIS SHINAI SIZE MAY DIFFER DEPENDS ON YOUR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT. PLEASE CONSULT WITH SENSEI OR SEMPAI BEFORE YOU PURCHASE SHINAI





When should I purchase and wear the Keikogi and Hakama?



During the beginner phase, we suggest wearing shorts. This is to avoid any extra investment by the student should they wish to discontinue studying kendo soon after they enroll due to work schedules, relocation, change of heart, etc.



When can I put on the Bogu? Why does it take so long to get into Bogu (armor)?



Our Head Instructor or sempai will make the determination on when a new student will move into the advanced class, and when they shall put on bogu. The fundamentals of Kendo must first be learned and the muscles used in Kendo must be developed and become strong enough to withstand the rigors of practice.













Memo to Parents and Guardians of students under the age of 15:



Members under the age of 15 are required to have a parent or guardian at the practice location during practice times.



The instructors at Tampa Kendo Dojo endeavor to apply our years of practice to teaching your children. We accept that we will need to teach them the types of etiquet that is expected in the dojo and will do this with patience and tactfulness. The one thing we ask of the parents is that you remind your child before practice to pay attention and treat the instructors with respect.





What is commin injuries ?



Even though Kendo is full contact sports, Kendo probably has a lower rate of injury than most martial arts. Kendoka rarely incur injuries worse than a bruise, although there are exceptions of course



Most common are blistered/torn feet and bruised forearms and ribs. Bruised heel is probably the most common injury that prevents practise, after that plantar fascitis.



Torn achilles tendon is the most serious common injury, only seen one of those thank god. I've personally had all sorts of bruises including the heel, tendonitis in the rotator cuff, bruised tendon sheath or possibly tendonitis in the wrist and taken the odd thump to the windpipe back when I had the bad habit of coming in with my chin up. Nothing serious so far, thank goodness, and that's in nearly 6 years of practice.



A correct shinai blow which lands on target, ie on the armour, should't hurt. A heavy handed cut driven by too much muscle, a typical beginner's stroke, can hurt a bit, more so if the armour is old and soft. The shinai itself is designed to flex and absorb the blow. A cut which misses the armour causes no worse than a bruise, although it certainly can hurt at the time.





Click this for Kendo Terminology



2009년 8월 13일 목요일

Kendo Promotional Exam Study Guide - From AUSKF website













This study guide is from AUSKF website

http://www.auskf.info/docs/studyguide.htm



KATA


The failure of most candidates kata at lower dan is the lack of practice, the mechanics should be just rote memory. It is very obvious which candidates have neglected kata for long periods of time, hurriedly preparing by practicing only a few times before their test. Logically one would expect that if kata is 50% of the test the candidate would put more effort in to the practice and the learning of kata.

The uchidachi must demonstrate a strong leading of the shitachi, while the shitachi must be able to read the uchidachiís intention. A kodansha performing kata must express a strong and true spirit, reasonable mind and balanced zanshin. The performance shows stroke with drive and spirit, ri-ai, ma-ai, and understands the rhythm of each of the 10 forms.

Starting at 1st-Kyu where just the basic mechanics are needed to Sandan where all the mechanics and the basic fundamentals previously discussed are required, the kata of the candidate should improve at each dan level. At Yondan the kata must demonstrate a better understanding of the hei-ho of Kendo, the rhythm, seme and zanshin. All these things must steadily improve at each succeeding level.

Points that are observed when grading by the examiners:

-Manner before and after the tachi-ai.
-Does the candidate understand all five kamae in 1 through 7 and han-mi and iri-mi in the kodachi kata?
-Does the candidate demonstrate an understanding of me-tsuke and breath control matching with the partner?
-Does the candidate demonstrate an attitude of reality and dignity for the rank requested?
-Does the candidate demonstrate the relationship between uchidachi and shitachi in movement and rhythm?
-Is the timing of the strikes correct, is the shitachi receiving correctly?
Is the ma-ai correct?
-Is the strike with mono-uchi?
-Are the basic mechanics of the strikes correct? Not too big or too small.
-Is the footwork sliding or just walking? Are the heels touching the ground, flatfooted?
-Does the shitachi demonstrate ki-gurai and does the uchidachi respond to the shitachi's zanshin?


Expectations of Rank

6th-kyu through 2nd-kyu can be awarded at the dojo level depending on the regional federation. Other federations formally test for these grades and some have age restrictions for children. 1st-kyu and above are done through the formal examination process. While it is normal to have both adults and children testing for the same level of kyu there can be a great deal of difference in the basic skills between the adults and children. Most often the children have been doing Kendo much longer and have much better basics than the adults. However when the mental maturity of the adults is factored in this should not be a problem. An experienced examiner will understand this kind of situation and grade accordingly. (see attachments for skill guidelines used by some regionals)

1st-kyu requirements: enter and leave the court properly, strike with ki-ken-tai-ichi, good energy and 1 or 2 yuko-datotsu.

Shodan: same as above with nidan waza included.

Nidan: demonstrate the use of shikake waza, harai waza, debana waza, hiki waza, and oji (oh-ji) waza. Obviously the occasion may not arise to use most of the mentioned waza, but the candidate should show better basics than the Shodan level and be able to use more advanced technique as above. The Kenshi at this level should not be obsessed with the use of waza but start to master the opportunity of attack. Cuts should have good vertical motion with the use of both hands and te-no-uchi.

Sandan: Use seme and ken-sen to initiate attacks and have sharp waza. Particularly the use of oji type of waza should be incorporated in the candidates Kendo.

Yondan: should display very solid Kendo and kamae, display mastery of a variety of techniques, yuko-datotsu, excellent footwork and posture. An attacking kamae full of spiritual energy should be displayed rather than a waiting kamae that reacts to the opponent.

Godan: starting with the Godan examination the candidate must truly exhibit the use of seme and ken-sen to create the moment of attack. Often failure is caused by the candidate doing shiai style of keiko and trying to win points. One must demonstrate the control of the center, the opponents spirit, and mastery of the footwork and shinai. The Kendo must be logical without unnecessary strikes and actions. The strike is followed by zanshin that is true mental alertness.

Rokudan: the same as Godan, but even more, the ri-ai must be demonstrated. Strong control of the center, efficient use of waza and footwork, mental control of the opponent and situation.

Nanadan: all aspects of the previous ranks must be present and an essence of dignity that speaks to quality Kendo. This dignity shows both on and off the court in the persons life.

Kodansha Kendo is not only just winning a strong shiai, strong keiko or beating an opponent in the shinsa. You must express your Kendo with the correct kamae, strong ken-sen, reasonable ma-ai, smooth flowing footwork, body movement and a strong, smooth stroke in your strikes. This must be performed in one rhythm with sharp te-no-uchi.



Check following AUSKF website for the Written Exam
http://www.auskf.info/docs/studyguide.htm

Kirikaeshi

3 Different Ma-ai

Metsuke or enzan-no-metsuke

Ki-ken-tai-itchi

Zanshin

Seme

Mittsu-no-sen or the three attacks. According to Miyamoto Musashi there are three sen:

Kill the sword or ken-o-korosu

All these methods lead to the four sicknesses;

footwork. Ashi-sabaki or footwork is broken down into four types:

Waza

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