what are the types of strikes perform for kendo?
i’m working of a project and i need to know what types of strikes are performed by kendo and can u also describe how to hit ur target with that strick and how it’s performed?
thanks!
i’m working of a project and i need to know what types of strikes are performed by kendo and can u also describe how to hit ur target with that strick and how it’s performed?
thanks!
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The strikes are generally called "cuts".
In Kendo there are four primary target areas, the Men which is the top of the head between the temples, the Kote which is the forarms, the Dou which is the soft waist area, and the Ago which is the throat. However, when attacking the Ago, the actual attack is called a Tsuki.
You can do a Men cut, Kote cut, Dou cut and Tsuki (it’s not a cut, tsuki is a thrust of the shinai (the bamboo sword, not a ‘stick) to the Ago).
When making a cut, there is kihon cuts and small cuts. The difference between a kihon cut and a small cut is how big the swing action is. When you make a cut, the left and right hands holding the shinai will lift up before a wrist action whips/snaps the shinai back down onto the target area. In a kihon cut, the lift brings the right hand above the person who is making the cut’s head, and the left hand just infront of their forehead and out of sight. In a small cut, the lift only goes high enough to get above the target area they are attacking before the whip/snap action is used to deliver the cut.
The left hand should generate 70-100% of the power in the cut. The right hand is to guide the direction of the cut and also tenouchi at the end of the cut. Tenouchi is when both hands grip very tightly at the end of the cut when the right arm is straightened in the cut action and this provides part of the whip/snap action, and transfers power into the shinai.
Besides just hitting, to do a successful cut, you must also have fumikomi, which is when your footwork produces a loud sound, typically from slapping/stomping your foot against the floor, and also kiai which is a verbal shouting kind of action that expresses and delivers your ki, or Spirit, into your attack. To score a point, you need to have all of these three things simultaneously, ki-ken-tai-ichi. Then you need zanshin which is the confidence that your cut is successful.
In terms of how the cuts can be done, your basic waza (technique) is to just cut the desired area. But, you can also do other things like kaishi waza, renzoku waza, harai waza, ouji waza, hiki waza etc etc, there are a lot of techniques to give you an opening so you can make the basic cut action onto the target zone.
I would also suggest that you find a local Kendo dojo and ask one of the instructors/sensei or seniors to give you a visual demonstration, or youtube some of it.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Kendo_target_areas.png
Men-from normal stance bring the shinai up to ure forehead(just above) about a fist away from ure head with the shinai on a 45 degree angle(backwards) and form an arc like shape from the tip of the shinai when striking (similar feeling to casting a fishing rod)…right forearm should be parallel to the ground when strike ends-Head Protector/Head (centre or slightly to either side)
Kote-same as men but shinai ends up parallel to the ground-Hand(usually the right side but left also can be targeted)/Gloves
Do-start off from ure men strike starting but slightly maneuver to left or right and strike the do…or with an opening strike sortof sideways at the front of the do and optional run through -body/abdomen (sides,front)
Tsuki-Thrust – throat (only allowed to be used by dan grades…safety reasons)
oh yeah and strength predominantly from left hand if not entirely…otherwise you gooseneck ure strike
oh yeah and loud kiai…showing your spirit…unfortunately when i started my spirit had lost his voice…
There are three strikes in Kendo plus a ‘plunge’ to the throat.
There are only three movements, simple enough, but very difficult to apply.