kendou ha menippon! second chapter (2)

sword man who desire to master neat and orthodox kendo

This book explain the way of thinking that acquire orthodox kendo which fits the sword.

“kannome” means observe eye in English and that mean observe intention of opponent and mind.”kennome” means look eye in English and that means to look opponent’s behavior phenomenon. When sword man and opponent look at together, sword man should make his look eye weaken and observe eye strong. To realize observe eye strong and look eye weaken. Sword man should not gaze at the same part. Sword man should overlook from top to toes of opponent and it is as if he look far mountain vaguely. Sword man should overlook opponent near there and look closely at opponent far from him.

Even if sword of opponent enter his field of vision, sword man should not to get caught with sword. Sword man should look at both side of opponent unless his eyes move left and right.
The relationship mind and eyes is that mind is main and status of mind is expressed in eyes so that sword man can find clues to win the match to notice opponent’s intent and status of mind to look at his eyes.

To capture opponent changing partly, sword man can notice opponent’s intention.

Look at opponent’s eyes and face →　notice opponent’s changing of mind and ki.

Look at sword tip and fists and kotes →　capture opponent’s set up form. Look at opponent’s shoulders →　perceive opponent’s breath.

Watch around opponent’s waist →　Because sword man do not want to be observed his mind and intention by opponent, he do not make eye contact with opponent on purpose.

In one sword style kendo, there is a teaching that there are two type about how to look.
It means there are two points sword man have to put weight on especially to overlook whole opponent’s body.

Loot at opponent’s sword tip and fists →　When opponent’s mind change, his ki generate and sword tip and fists of opponent set up moving as form at first.

Look at tangible and intangible →　Look at opponent’s movement of form and at same time he observe opponent’s mind and intention which is intangible.

observe opponent and look back himself →　Observe opponent’s unpreparedness and at same time he look back himself that where is his weak point and his strong point.

Moreover, sword man should not keep in his mind what he looked at forever and ever. If he kept in his mind what he looked at, it become living of eyes and he took a unconscious.
It is important to catch opponent’s mind who move next.

In kendo sword man shout to concentrate on fulfilling ki and will and boost his brave and add momentum to sword that strike opponent. There is relationship between shout and fulfilling ki and to match mind and ki and power he can shout spontaneously. In short, shout is result of appearance of ki. conversely to shout, sword man can match mind and ki and power. To shout big and sharp and severe and fulfilling voice, at the same time momentum work, otherwise to shout getting out of the way and no tension voice, at the same time momentum do not work.

As the result of accumulating training kendo, sword man develop technique and acquire posture and attitude correctly and increase dignity. And before he withdraw momentum to shout ,instead he become to accumulate that effort in inner. The momentum that appear on surface of body as figure is easy to collapse to be tired, instead The momentum which looks like intangible underlying inner body is not easy to decline. The voice which sword man shout momentary to strike have to be short voice which have tension and tightened so that sword man should not to breath to open his mouse and exhale all breath.

Kendo have five types of the position of sword tip which are named “seigan”

• “seigan” representation in china characters “正眼”→　set the position of sword tip to throat of opponent
• “seigan” representation in china characters”晴眼”→　set the position of sword tip to the middle of both opponent’s eyes which are compare to sun and moon
• “seigan” representation in china characters”青眼”→　set the position of sword tip to opponent’s left blue eye
• “seigan” representation in china characters”星眼”→　set the position of sword tip to center of opponent’s forehead which is compare to star of sky
• “seigan” representation in china characters”臍眼”→　set the position of sword tip to opponent’s navel

If sword man’s position of sword tip to opponent is in triangle area of seigan, that is called “cyuudan” middle stance. If sword man’s position of sword tip to opponent is upper than “星眼”, that is called “jyodan” upper stance. If sword man’s position of sword tip to opponent is lower than his navel, that is called “gedan” lower stance. Also, If sword man’s position of sword tip come off to the right of centerline, he have gap in his stance. Sword man’s position of sword tip should not to come off to outside of opponent’s width despite that change momently according to opponent’s movement.

Four commandment mean sword man have to pay attention not to cause them in mind.

• “surprise” means that if unexpected happened, sword man is surprised at that and he become upset in his mind.
• “hesitate” means that when sword man set up strike, he become fear before that and his mentally activity is stopped and lose works of body.
• “suspect” means sword man’s status of mind get confused because he do not have confidence, so that he become not to be able to judge quickly and move lightly.
• “perplex” means sword man’s status of mind get confused because opponent move unexpectedly, so that he become not to be able to judge quickly and move lightly.

If sword man have them in his mind, he can not control the tip and win the match, moreover he become be confused by himself and be collapsed.