The combatting principle of kendo is

Jousting.

In a jousting the players only go forward, never go backward during the match.

Kendo is like "repeated jousting with constantly re-positioning the straight line that two players are facing to each other".

The key point is that you can go backwards *before* your cutting movement starts, but once you decided to cut, the options are: 1. go through, or 2. smash into your opponent (tai-atari) in order to quash the opponent's cutting distance.

The only exception is when you start from tuba-zerial then do hikiwaza, but you must start from the correct distance which is tsuba-zeriai: the guard of both players touching to each other.

In any other cuts, there is no stepping backward, only go forward.

Plan for 19th Dec

I realised I might have gave the wrong instruction to the beginners that is hindering to execute the correct leg move and timing. I'll try to correct the footwork from the very exaggerated form we've been practising to a more correct one.

Use of the R-leg as a pendulum at the same time as the L-leg pushing the body forward. The pendulum is the keyword for my next session.

Plan for 8th Dec

Uniform check

---[warm up & opening line up + bow]---

Acoustic footwork
Woo-pee footwork
Footwork with turning in formation
Standard+Acoustic combo footwork

L-arm only Men cut
R-arm only Men cut
cut-land-compose
cut-land go through + sign-off

Today's special:
- introduction to Kiri-kaeshi sequence

---[closing line up + bow]---

No Japanese

It is my conscious decision not to use too much Japanese terms when I look after the beginners.

I'd like them to understand its concept first. Once they understand the meaning of movements or manner, it's just a matter of putting a 'Japanese cover' on top of it.

I believe it is more important to understand the true value of certain kendo things rather than knowing a few Japanese words w/o knowing its true meaning.

Plan for 5th Dec

Uniform dressing up check

---[warm up & opening line up + bow]---

Acoustic footwork
Woo-pee Footwork (basic)
Footwork & signing-off turning direction (2 facing files pass L/R on call)
Men-uchi (diagnosis)
L-arm only Men cut
R-arm only Men cut
Normal Men cut + sign-off
Tai-tou & son-kyo
Tai-tou & son-kyo + 10 x Men & rotate

If enough time, introduction to Kiri-kaeshi sequence

Closing line up & bow