Kiri-kaeshi common misconceptions

Receiving role = set the pace but not the distance.
Attacker role = decide the distance but otherwise follow the receiver's pace.

The receiver set the pace (rhythm), attacker decide the distance.

This must be strictly adhered, importantly, regardless of the relative rank between the pair.

Frustratingly, it is very common (and very wrong) to see a senior attacker just cutting like a mad, completely overriding a (junior) receiver's pace.

If the attacker override the receiver's pace, the receiver will never become a good receiver and they will only pick up a bad habit from the misguided attacker, and they will do equally questionable Kiri-kaeshi to other people in their dojo and beyond.

Such indifference will pollute the overall quality of Kendo. Those people are not helping anyone.

And if a practice partner were happened to be trained in a more traditional environment, such Kiri-kaeshi style can be considered as an ignorant and poor behaviour.

Your Kendo credential will be instantly judged by those who know & care.

If the receiver's skill is not up to scratch, the experienced attacker must help the receiver to do better.

Being a receiver also requires a good skill and it comes with practice. The experienced attacker must help the receiver to make that happen.

Overriding the receiver's pace is practically stealing a leaning opportunity from the receiver, and the attacker might wonder why their receiver is always such a pain to practice Kiri-kaeshi with. Well, duh.


Likewise, it is none of the receiver's business to decide the distance.

Unless practising with a 4 year-old beginner as an attacker, the receiver never adjust the distance for the attacker.

Simply because the receiver cannot know the length of the attacker's limbs and how far they can jump. Two individuals with the same height will have different swing range and jumping ability. So, distance is strictly the responsibility of the attacker.

When cuts are done the receiver simply slows down and stop in the position so that the attacker can turn around and adjust the distance for themselves (while the receiver is STATIONARY). Don't even fidget in the slightest. Moving 2cm makes difference.

If the receiver kept moving about, the attacker is just chasing the receiver and cannot decide the correct distance until the receiver eventually stops moving.

The receiver never should waste attacker's time like that.

Kiri-kaeshi sequence is carefully constructed for the maximum effectiveness and efficiency. Being 'creative' doesn't help under such circumstance.