Kendo Practice & Training

Kendo Practice & Training

Kendo practice is composed of many types of training. Each type has a different purpose for developing the skills of the Kendo student.

Like other martial arts, Kendo requires discipline and a dedication towards learning and training. A new student begins with learning the basics such as: etiquette (reigi), different postures and footwork, and how to properly swing a sword. The student then progresses through a series of skill sets preparing them to begin training with armor (bogu).

When a student begins to practice wearing armor, a practice may be composed of any or all of the following types and  will depend upon what the instructor's focus is at a particular time.

Kiri-Kaeshi: successively striking the left and right men, practice centering, distance, and proper cutting while building spirit and stamina.

Waza-Geiko: technique practice in which the student learns to use the many techniques of Kendo with a receiving partner.

Kakari-Geiko: short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness, the ability to attack no matter what has come before, as well as building spirit and stamina.

Ji-Geiko: sparring practice where the kendoist has a chance to try all that he or she has learned with a resisting partner.

Gokaku-Geiko: sparring practice between two kendoist of similar skill level.

Hikitate-Geiko: sparring practice where a senior kendoist guides a junior kendoist through practice.

Shiai-Geiko: competition matches which are judged on the basis of a person scoring valid cuts against an opponent.

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