Notes to the seminar hosted by NOVA Budokai

The seminar was broken down into the following:

1) Shimpan training video
2) Shimpan training
3) Question and answer session regarding Shimpan training
4) Iaido demonstration (performed by our own Sensei, Larry Scanlon)
5) Lunch break
6) Kendo warm-up as a group
7) Kendo waza practices as a group
8) Kendo keiko
9) Question and answer session regarding Kendo in general

At that point I had to leave so I do not know what else was covered. Every dojo that attended received a Shimpan training DVD and instruction booklet.

The key points that I walked away with:

The Shimpan training was for nidan and up, but any shodan and below with bogu were used as competitors for the Shimpan training. Being ranked shodan, I still managed to walk away with a few pointers regarding tournaments, the most important of which being that if your foot completely leaves the court that should be the Hansoku foul, not if your foot is on the line.

I also got a moment to clear up a few questions I had regarding score keeping, especially a clarification of what colors the players will be. As I thought the players should almost always be a certain color. Well it goes as follows; player “A” will be red, player “B” will be white, player “C” will be red, player “D” will be white. If there are more competitors then the pattern continues.

In regards to kendo technique, when you make a strike you want to end it with a quick wrist snap. Also, keeping your back straight was emphasized along with working to keep your shoulders back – especially as you make a strike. Once again, when you make a Men strike you want your left arm to be bent with your right straight for the most part.