Kendo Manual - Kendo for Dummy | Learn about Kendo Kata

BASIC ATTACK PRACTICE TECHNIQUES
If a kendoist's life is to express beauty and strength, ki-ken-tai alone is not enough. The kendoist must also have determination, humility, and purity of intentions. These qualities are developed on the practice floor so they may become part of the kendoist's character. The kind of fierce determination, humility, and purity of intentions necessary for strength and beauty in kendo are stressed in the following attack practice techniques: KAKARIGEIKO and KIKANJU KEIKO.
KAKARIGEIKO is practiced in instructor-student pairs. For a specified amount of time, the student launches a fierce, non-stop attack on the instructor. The student's attack must be executed with a deep and sincere respect for the instructor's skill and position. It must be determined and aggressive. It must be carried out with no thought of protecting oneself from the instructor's cuts. And it must end with the student in total exhaustion. When kakarigeiko is executed in this manner, the student builds speed, power, and endurance, but most importantly he learns to undertake any activity with a pure and open heart.
KIKANJU KEIKO is similiar to kakarigeiko except it is done in student-student pairs and both student engage in a fierce, all-out attack for a given amout of time.

INSTRUCTOR- SUPERVISED PRACTICE TECHNIQUES
There are two training techniques in which instructors have an opportunity to carefully correct a student's problems: In KUMIAWASE KIHON KEIKO, students pair off and practice designated moves and strikes while being observed by an instructor who makes corrections when necessary. In HIKITATE KEIKO, the instructor selects specific students with whom he wishes to practice. As the student attacks the instructor, the instructor carefully observes the student's weaknesses and corrects them.

STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUE PRACTICE METHODS
Meeting challenges and solving difficult problems require the use of strategy. The kendoist strives to develop the mental ability to solve problems by experimenting and developing appropriate strategy through the use of the following practice techniques.
JIYUGEIKO is free practice between students of the same or different ranks. This is an opportunity for students to test their progress and experiment with various attacking, parrying, and cutting techniques.
WAZA KEIKO is paired student-student practice in which both kendoists attempt to develop specific techniques. The instructor may specify the precise techniques that the students should practice.

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ADVANCED TRAINING
The following training is reserved for advanced students who have mastered the basic fundamentals of kendo. KATA KEIKO is usually done in student-student pairs of equal rank. In this practice technique, students go through predetermined moves to develop their form. No live strikes are used. SHINPAN KEIKO is specifically designed to give advanced students training in refereeing matches. RIGEIKO is paired student-student practice. The emphasis of this practice is on experimentation.
SHIAIGEIKO- COMPETITIVE PRACTICE
To do anything well, whether it be in school, in one's occupation, or on the practice floor, the mental powers of keen observation, extreme alertness, and deep concentration are essential. Kendo training does not neglect the development of these mental powers and it is through shiaigeiko that a kendoist trains himself to concentrate deeply while remaining alert to all that happens around him.
SHIAIGEIKO JIYU. In this type of practice, there are no referees. The students mutually agree whether a point has been scored. The required points for a win may run from one to three depending on the instructor's discretion.
SHIAIGEIKO (1 referee). This type of competitive practice requires one referee (shinpan). As soon as a student scores a point, his opponent leaves the floor and another jumps in to take his place.
SHIAIGEIKO (3 referees). In the third type of shiaigeiko, actual tournament competition is simulated. There are 3 referees. Required points for a win may vary from 1 to 3.

For a kendoist to score a point cleanly, he must observe his opponent carefully, constantly alert for the slightest move that might give away an impending attack or an opening. The kendoist's concentration keeps him ready to attack the moment an opportunity arises.

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