3 Ways to Improve Concentration in 3 Minutes

The word concentration has a wide range, so I think there are various ways when we search the internet. What’s important here is, "Improving the concentration needed to win in Kendo." In other words, it is necessary to train the concentration improvement for the Kendo match.

First, Kendo match lasts for 3 to 5 minutes. Time wise, it’s short, but if you have experienced the actual match, you will know that it feels long in reality. So, in the middle of the match, there are times that the player lets the guard down.

For an instance, when one becomes relaxed after guardings, he might lose the hit on head, and while thinking about what skill to use next, the opponent might take away the chance. Letting guard down during match = Giving chances to the opponent, which might remarkably increase the possibility of losing the match.

In Kendo, avoiding the instances of losing one’s guard leads to victory. Therefore, in Kendo, controlling the mind to not loosen the guard is related to improving the concentration.

For the next part, the way of improving concentration in 3 minutes, while at home or during training, will be discussed in details.

Even when you are at an unfavorable situation like losing a round to an opponent, if you can maintain your composure, you can continue while not losing your concentration. Thus, if you can maintain your composure, concentration will naturally improve.

In kendo, maintaining composure is one of the important factors, but actually, it seems a little bit difficult to actually train maintaining composure. But it’s fine! There is a simple way that we can do at home. That’s “60 seconds count training.”

How to do 60 seconds count training

First, turn on the stopwatch function or timer of the smartphone. As soon as it starts, close your eyes and count exactly 60 seconds in your mind. As you finish counting 60 seconds, open your eyes simultaneously. If the stopwatch is at exactly 60 seconds, you are cleared. Do this repeatedly until you can clear it.

This is a training of counting 60 seconds in one’s mind and matching it to the actual time. Even if you count 1 second in mind, it’s actually a little faster or slower compared to the actual time. To make each second accurate, it is necessary to maintain your composure. When you are distracted or nervous, the count will not be accurate, so relax and try to count each second.

By doing this every day, you will get to learn the sense of time per minute, and you will be relaxed, naturally maintaining composure. It’s a simple training, but it’s very effective!

 

Be one before sleep

By efficiently using 3 minutes before going to bed, you can further improve your kendo. It’s by keeping diary. Before going to sleep, the mind is relaxed, so it is the best time to maintain and control the mind.

By keeping a diary before going to sleep, you can have a time of objectively thinking about yourself. You will know once you try it but looking at yourself is very interesting. It is also known that by writing using hands, it is easy for the brain to organize thoughts. If you develop a habit of organizing your thoughts, you will be able to calm the mind during the match, or develop thinking skills that can instantly lead the match.

How to write 3-minute diary

Prepare campus notebook (or paper) and a pen. You need to write down these 5.

1.    The goal you will achieve
2.    Goal in one year
3.    What you did today to achieve the goal
4.    Good things or tasks
5.    What to do tomorrow

By inversely looking at today from the final goal or dream that you want to achieve, you will become conscious of each action.

As your consciousness increases, you will gain the ability to control your own feelings, thus, you will be able to maintain composure during the match. You don’t have to try to write down something good at first. One line is okay so start writing. Please enjoy and continue writing.

Practice takes hours, so it might be difficult to maintain the concentration during the whole period.

But the longer you can maintain the concentration in each short practices, the better you will be compared to your opponent. Actually, try to be conscious of maintaining the spirit longer. If you can prolong this spirit, you won’t be careless, and as a result, your concentration won’t be interrupted.

How to sustain the spirit during practice

There are few ways, but the point is, to sustain the spirit longer than the practice opponent. By making the opponent as the target, you can check whether you were able to sustain the spirit or not.

You can do it in the following situations:

・In whatever situation, position faster than the opponent.
・When making cheers, do it longer than the opponent.
・In attack practices, do not loosen your guards even when you hear “stop”
・After hitting the head, look back right away and narrow the distance.
・Try to hit the opponent more, even it’s just one.

Any of these can’t be done without sustaining the spirit. Assume that practice opponent is the actual opponent, and try to make a habit of sustaining the spirit.

 

You now know that invisible mental factors are big factors in concentration. The reason why composure is important in Kendo is because, it is related to maintaining the concentration. Let me summarize.

It can be done in 3 minutes! 3 ways to improve concentration

・Perform 60 seconds count training
・Keep a diary for 3 minutes before going to bed
・Maintain the spirit versus the opponent during practice

Improving the concentration is related to not only Kendo, but also in increasing the efficiency of studies and work. Start with anything that you can do, even just one among what I discussed today.