Hanshi - The path to 8th dan: Tahara Hironori Hanshi Part .1

"Striking from a subconcious state while having kikentai-icchi is how you impress the judges."

                                                                                                         - Tahara Hironori Hanshi

"An unconscious strike that is suddenly executed from the beginning position (at the harmony of the spirit, the sword, and the overall body posture) touches the hearts of the judges."

When you practice kendo, you often times hear that it starts with discipline and ends with discipline.

Many studios and schools teach discipline first to beginners. To that extent, discipline is an important factor in kendo. 

I myself try to become a good example of the discipline when I am in a practice with the boys and girls. However, I had a self-reflection when I heard what Dahara Hanshi thought about discipline.
Dahara Hanshi says, "The heart of discipline respects the opponent. The gratitude and respect towards the opponent’s conscience are at the roots of it."

He also added that, "Thoughtless greetings without looking at the opposite person should not be done. It’s because there is no heart to such a disorderly greeting."

He has requested our leaders to always teach the boys and girls a great discipline. Whenever I have engaged myself in a practice, I was always cautious to discipline my movements. However, if I don’t get hold of the heartfelt discipline all the other days, the judges will see me clear through and detect my untruthful discipline. Thus, it should not be all about passing the evaluation or not, but there is a need to pass on to the next generation the proper discipline by first implementing that truthful discipline to my daily life and becoming the good example of it, reflecting upon the ideology of kendo; ‘Human Formation’.  

M.
- GEN Editorial Staff 

Hanshi - The path to 8th dan 

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