Hanshi - The path to 8th dan: Ishizuka Yoshifumi Hanshi Part .1

"Posture is the most important thing in kendo. This is where all techniques begin."

                                                                                              -Ishizuka Yoshifumi Hanshi

Many kendo practitioners focused on victory in competition in their youth. However, yukodatotsu in shiai may not be appraised the same in a grading examination. There are more than a few kendo practitioners who struggle with that distinction. Ishizuka Hanshi himself had a time when he struggles with this difference.

He told us, “I ran into a wall at my 7th dan. At my first 7th dan examination I only felt that I needed to strike, but the judges were unmoved by this.” He continued, “In shiai I was simply hitting my opponent. It is not merely hitting that is needed for shinsa, but actually striking.” Ishizuka Hanshi believes that in order to perform proper strikes, mitori-geiko is effective. You are able to understand the opportunity to strike and your proficiency will also increase. Even a practitioner such as Ishizuka Hanshi had difficulty with differentiating between shinsa and shia, but the solution he discovered in performing mitori-geiko is one type of keiko that anyone can do. It is important to remember the importance of making use of the time while waiting for jigeiko to perform mitori-geiko as well.

Hanshi - The Path to 8th Dan

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