Kendo

Bokuto Keiko

This is part of the Beginners Guides HowTo

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kihon Keiko Hou

This is one of the major tools that we use to teach the beginners of UCL Kendo Club, from the end of the 6 week intro period, and is also mandatory for your Ikkyu grading, so its worth knowing. For the grading, you will have to do the first 4 forms.

Kihon Ichi

Ippon-uchi no waza: Men, Kote, Doh, Tsuki.

  1. From the tachiai position, Motodachi and Kakarite take three steps forward to issoku-itto-no-maai.
  2. Motodachi opens the Men by shifting the kisaki (tip) of the bokuto to the right.
  3. Kakarite takes one large step forward, executes a strike to Motodachi�s Shomen, and gives kiai (shout): "Men"
  4. After executing the strike, Kakarite takes two steps back, holding zanshin towards their opponent for a second after the first.
  5. Motodachi moves the bokuto back to chudan-no-kamae upon Kakarite�s second step.
  6. Both kendoka then return to issoku-itto-no-maai.
  7. Motodachi opens the kote by elevating the bokuto and showing their right wrist.
  8. Kakarite takes one large step forward, executes a strike to Motodachi�s Kote, and gives kiai: "Kote"
  9. After executing the strike, Kakarite takes two steps back.
  10. Motodachi moves the bokuto back to chudan-no-kamae upon Kakarite�s second step, with zanshin shown as before.
  11. Both kendoka then return to issoku-itto-no-maai.
  12. Motodachi opens the Doh by raising the bokuto directly up.
  13. Kakarite takes one large step forward, executes a strike to Motodachi�s migi (right) Doh, and gives kiai: "Dou"
  14. After executing the strike, Kakarite takes two steps back, showing zanshin as before.
  15. Motodachi lowers the bokuto back to chudan-no-kamae upon Kakarite�s second step.
  16. Both kendoka then return to issoku-itto-no-maai.
  17. Motodachi opens for a tsuki in the same way as opening for men.
  18. Kakarite takes one large step forward, executes a tsuki to Motodachi�s throat, and gives kiai: "Tsuki" The tip of the bokuto is not retracted back to chudan-no-kamae until stepping back (note by Gibbo - I need to confirm this with someone, I believe it is correct but a couple of people have suggested otherwise).
  19. Motodachi takes one step backward as Kakarite executes the Tsuki.
  20. After completion of the Tsuki, Kakarite takes two steps back, again with zanshin shown as before.
  21. Motodachi brings the bokuto back to chudan-no-kamae and takes one step forward, in time with Kakarite�s second step back.
  22. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back..
  23. At the tachiai position, the bokuto are returned to chudan-no-kame.

Kihon Ni

Ni/Sandan no waza: Kote-Men

  1. Motodachi opens the kote by raising their kensen only directly up, and showing the right wrist.
  2. Kakarite takes one large step forward, executes a strike to Motodachi�s kote, and gives kiai: "Kote"
  3. Kakarite takes a second step forward, executes a strike to Motodachi�s Shomen, and gives kiai: "Men"
  4. Motodachi takes one step backward and shifts their bokuto to the right as Kakarite moves forward for the Shomen attack. The opening should now be the same as that for Men in the first exercise.
  5. Kakarite takes three steps back after completion of the men cut, showing zanshin towards Motodachi for a second after the first.
  6. Motodachi returns the bokuto to the chudan-no-kamae position and takes one step forward as Kakarite takes their third step back
  7. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.
  8. At the tachiai position, the bokuto are returned to chudan-no-kame.

KiHon San

Harai waza: Harai Men

  1. Kakarite takes one large step forward and at the same time moves the bokuto in an upward, clockwise, circular motion to strike the left side of Motodachi�s bokuto. The sideways part of this motion is done using the wrists, and not arm strength. The bokuto should reach the top of your swing as your front foot comes to a halt.
  2. As the back foot moves in Kakarite then strikes forward to Motodachi�s Shomen and gives kiai: "Men" The whole action of harai and cut should be done in one fluid motion.
  3. After executing the strike, Kakarite takes two steps back, showing zanshin towards Motodachi for a second after the first.
  4. Motodachi moves the bokuto back to chudan-no-kamae upon Kakarite�s second step.
  5. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Yon

Hiki waza:Hiki Doh

  1. Kakarite takes one large step forward and executes a strike to

Motodachi�s Shomen and gives kiai: "Men"

  1. Motodachi blocks the strike with the left side of the

bokuto.

  1. With the attacked blocked, both kendoka take one step forward to 
 tsubazeriai.
  1. Kakarite presses downward on Motodachi�s tsuba. Motodachi responds by

pushing upward.

  1. Feeling the upward response, Kakarite releases the downward pressure to allow Motodachi to continue raising their bokuto, takes a large step backward with the left foot, and

executes a strike to Motodachi�s right Doh - giving kiai: "Dou"

  1. Motodachi should raise their bokuto to over their head, the same as the first form.
  2. After striking the Doh, Kakarite takes two steps back, after the first Kakarite shows zanshin for a second before stepping back again and returning to Chudan-no-kamae.
  3. Upon Kakarite�s second step, Motodachi brings the bokuto back to

chudan-no-kamae and at the same time moves forward one step.

  1. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Go

Nuki waza: Men Nuki Doh

  1. Motodachi takes a large step forward, simultaneously executes a strike to Kakarite�s Shomen and gives kiai: "Men"
  2. Kakarite takes a large step forward, but slightly diagonal to the right. At the same time, Kakarite executes a strike to Motodachi�s right Doh and gives kiai: "Dou"
  3. While continuing to display zanshin, both practitioners pivot on the right foot to face each other, and in the same motion step backward with the left foot to come to chudan-no-kamae.
  4. Both practitioners step back to the centerline of the practice area using aiyumi-ashi.
  5. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Roku

Suriage waza: Kote Suriage Men

  1. Motodachi takes a large step forward, simultaneously executes a strike to Kakarite�s Kote and gives kiai: "Kote"
  2. Kakarite steps back and simultaneously moves the bokuto upward, forward and to their right to brush the right side of Motodachi�s bokuto and deflect the Kote attack. This is a large upward motion, but the sideways and forward motions are not. The action should finish with the bokuto directly overhead.
  3. Kakarite steps forward and delivers a strike to Motodachi�s Men and gives kiai: "Men". The suriage and the cut to Men are all done in one action.
  4. Together, the practitioners take one step back and assume chudan-no-kamae, and at issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Nana

Debana waza: Debana kote

  1. Motodachi moves the right foot forward and raises the kensen of their bokuto directly upward to expose the Kote.
  2. Kakarite takes a quick step forward and strikes Motodachi�s right Kote with a small kote cut, and gives kiai: "Kote"
  3. Kakarite takes two steps back after striking the Kote, showing zanshin towards Motodachi after the first for a second.
  4. As Kakarite take their second step back, Motodachi withdraws the right foot to its original position and re-establishes chudan-no-kamae.
  5. At issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Hachi

Kaeshi waza: Men Kaeshi Doh

  1. Motodachi takes a large step forward and simultaneously executes a strike to Kakarite�s Shomen and gives kiai: "Men"
  2. Kakarite starts a forward-diagonal step, elevates the bokuto with the tip angled to the right, and blocks the Men attack with the left

side of the bokuto. Immediately after the block, Kakarite delivers a strike to Motodachi�s right Doh and gives kiai: "Dou". The entire movement is performed within a single step, and as one single fluid action.

  1. Both practitioners pivot on the right foot to face each other, and in the same motion step backward with the left foot to come to chudan-no-kamae.
  2. Both practitioners step back to the centerline of the practice area using aiyumi-ashi, and at issoku-ittou both Kendoka lower their bokuto to below the opponents left knee, and take 5 and a half small steps back.

Kihon Kyu

Uchiotoshi waza: Doh uchiotoshi Men

  1. Motodachi steps forward, executes an attack to Kakarite�s right Doh and gives kiai: "Dou"
  2. Kakarite takes a quick, diagonal step to the left rear and strikes the attacking bokuto downward. Kakarite immediately steps forward, strikes

Motodachi�s Men and gives kiai: "Men"

  1. Both practitioners turn to face each other and, at the same time, take one step back and assume chudan-no-kamae.
  2. Both practitioners step back to the centerline of the practice area using aiyumi-ashi.
  3. Both kendoka then do sonkyo and put away bokuto as normal, and finish.

As a foot-note, this was emailed to me from a source I have already forgotten, and was taken from the internet somewhere. Although I have edited it (quite heavily in places) can someone get in touch if they recognise it and know who the original author was please get in touch so that we can credit them appropriately.

Finally, I will go back at some point (when I have time) and re-edit it to make it a little easier to read. But this'll do for now.