2011 Taipei Youth Cup

Last Saturday was this years Taipei Youth Cup. It's been almost half a year since the last competition, which had been a major disappointment, not being able to even show a good kendo style. Since then I went to the training persistently, worked on the basics as well as trying to find what wazas work for me the best. And at the same time slowly building up more confidence. I can't say I'm totally satisfied with my performance this time, but at least there is significant improvements. Including:

• I don't attack without first putting pressure on the opponent.
• I can use wazas at the right time (Though not 100% successful).
• I can analyze the current situation and adjust my fighting style immediately. For example, if I find myself starting breathing heavily, then I would hold my kamae and spend more time on pressuring my opponent while gaining the breath.

The reason for me being hit was almost the same for all matches: Lack of concentration. This made me not being able to judge the maai, and let the opponent come too close.

Another major thing to improve on is that my left foot still sometimes lag behind during seme. So, when I launch the men attack I couldn't push my body forwards enough.

Overall, I received good and encouraging words from Ho Sensei and So Sempai. It's funny that no matter wining or loosing, I have a feeling that it's all what matters. And I learned a lot from this competition experience.

By the way, thanks to the friends who came to see me. I never ask people to come to see my match, but in fact I deeply appreciate the gesture. Afterall, kendo is such a big part of my life, and I devote so much time and effort on it, although most of my friends have no idea of what it is and why I'm so attached to it. So thank you!!

Helping the Japanese earthquake

Needless to inform you about the recent earthquake disaster that killed so far 5,000 people and thousands more missing, while 450,000 are staying in temporary shelters.

Please help by donation.

http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Katsugi-waza

Recently, there have been a couple of shiai-geikioes in the dojo, and there were wins and losses. I think I had overall a good control of my body, and didn't just hit relentlessly, but tried to pressurize my opponent until he makes the attack first. This means that I am more confident with my oji-wazas, which in turn means that my waza skills have also improved.

However, I still think I should take the center before attacking, including while executing the debana-men or the debana-kote. My shinai sometimes wiggles too much without fighting for the center. I should focus more on it.

One time I got hit on the do while I raised the shiani overhead in order to scare my opponent (Katsugi-waza). However, he didn't fall in to the trap but quickly executed a men-kaeshi-do. Next time when I use this technique I have to choose the right moment. When the opponent has an offensive mindset, it is dangerous. However, if he is defensive, then usually it works.

Improving debana-men

Two weeks of Chinese New Year break arrived timely for me to catch up some sleep. But in the end, I guess most of you would feel the same, was that I couldn't wait to get to the dojo.

Gradually I am exploring the finer details of kendo. It feels like a natural progression that in order to improve I must understand these details. Like seme and timing, with their associated footworks.

For example, when fighting against fast and powerful kendokas, I tend to not hitting straight because I am too afraid of being hit with a debana-men. The advices I got were:

• I need to see and feel when the opponent is going attack. Just before that moment, strike immediately to win the debana-men. The right foot should be ready to jump forwards at any moment, meaning that the left foot should be staying put on the ground.
• If the opponent has strong seme and takes the centre, then I must take it back with my shinai. Otherwise, striking when the opponent has the centre is a sure suicide.

Striking kote and kote-men:

• One tip to hit on the kote without looking at it is to make the kote strike long the line going through the opponents right eye.

Be more explosive

Today at the mawari-keiko session, Ho sensei asked me to stand in the motodachi position for the first time. After a few fights, Ho sensei came to tell me that I should try to use more waza and execute every technique thoroughly and correctly, even fighting with junior players.

When fighting with Yi-Chen (5th Dan), I had a big problem being able to hit him, which had happened also with some other people before. When he steped in to chikma (close distance), he turned his shinai pointing to his right, in sort of a half-blocking position. I knew I could not reach his men because he can block and even do a kaeshi-do. Kote was also protected because of the angle of his shinai. The only target opened was do, which was hard to hit also because the distance was very close. But I did get his do once.

On the good side, I started to analyze more and more the opponent's movements, and try to develop a strategy against them.

I need to make my attacks more explosive.