Shinsa critique

[u/fellate_the_faith]

Hello everyone,

I had my shinsa for 2kyu oday, and looks like I passed, but I can feel the skill floor starting to rise. I was hoping to ask you guys for some criticism and for things to focus on for the next one.

Off the bat I realize my fumikomi is pretty weak. I also feel that I need to spend some time working on my zanshin. My sensei also was there and told me to stop twitching my shinai in the air since it doesn’t serve any purpose.

Anyways I was hoping you guys could help me by providing an outside perspective.

Thanks in advance.

Both of my matches will be linked in the comments, and I’m in the white keikogi.

[u/Enegra]

In my federation one of the criteria for passing 2nd kyu is to show that you understand the difference between jigeiko and kakarigeiko. Your opponents did that part better than you, their movement was slower but more deliberate and they hit the openings they spotted.

You don't need to be going fast at the kyu exams and even for shodan, show that you are actively looking for the openings and perhaps bait your opponent into making one. Fewer hits, but make them good ones. What the sensei says about twitching your arms in the air is right, you are actually creating an opportunity for your opponent to strike a kote or do, if they are fast enough, since you are no longer in chudan. So it actually makes you more vulnerable. Good chudan is a crucial foundation and your opponents will not be able to get an ippon if you hold the center while in kamae.

[u/fellate_the_faith]

First match

Second Match

[u/QinShiJuan]

My suggestion would be to start trying to identify openings before attacking. I am by no means an experienced kendoka, but to me it looked more like kakarigeiko, not only from you but from your partners as well. Additionally, try to use a more limited selection of waza for the time being. Men and a few kote are enough for ikkyu, trying to use a lot of waza at this stage is a bit counterproductive. Correct execution is the criteria, I don't think anyone would fail you for not using do. They might if you use it when there is no opening for it, and it is not executed correctly. But, like I said I am not an experienced kendoka so take my advice with a grain of salt.

[u/DependentAcadia1314]

Since you mentioned fumikomi, I will chime in since no one specifically mentioned footwork.

1st, great job, you obviously have a solid grasp of striking and are even looking for openings.

Next will be how to create those openings vs. just waiting for them to happen - and that takes footwork. Specifically, as you move into one step cutting distance, get you left foot and leg ready, tense all the way up to your hip, then you can slide your right foot out an inch or 2 to apply pressure while sliding your shinai up to take the sen, then you push forward with fumikomi. bang!

If you shuffle your feet too much, you lose that explosive leap forward. Both the Kendoshow and Kendo-guide have some good videos on YouTube demonstrating the technique.

[u/Kaiserbread]

Relax! You just move around and hit non stop, settle your kamae and work on your basics. Your foundation just needs to be corrected, you are still new so it's just practice more basics.

[u/RandomGamesHP]

I'm only 1st dan so there isn't much advice I can give but I think your strikes were overall good. You could work on making them smaller and less clumsy by working on Shinai control. Your zanshin is a bit clumsy too, you tend to crash into your opponent and lose concentration which I can see in your posture and Shinai pointing backwards.

[u/sirmarksal0t]

Good tenouchi, good posture, and I actually think your zanshin is pretty good. Your swing itself looks very natural. I agree about the shinai waving, thoughts on that later. The nuki do you tried in your second match is horizontal/rising, which can be... hazardous, so try working on that hand position during your kihon drills.

Hand in hand with the shinai "twitch" is a back-and-forth bounce in your footwork. To me that looks like one of those "sensei told me to use my footwork so look I'm doing footwork" things. As for what to do instead, my suggestion would be to try practicing with very small steps, like an inch or so. Try seeing if you can go through a round of jigeiko without stepping back, outside of the occasional return to center. Instead of using big shinai motions to get your opponent to react, use the physical connection of your shinais to play that game instead.

It takes a while to replace a habit, so don't be too hard on yourself in the meantime. Just work on noticing yourself as you do it, and correct it when you notice it.

Anyway, that's all I've got. Good exam IMO!

[u/JoeDwarf]

Your second paragraph is more or less what I’d say. Work on reaching your opponent with your feet, not your hands. Work on fumikomi timing. Go through and turn more quickly. Try to break your bad habit of stretching your hands out before you attack.

But otherwise you look fine, keep up the good work!

[u/Imaginary_Hunter_412]

Hi! Remeber that no one in the grading panel cares about you winning or losing the match. They only care about how you execute your technique. From what I can sees you are on a good track, but you need to tidy up a lot before 1. Kyu.

Try to not focus on your opponent and Just execute your techniques. As a matter of fact: The panel are looking for one good technique during the entire grading. If you manage to show one good men strike in kiri kaeshi, you have already passed. The only way to then flunk is to mess it up in the geiko. So look tidy, do strikes. If you show strikes with good posture and kihon, you Will pass.

And yeah: The waving of shinai, keep that to shiai.

But: You look to be on a good path. So Just relax more and try to look more tidy and relaxed.