The Art of Breaking Center
Saturday 12th Feb 2005 - NSW Kyu Squad Training
Today's focus was about working on those techniques to break opponent's center. Payne sensei got us working on many different types of waza, some quite unusual to boot. In terms of positive physical actions to break opponent's center, I can think of the following:
(1) Harai (omote and ura)
(2) Uchi-otoshi (omote and ura)
(3) Harai-n-uchiotoshi [2 movement waza] (omote and ura)
(4) Whisk (omote and ura)
(5) Whisk-n-Press (omote and ura) -> my favourite
(6) Press (omote and ura)
(7) Maki-gome (the "circular" waza)
Depending on where opponent's shinai is relative to you, certain waza works better. For example, if opponent's shinai is pointing low, then uchi-otoshi or press techniques (omote side is easier) work better then say harai waza. The converse is true if opponent's shinai is pointing higher than usual.
Master Kim also taught us to move left/right to capitalise on opponent's improperly positioned shinai as well. Example: move left then execute harai-kote (ura).
The footwork underlying these techniques are crucial of course. We used either 1 step or 2 step footwork according to situation.
We practised quite many of those techniques - excellent training indeed. Too bad you missed out, Anna. :D
Payne sensei taught us this waza that was weird (at first) but really cool. At issoku-itto-no-maai, step forward using the *left* foot, and at the same time whisk-n-press from the left side (ura), then step forward with the right foot and cut men. This waza enables the user to close the distance much much faster. It's a must-try I reckon.
Payne sensei reminded us that in terms of keeping center, every opponent has a weak point. He encouraged us to use whatever techniques to discern which side the opponent is weaker in, so that we can use the appropriate waza to exploit that weakness.Must keep that in mind during jigeiko.
Today's focus was about working on those techniques to break opponent's center. Payne sensei got us working on many different types of waza, some quite unusual to boot. In terms of positive physical actions to break opponent's center, I can think of the following:
(1) Harai (omote and ura)
(2) Uchi-otoshi (omote and ura)
(3) Harai-n-uchiotoshi [2 movement waza] (omote and ura)
(4) Whisk (omote and ura)
(5) Whisk-n-Press (omote and ura) -> my favourite
(6) Press (omote and ura)
(7) Maki-gome (the "circular" waza)
Depending on where opponent's shinai is relative to you, certain waza works better. For example, if opponent's shinai is pointing low, then uchi-otoshi or press techniques (omote side is easier) work better then say harai waza. The converse is true if opponent's shinai is pointing higher than usual.
Master Kim also taught us to move left/right to capitalise on opponent's improperly positioned shinai as well. Example: move left then execute harai-kote (ura).
The footwork underlying these techniques are crucial of course. We used either 1 step or 2 step footwork according to situation.
We practised quite many of those techniques - excellent training indeed. Too bad you missed out, Anna. :D
Payne sensei taught us this waza that was weird (at first) but really cool. At issoku-itto-no-maai, step forward using the *left* foot, and at the same time whisk-n-press from the left side (ura), then step forward with the right foot and cut men. This waza enables the user to close the distance much much faster. It's a must-try I reckon.
Payne sensei reminded us that in terms of keeping center, every opponent has a weak point. He encouraged us to use whatever techniques to discern which side the opponent is weaker in, so that we can use the appropriate waza to exploit that weakness.Must keep that in mind during jigeiko.
posted by Andoru at
9:21 pm
3 Comments:
^^;;...didn't really understand all the technical terms you used.
I really haven't grasped the concept of Jigeiko yet and Sano sensei only demonstrated a few basic techniques for beginners to break centre for me, but what you said is very interesting (i.e. helpful) ^^
By
Quoth the raven, at 4:18 am
Ah the early stages of jigeiko is very very confusing - I can emphatise.
The one advice I keep hearing from sensei to beginners is: attack, attack and attack! There will be opponents who won't open for you, so that you impale yourself on their shinais when you cut. In this situation, do nidan waza, but instead of hitting their kote, hit the shank of their shinai so that their shinai would drop, thus opening the center for you (which you'd follow up with a men). It's good training to get used to that kind of waza.
Other than that, if your opponent is particularly helpful i.e. he/she will not enforce center on you, then work on your maai and your cuts. So start by being in striking distance, with your kensen in center, when the time is right, strike with SUTEMI ("with abandonment"). Don't worry about being hit whatsoever. Just commit to that cut and CUT with loud kiai.
Make no mistake - you will get owned many many times but let me tell you that there is no shame in that. Many senseis have said that we must be cut in order to learn how to cut. Think about what you need to do (footwork, posture, maai etc) to achieve that one beautiful cut. Focus on men cuts first, like what Fennessy sensei said, as the other cuts are similiar. Cut like you mean to cut, but more importantly, you have to cut without fear of being cut. Alot of beginners fresh in bogu that I've seen are always afraid to cut because they fear that they'd be cut in return. That's a big mistake.
Personally, cutting with sutemi was one of the thing that I knew that I had to work on when I first don on bogu. This advice came from Strenger sensei actually.
Gambatte kudasai! ^_^
By
Andoru, at 10:54 pm
Thank you! A lot of helpful advice. Yeah Sano sensei keep telling me to attack. Sometimes it's a little bit scary when I know they hit very, very, very hard -_-;. Thanks for the encouragement, I would need it, and lol I already knew I was kendo fodder (i.e. target practice) when I wanted to wear the bogu, such is life ;).
By
Quoth the raven, at 3:21 am
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