Simple Techniques for Kendo
Your Spiritual Presentation
Two factors which allow the opponent to judge you are your kamae and your kiai. Niether of these must waver in the face of the opponent. If the kiai is high piched and weak the opponent can sense a lack of spirit and resolve. If the kamae is weak because you do not stand up striaght and tall the opponent can again detect weaknesss in your kendo. It is important to charge your entire being with mental power, to avoid carelessness, and never to fall under the mental sway of the opponent. Should the opponent show signs of manifesting a powerful mental approach, you must overcome it and forestall his intended actions. Part of the meaning of the shout, or kiai, is to generate drive and power by calling out in a strong, clear voice and thus make your own actions easier to perform. If you are tired and physically wearing down recharge your body with strong kiai. But you must remember that the kiai is not a one-sided matter. The kanji or characters mean the coming together (ai) of your spirit (ki). The kiai means that the spirit of one man is coming into combat with the spirit of his opponent.
The kiai however must be a natural outcome of your spirit so that shout does not cloud your mind by worring about it and restrict the flow of your body movement.
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