by Mark Kawabe | Apr 2, 2018 | Uncategorized
A few years ago, there was a seminar in Toronto on dynamic stretches for kendo. Most of the time we use this dynamic stretching routine at the start of each practice. I haven’t seen other clubs doing these warm ups, but I’m not surprised. Traditions are...
by Mark Kawabe | Mar 29, 2018 | Unwritten Rules of Kendo
This is one of those “unwritten rules of kendo”. Don’t ask your instructor for permission to grade. There. I said it. Just don’t do it. If you have to ask, you’re probably not ready. If you’re ready, your instructor will let you...
by Mark Kawabe | Jan 15, 2018 | Uncategorized
Kendo is combat. It’s highly stylized, even ritualized combat, but it’s combat nevertheless. For all of its simplicity, it’s not easy. Most people can hit someone in the head with a stick. You don’t need to have any particular skill to...
by Mark Kawabe | Oct 31, 2017 | Uncategorized
I think trick-or-treating is a crock of you-know-what. Kids dress up in costumes that aren’t all that warm to wander around in the cold (and sometimes rain) to get tons of free candy and chocolate, which compromises their immune systems which are already...
by Mark Kawabe | Sep 25, 2017 | Uncategorized
No matter how good you are at something, chances are you can probably improve your performance. What’s it going to take? One word: Practice. What that one word doesn’t tell you is HOW to practice. Showing up at the dojo and doing the same as you’ve...
