Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon Waza Keiko Ho

Basic Kendo Practice Methods Using a Bokuto

Shikake Waza: Attack Initiation Techniques

1. Ippon Uchi no Waza (Single strike techniques)
2. Ni / San Dan no Waza (Two / three step techniques)
3. Harai Waza (“Sweeping aside” opponent's stationary weapon)
4. Hiki Waza (Techniques while withdrawing)

Oji Waza: Techniques for Responding to Attack

5. Nuki Waza (Techniqes for counter attacking while dodging)
6. Suriage Waza (Parrying opponent's incoming strike)
7. Debana Waza (Attacking at the initiation of the opponent's strike)
8. Kaeshi Waza (Receive and counter attack techniques)
9. Uchiotoshi Waza (“Redirection” techniques)

The Kihon Kendo Bokuto Waza (Bokuto Waza) are performed in pairs; the
mototachi who has the role of one creating the openings, and the kakari-te
who has the role of the attacker practicing the prescribed waza; both are active participants in
these forms. Both partners share equal footing in the bokuto waza v.s. the formal hierarchy of
uchidachi and shidachi in the Nihon Kendo no Kata. Both “kata” share the same introductory
formalities.

The descriptions of each Kata begins with the mototachi and kakari-te in
chudan no kamae1 after the initial attacker has stepped into issoku itto no maai2 from yokote
kosa3.

1 Chudan no kamae = mid-level stance.

2 Issoku itto no maai = “one step one sword distance”. The maximum distance from
an opponent where one needs to take only one step to successfully reach them with a strike.
3 Yokote kosa = The point at near the end of the bokuto where the bevel of the kensen transitions into the shinogi.
 (1) Ippon Uchi no Waza: single strikes to the men, kote, do, and tsuki.

Mototachi Kakari-Te

(1) Open4 Men by moving the kensen to the (1) Step forward and strike shomen5.
right.

(2) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (2) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(3) Move the kensen back to ai-chudan. (3) Step back into ai-chudan at issoku itto no
maai6 for the next strike.

(4) Open kote by moving the kensen to the left. (4) Step forward and strike kote.

(5) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin7. (5) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(6) Move the kensen back to ai-chudan. (6) Step back into ai-chudan at issoku itto no
maai for the next strike.

(7) Open do by raising the (7) Step forward and strike migi8 do.
bokuto overhead at 45 degrees

(8) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (8) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(9) Move the kensen down to ai-chudan. (9) Step back into ai-chudan at issoku itto no
maai for the next strike.

(10) Open tsuki by moving the kensen slightly (10) Step forward and thrust tsuki.
to the right. Step backward one step when
kakari-te thrusts.

(11) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (11) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(12) Return to chudan and step forward. (12) Step back to ai-chudan at yokote kosa.

4 When opening for the kakari-te move the Kensen (sword tip) aside, pointing toward the collarbone.
5 When striking be sure that the monouchi is fully on the target and as close to it as possible.
6 This distance is different for each target. For Men the monouchi should cross at their midpoint, Kote the tips ought to
cross, Do is a bit closer than Men, and Tsuki is between Men and Kote.
7 Zanshin = lit. “Remaining mind”. Often translated as “follow-through”.
8 Migi = “Right”. In this case the opponent's right.
 (2) Ni / San Dan no Waza: kote-men combination strike
Mototachi Kakari-Te

(1) Open Kote by moving the kensen to the left. (1) Step forward and strike Kote.

(2) Step back and move your kensen to the right (2) Step forward and strike Men.
opening Men. Move the kensen underneath the
kakari-te's bokuto.

(3) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (3) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(4) Return to ai-chudan. (4) Step back into ai-chudan at yokote kosa.

(5) Step forward while in ai-chudan. (5) Step back while in ai-chudan.
 (3) Harai Waza: Sweep aside opponent's kensen and strike men.
Mototachi Kakari-Te

(1) From issoku itto no maai and using the

(1) From issoku itto no maai the kakari-te breaks
omote9 shinogi10 break the mototachi's kamae by
your kamae by using harai waza.
hitting / pushing11 his kensen to your left.

(2) The kakari-te continues forward and strikes (2) After breaking kamae12 strike the mototachi's
shomen. shomen13.

(3) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (3) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(4) Return to ai-chudan. (4) Step back into ai-chudan at yokote kosa.

9 Omote = Left (or inside) side of the bokuto.

10 Shinogi = The central ridge on the bokuto.
11 Do not “wind up” for this deflection by moving your tip to your right. Your kensen only moves from center to the left
during the deflection. The deflection originates from the hips v.s. the hands.
12 Step one and two ought to be considered as “one motion”.
13 This men strike must be “big” as with all of the other strikes. Do not rush and make it “small”.
 (4) Hiki Waza: Strike Do while withdrawing from opponent.

Mototachi Kakari-Te

(1) At Issoku itto no maai receive the kakari-te's (1) Step forward and strike shomen.
men strike with the omote shinogi of the bokuto.

(2) Step forward and enter tsuazeriai14 with the (2) Your strike having been received, step
kakari-te. forward and into tsubazeriai with the mototachi.

(3) The kakari-te presses your hands down as if (3) Press the hands of the mototachi downward.
to create a shomen suki15.

(4) Press your hands upward in response to the (4) As the mototachi begins to bring his bokuto
kakari-te. up bring your bokuto up overhead, step back
and strike migi do.

(5) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (5) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(6) Step back and assume ai-chudan. (6) Step back into chudan.

14 Tsubazeriai = The “tsuba lock-up”. The tsubas (thumb guards) of both bokuto meet as do the omote shinogi. The left
hand is at the chudan position and the right is slightly elevated.
15 Suki = “Opening” either in ones physical defenses or concentration. In this case it refers to a physical opening.
 (5) Nuki Waza: Dodge an incoming strike while counter-attacking

Mototachi Kakari-te

(1) From issoku itto no maai step forward and (1) Dodge the mototachi's strike by taking a step
strike shomen. to the forward, diagonal right while
simultaneously striking migi do.

(2) While turning slightly to the left to align (2) The mototachi turns to align himself with
yourself with the kakari-te, take a step back and you. As he does, take a step back along your
assume chudan. current off-center angle, and assume chudan.

(3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the (3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the
left back to the starting positions. left back to the starting positions.
 (6) Suriage Waza: Parry an incoming strike and counter-attack.

Mototachi Kakari-te

(1) From issoku itto no maai step forward and (1) As the mototachi strikes, step back and
strike kote. perform suriage16 waza17 with the ura18 shinogi.
Then immediately19 step forward and strike men.

(2) Step back and assume ai-chudan. (2) Step back and assume ai-chudan.

16 Suriage = “Rising slide” parry. Using the shinogi, deflect the strike by sliding your bokuto along the opponent's as you
raise your own upward. This upward motion for the parry itself ought to double as the upward motion needed for the
subsequent counter strike.
17 As with the Bokuto Waza #3: Harai Waza, do not “wind-up” and hit the opponent's bokuto. The deflection comes from
the wrists and originates in the hips, and the kensen should remain primarily centered.
18 Ura = Right side (outside) of the bokuto.
19 There should not be a pause between your backward step for the suriage waza and your forward step for the men strike.
You should be moving continuously.
 (7) Debana Waza: Strike as your opponent's attack is just “coming out”.

Mototachi Kakari-te

(1) From issoku itto no maai begin the motion of (1) At the moment the mototachi begins to
a “small20” strike: Take a half step21 forward move22, step forward and strike “small” kote.
with the right foot and press the kensen slightly
forward / upward from chudan (as if to initiate a
strike).

(2) Wait for kakari-te's zanshin. (2) Take a small step back and point toward the
mototachi's throat.

(3) Take a half step back and return to chudan (3) Take a step back into ai-chudan.
kamae.

20 Small strikes refer to the small strikes kendoka use once they have become accustomed to the large swings.
21 Half step refers to moving only with one foot, in this case the right foot, as compared to the standard complimentary
stepping in Kendo in which you always move both, i.e. , “right-left”.
22 This waza is more of a “perceptual exercise” in that it helps kendoka practice establishing a connection between
themselves and their opponent.
 (8) Kaeshi Waza: Receive (block) a strike and then immediately counter-attack.

Mototachi Kakari-te

(1) From issoku itto no maai strike shomen. (1) Receive23 (block) the mototachi's strike with
the omote shinogi of the bokuto. Immediately
upon receiving the strike step to the forward,
diagonal right and strike migi do.

(2) While turning slightly to the left to align (2) The mototachi turns to align himself with
yourself with the kakari-te, take a step back and you. As he does, take a step back along your
assume chudan. current off-center angle, and assume chudan.

(3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the (3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the
left back to the starting positions. left back to the starting positions.

23 It is a common error to turn the bokuto horizontal while receiving strikes for kaeshi waza. Your bokuto is not to become
a rigid “shield” that brings the opponent's bokuto to a dead stop, but instead think of it as serving to disrupt the strike
and move it off of the center line very similar to suriage waza.
 (9) Uchiotoshi Waza: Redirect the opponent's strike and counter attack.

Mototachi Kakari-te

(1) From issoku itto no maai strike migi do. (1) As the mototachi strikes, step to the diagonal
back left and, using the omote shinogi24and in a
large overhead swing, redirect the incoming
strike downward. Then immediately step
forward and strike men.

(2) While turning slightly to the left to align (2) The mototachi turns to align himself with
yourself with the kakari-te, take a step back and you. As he does, take a step back along your
assume chudan. current off-center angle, and assume chudan.

(3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the (3) While in ai-chudan take a circular step to the
left back to the starting positions. left back to the starting positions.

This ends the Kihon Bokuto Waza. The closing formalities have been omitted.

24 There is some debate as to whether you use the shinogi for this (v.s. The “blade”) or not since, as these are bokuto forms
made for modern Kendo, performing these waza according to how one would use a real katana isn't necessarily possible.
These waza are not katana waza, but are waza using bokuto to give kendoka a link between shinai kendo and the katana.