Kyu examination subjects (cumulative for each grade and the conditions for previous grades)
- 6 kyu ≥10 keiko după înregistrare - reiho, ashi sabaki, denumirile părţilor shinaiului
- 5 kyu ≥15 keiko după ce obţine 6 kyu - chakuso, suburi, denumirile părţilor uniformei
- 4 kyu ≥20 keiko după ce obţine 5 kyu - kihon waza, denumiri bogu
- 3 kyu ≥25 keiko după ce obţine 4 kyu - uchikomi, bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon-waza keiko-ho (1-4)
- 2 kyu ≥30 keiko după ce obţine 2 kyu - kiri kaeshi, bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon-waza keiko-ho (1-9)
Reihō – metode de înclinare (礼法)
The meaning of reihō can be sometimes translated as "etiquette," "respect" or "courtesy." It is a very important concept in Japanese culture, including traditional Japanese martial arts. It is not a "ceremony" or a "ritual" per se; as this may construe that it is performing an exotic spiritual or religious act without meaning, which is not the case. In Japan this act is considered ancestral reverence. While reihō may have the meaning of "etiquette," this does not adequately describe its many connotations. Reihō is in many ways a code of conduct, which in Japan is applied to one's everyday life.
When practicing any Japanese martial art reihō is included in the Genbukan, the basis of all traditional Japanese martial arts, no matter what their roots are. Without reihō the martial arts would be nothing more, nor better, than hoodlums fighting in the streets. In the Genbukan there are two purposes of reihō: first, it is a way of paying respect to the tradition, the teacher, and the students. Secondly, it provides a degree of safety, especially during the use of weapons. In the Genbukan, as well as most Japanese martial arts, everything begins and ends with reihō.
Entering the Dōjō
When entering the dōjō, stand in a natural posture and perform shizen rei (standing bow) to anyone present, and say one of the following: ohayō gozaimasu (good morning), konnichiwa (good afternoon), or konbanwa (good evening). If you are already at the dōjō it is customary to stand up and greet the teacher when he arrives.
Entering and Exiting the Training Floor
Before entering on the training floor, face towards the kamidana (dōjō shrine) and perform shizen rei. If you are training outside you will face to the north and perform shizen rei.
Note: If you are late to class, quickly prepare yourself for training. Upon entering the dōjō, immediately step off to the side and perform the shinzen rei.
Beginning and Ending of Class
The beginning and ending of class is signified by a formal bowing consisting of two parts: shinzen rei (bow in acknowledgment of the tradition) and shi rei (bow to the teacher).
1. Beginning: Seiretsu – Form a line (整列)
At the beginning of class the instructor will say "Dewa keiko wo hajimeru" (begin training). The senpei (the senior) will command everyone to line up in a row by saying "Seiretsu!" All the students will line up by rank and kneel into seiza (a seated posture) with the senpei at the lead, facing the kamidana (dōjō shrine). The instructor will move to the front of the class and kneel into seiza facing the class.
2. Mokusō – Meditation (黙想)
The senpei will then instruct everyone to perform mokusō (Japanese term for meditation to "clear one's mind"). Everyone will then place their hands in their laps, right hand over left, thumbs touching, and then lightly closing eyes to clear their minds. After a time the instructor will then stop the meditation by saying "Mokusō yame." Everyone will then open their eyes and places their hands on the thighs.
3. Shi Rei – Bow to the teacher (師礼)
The instructor then turns around and faces the class. The senpei will command everyone to correct their posture and bow to the teacher by saying "Shisei wo tadashite, Sensei ni rei!" The students then bows to the instructor, while the instructor does the same to the students, with everyone saying "Onegai shimasu." (Please assist me).
5. Ending: Seiretsu – Form a line (整列)
At the end of class the instructor will say "Keiko owari" (Training has ended). The senpei (the senior) will command everyone to line up in a row by saying "Seiretsu!" All the students will line up by rank and kneel into seiza (a seated posture) with the senpei at the lead, facing the kamidana (dōjō shrine). The instructor will move to the front of the class and kneel into seiza facing the class.
6. Mokusō – Meditation (黙想)
The senpei will then instruct everyone to perform mokusō (Japanese term for meditation to "clear one's mind"). Everyone will then place their hands in their laps, right hand over left, thumbs touching, and then lightly closing eyes to clear their minds. After a few minutes, the instructor will then stop the meditation by saying "Mokusō yame." Everyone will then open their eyes and places their hands on the thighs.
8. Shi Rei – Bow to the teacher (師礼)
The instructor then turns around and faces the class. The senpei will command everyone to correct their posture and bow to the teacher by saying "Shisei wo tadashite, Sensei ni rei!" The students then bows to the instructor saying "Arigatō gozaimashita." (Thank you). The instructor bows to the class while saying "Gokurō samadeshita" (thank you very much for your efforts). The senpai will then give a command to the students to bow to each other by saying "Sōgo ni rei." Everyone will then bow to each other and says "Arigatō gozaimashita."
Exiting the Dōjō
Upon leaving the dōjō, stand in a natural posture and perform shizen rei (standing bow) and say one of the following: oyasumi nasai (good night), or shitsurei shimasu (pardon me leaving).
Kendo footwork is ashi-sabaki in Japanese.
There are 5 ashi-sabaki in kendo: suri-ashi, okuri-ashi, tsugi-ashi, ayumi-ashi, hiraki-ashi.
- Zenshin Kotai Okuri-ashi is okuri-ashi going forwards and backwards. Zenshin is "going forwards" and kotai is "going backwards". You will hear this words, Zenshin Kotai, all the time.
- Niho Zenshin Niho Kotai Okuri-ashi. Niho means two steps. In this exercise, when we hear "Niho Zenshin Niho Kotai Okuri-ashi", we take two steps forwards and backwards.
- Shiho Ashi-sabaki. Shiho means four directions: Mae (forward), Ato (backward), Migi (right), Hidari (left). On this command, we take a step forwards, backwards, to the right and to the left respectively.
- Tsugi-ashi is an advanced ashi-sabaki. We do not have to learn this ashi-sabaki until we get at least shodan.
- Ayumi-ashi – we can actually cross our feet like we are walking, but in suri-ashi (sliding). It is a walking with but sliding.
- Hiraki-ashi means to change the body direction by pivoting on one foot.
Chakuso, the way to wear your equipment
In Kendo one way in which kenshi judge their opponent's strength and skill is by how well they wear their equipment, and this is known as chakuso. It is an important part of kendo etiquette: if your kendo bogu, gi and hakama are not worn properly you will begin training at a disadvantage, you will experience trouble with your freedom of movement, along with impaired vision. This will easily slow down your progress.
How you look to your opponent, as well as your mindset, is very important. If you don’t seem prepared, the opponent might think that you are weak.
Suburi is the term used as a warm up before actual practice begins, usually done in sets of ten strikes, though sometimes sets of 100 strikes are used (especially with naname-suburi and shomen suburi). Suburi serves to loosen the wrists (naname suburi) and elevate heart rate (haya suburi). Some common types of suburi:
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katate-suburi (片手素振り) is holding the weapon with only the left hand (which is supposed to be used as the power hand).
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haya-suburi (速素振り) is the rapid suburi where you cut on the forward motion and assume jodan kamae on the return motion, feet should glide on the floor. Sometimes called choyaku-men.
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chōyaku-suburi (跳躍素振り) is incorporating a coordinated jumping like movement with the strike.
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jōge-suburi (上下素振り) are the strikes with back swings that almost touch ones lower back and forward swings which almost touch the floor.
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naname-suburi (斜め素振り) or sayu-suburi are the alternating diagonal strikes, cutting across the opponent's torso, starting with a cut to the left (first strike is to the opponent’s left to his/her right, second strike is from opponent’s right to his/her left, and so on).
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shōmen-suburi (正面素振り) are the strikes to an opponent's forehead.
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zenshin-kōtai-shōmen-suburi (前進後退正面素振り) are the strikes to an opponent's forehead, starting with forward, then backward.
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sayū-men-suburi (左右面素振り) are the alternating strikes to an opponent's forehead, starting with your right-hand side.
Kihon waza
