Advanced

Routine Training

• Practice swings

• Cuts, thrusts, and slashes

• Hitting practices and strikes

• Condition strikes (striking over a lengthy period of time)

• Sparring and dueling

• Standoff (tachikiri), where the limits of physical strength are tested

• Basic motions called in Japanese kata 

• Basic training methods with a wooden katana

Attacking Techniques

Kendo attacking techniques(Japanese Waza) can be slashing and thrusting and can be performed with all the practitioner’s strength and power but only in designated areas. These techniques can be split into two categories based on initiating a strike or making a counterattack.

Shikake waza is the initiation of a kendo strike. Different methods of this are:

• Tobikomi waza – a striking technique when the opponent leaves an opening or has a weak and tired spirit.

• Katsugi waza – a surprise attack with the shinai lifting the sword over the opponent’s shoulder.

• Hikibana waza – losing balance when attacking to lure the opponent and open his guard, which will follow with a powerful slash.

• Harai waza – striking the opponent’s shinai and the unarmed opponent’s armor.

• Nidan waza – a rhythm of connecting correct strikes or holding the opponent’s attention and posture to create the opportunity for an opening of a second strike

• Debana waza – striking the opponent as they are about to strike

Oji waza is a counterattack or response after the opponent’s attack. Different methods include:

• Kaeshi waza – parrying the opponent’s shinai and flipping over to strike the opponent’s opposite side.

• Suriage waza – sweeping up the opponent’s shinai with your own and then striking from the direction of where their attack came from.

• Uchiotoshi waza – knocking the opponent’s shinai to the right or left side and neutralizing an enemy attack while performing a counterattack.

• Nuki waza – avoiding an enemy attack and responding with a perfectly executed counterattack.