「錬技睦和」"Rengi Bokuwa" is our motto
at Sydney Kendo Club.

This means "We vow to train our skills and minds in harmony, keeping good terms with each other to become better
human beings and to contribute to society". This is the ultimate goal of Kendo.

End of Training:
1) Sonkyo 蹲踞 - formal crouch
2) Osame tou 収め刀 - put back Shinai (竹刀) to Taitou (帯刀) position. Stand up and walk three (3) steps backward with Shinai in Sagetou (下げ刀) position and Rei (bow 15 degrees forward)
3) Seiretsu (整列) - line-up
4) Seiza (静座) - sit in the proper seiza posture (Japanese-style)
....Sit from left foot and raise your body from right foot.
5) Mokusou (黙想) - start meditation
6) Mokusou yame (黙想 止め) - meditation period is finished
7) Shoumen ni Rei (正面 に 礼) - bow to left front side
8) Sensei ni Rei (先生 に 礼) - bow to Sensei (先生)
9) Otagai ni Rei (お互い に 礼) - bow to Other Kenshis 剣士.

Manners and etiquettes:
1) Holding Shinai

Bokutou (木刀) - wooden sword and Shinai - bamboo sword are not a just a piece of wood/bamboo. They should be treated as your soul and spirit coming from Japanese sword (日本刀）.　Therefore we take care while handling them. Please do not do the followings:

• make sounds when put them on the floor;
• stand leaning on them;
• muck around with them;
• hold them on your shoulder;
• walk over them.

They should be hold on your left hand under Tsuba (鍔) - sword guard crest, with Sagetou (下げ刀) position (string side is under) anytime.

Check your Shinai on any breakage/torn/wear of bamboo banels, strings - tsuru (弦), cap - sakigawa (先皮) 、strap - nakayui (中結), tsukagawa (柄皮) and take a good care of it at home.

2) Walking

When walking in front of someone, put forward your closest arm and hand (open) to the person, bow slightly and walk through swiftly.

For other manners and etiquettes, Refer to "Shoumen ni Rei (正面 に 礼).

**The time you are allowed to wear Bougu (防具) will be told by your sensei. Basically, we recommend beginners to spend a good one month before you start to wear bougu.

Links:
i). Sydney Kendo Club Bokuto Manual (October 2006)
ii). Sydney Kendo Club Beginners Manual (June 2006)
iii). Kendo Dictionary: http://www.kendo-usa.org/reference/j_e_dictionary.htm
iv). Kata and Bokuto Videos: http://www.yorku.ca/kendo/KendoForms.htm

Initial Costs:
Club fee: Please refer to SKC Information Sheet or Schedule of Fees. NSW Kendo Association Registration: 2007/08 NSWKA Membership Registration
- Registration Form which covers insurance and membership to the Australian Kendo Renmei.
(This is paid financial year to NSW Kendo Association.)

Equipment/Armour Cost:
A limited number Shinai's are available for purchase from the club and it is not necessary to buy anything further until you are sure that you wish to continue learning Kendo.Once you have decided to purchase training gear, please refer to Sydney Kendo Club Order Procedures. Armour order form: To place your armour order, please email/hand in form to Club Armourer.

Notes:

“Shoumen ni Rei (正面 に 礼) !”

Kamiza (上座) - place or area, usually where higher grade Kenshi (剣士) sit. Shimoza (下座）is the opposite. Kamiza is at the furthest end of the Dojo from the entrance, whereas Shimoza is closest to the entrance. The position of Kamiza can be left or right depending on which way the entrance is.

At Willoughby Dojo, towards the stage is Kamiza. Jouseki （上席 - on stage) and Shoumen（正面- front side) are where spirit resides. It is usually located at the uppermost part of Kamiza area. The spirit is known as Shin-Butsu(神仏 Shinto-Buddhism).

This spirit (deity or guardian), provides us with the opportunity to train Kendo and to improve at this venue. In addition, it oversees our safety during training. Therefore, we pay respect to it by bowing at the beginning and end of training. We bow towards the wooden stand which features the 4 Japanese characters 「錬技睦和」”Rengi Bokuwa”.

We also bow to this spirit at Shoumen when we enter/leave the Dojo. However, we bow to our colleagues in the Dojo when entering/returning from Bougu Room (防具室), Changing Room.

So, there are meanings to what we do. At Five Dock Dojo, the spirit resides even though there is nothing visible there, so we still call "Shoumen ni Rei!". This also helps to committing / transforming / refreshing your mind set for training.

「錬技睦和」”Rengi Bokuwa” is our motto at Willoughby Dojo as is written on the stand. This means "We vow to train our skills and minds in harmony, keeping good terms with each other to become better human beings and to contribute to society". This is the ultimate goal of Kendo. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . Back to Top

Mokusou (黙想)

Mokusou (黙想) should take at least 1 minute. There are two things you could do during Mokusou.

A). Breathing exercise to create tension in the lower stomach (Tanden 丹田) - this helps to develop the explosive power called “Tame (溜め)” needed for cutting. It also helps your posture. The longer you exhale, the better your cut will become, especially Nidan/sandan waza (二段, 三段技) and Kirikaeshi (切り返し)
1. Inhale from nose for 3 seconds
2. Hold for 2 seconds
3. Exhale slowly for 15 seconds from mouth

* Repeat above - 3 sets.

If you are able or wish to do:

B). Self-reflection and setting your own agenda for Training (beginning of training) and assessment (end of training).

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