1. Kiai
   After standing from sonkyo, both shinsa-in (person taking a grading test) will kiai. You should give your very best kiai, not from up in your throat, but from down in your belly. Your kiai should be twice as good as your opponent.
   
   After striking, pass through your opponent, turn and take zanshin. Your kiai should not stop until after you take zanshin.
   
   Your kiai should go up, not down after striking.
2. Seme
   Your seme should be constant. Always pushing forwards. Not taking large steps, but slowly inching your way into striking distance.
   
    If your opponent steps forward, do not step back, instead return the pressure. For example: your opponent moves froward pressing on your shinai to take the centre, roll your kensen around to the opposite side while pushing forward from your left foot. You have taken his attack, and turned it back on him.
   
   If your opponent steps back in reaction to your seme, take the chance to attack. Quickly make a large step into striking distance and strike.
   
   If you and your opponent strike and pass by each other, turn quickly and take zanshin. Aim to be in a good position to put pressure on your opponent as they turn.
3. Riai and creating chances
   The judges will not only be looking at the moment you strike, but every thing leading up to and after the cut, they  will be looking for the "story" of your attacks.
   
   They will want to see how you started from distance, checked your opponents kamae, put pressure to create a chance and then took it, following through with spirit and kiai and taking zanshin.
   
   Even if you don't hit your opponent, the judges will see how you tried to make a real chance. This is better than those who wait for their opponent to come and use their quick reactions to strike kaaeshi-dou or debanna-kote.
4. Movement
   From sonkyo your movement should only be in one direction, forward. This doesn't mean that your first reaction should be to step in to cutting distance and strike. Instead you should pressure forwards, and not move to the side or back as you might do in a shiai. As Sensei put it, Kore ha nigeteiru!  (that's running away).
   
   After the first attack it is ok to move to the side left and right, so long as it is to take the center, or to disrupt your opponent.
   
   You should aim to be in the center of the shiai-jo. Make sure you are the one standing above the cross at all times. This shows a level of control over your opponent. 

Guardian has been especially designed to give and extra element of protection. Using new, lightweight materials, we have increased the padding in the ares that are frequently struck with the shinai.