I recently moved apartment, and have been very busy with that and work. My keiko time suffered as a result. December 1st - 7th Monday 1st I went for a really nice 5 kilometer run. It was cold, wet and misty. Almost no other runners
November 25th - 30th 2014 Tuesday 25th we had some guests from Europe, two sensei trying their 8th Dan tests. After kihon we had a nice Keiko, I ended up being one of the motodachi and had 4 short Keiko with my dojo
Recently Doryoku passed 60000 page views! I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported, followed, read, commented and shared this blog. Thank you for your support over the past 3 and a half years! For those that have followed the blog since
Below is a very rough translation of the All Japan Kendo Federations "Highlights of the Tournament" piece for the 62nd AJKC coming up next Monday! The original can be found here:All Japan Kendo Federation - Highliights of the Tournament Highlights of the tournament
For the past month I've been using this bogu set exclusively. From regular dojo practice, high-level company keiko, national championship winning university training to summer gasshuku. I feel like I have really put this set of bogu through the mill. All Japan Pitch
Last week's post on fire tape was so well received that I thought I would share another taping method with you this week. This is a trick I picked up the first time I represented Ireland, at the 2010 European Kendo Championship in
In this post I will show you how to make a super adhesive patch using the fire tape method. This can be used to cover a blister or cut on your foot to help you continue to train. I learned this method in
In this post I will talk about the kendo practice at one of Japan's top Kendo schools. Nippon Sports Science University, 稽古＠日体大剣道部 Nippon Sports Science University. I have been lucky enough to receive permission to practice regularly at one of Japan's elite kendo
Hiki-waza, attacking your opponent from tsubazeriai and immediately propelling your self backwards away from your opponent. In this post I'll talk about some ways to create the opening for hiki-waza. This type of waza can be tricky to execute, starting from tsubazeriai (swords
"Zen" In this review I will be taking a look at Zen, a light and snappy Jissen-gata shinai from Sankei. For kendo players looking for a well balanced, light feeling shinai for practice or tournament use, I recommend checking out Zen, a jissen-gata
It has been a slow start to 2014 for me! I attended only my third practice of the year last night! I'm carrying a bit of a foot injury and quite a belly after the holidays, but I will be back up and
About the Author
Hi, my name is John. I started Kendo in my home country of Ireland in 2008 and later moved to Japan where I practiced Kendo intensively for four years. I lived, worked and practiced in New York City for a while before returning home. I now live in Dublin working as an engineer and practicing kendo a Dublin Kendo Kobukai.
