Learn The Sword with Shihan Dana Abbott

Japanese Sword Training with Shihan Dana Abbott

Learn The Sword Workout Blog

The Street Smart Samurai and the Summer Gasshuku

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My first summer Gasshuku was in Chiba, a city just outside Tokyo, and was become one of the most  enlightening experiences I had while training in Japan. It was very challenging, both mentally and physically, and was also a place where my knowledge and understanding of the power of kendo took place. Gasshuku is where […]

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The Street Smart Samurai and the Dog Days of Kendo Summer

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When the “dog days” of summer begin in Japan, you will sweat profusely. You start losing vast amounts of water from training and because it is so humid. While in Japan, I discovered an amazing secret to keep hydrated and healthy. I discovered “mugicha” (wheat tea) which is the summer sports drink of old Japan. For our consumption student aides would bring in large brass kettles of room temperature cooled down mugicha which tastes like the old breakfast puffed wheat cereal called, Sugar Pops.

Mugicha…the sports drink of Kendo Champions

After long, hard, laborious workouts and practice you feel as if you have walked through the parched desert and just arrived at the watering hole that will save you.  Upon arrival of the wheat tea all one could hear were grunts, slurps and gulps.  And boy did that Mugicha taste good!

Train Hard in Kendo and the Rest of Life is Easy

Just to let you know how intense the trainings were we immediately were told… “move it, move it, move it”. No one could hang around the “water cooler” for long. The purpose was to take what you need and get back to work. As an aside, if I did not urinate blood or brown at least a few times a month I was not putting forth enough effort.  I never was sure if it was the tea or the sword strikes sustained.

The Benefits of Kendo and a Strong Mindset

Not many people get to train on this level or experience the tradition of Kendo in Japan. But I will tell you that what I experienced there; the discipline, the dedication, and the brutality have made my mindset strong and given me a can do attitude that has lasted for over 35 years. And, I still enjoy a cup of Mugicha to take the edge off when training!

Want a great sword? See Dana Abbott Signature Series

 Training TIP #7

 Tabuchi Sensei my Kodachi-iai teacher 2004

Here is a moment in time that I would like to share with you. This is one of my teachers, Tabuchi Sensei practicing with the short sword. He was one of the most consistent human beings I have ever met. At 65 he could still wear his Junior High School uniform because he worked out everyday. He was definitely an inspiration to me.

Want to Learn The Sword NOW? Watch This Video!

Street Smart Samurai Japanese Sword Training- Tabuchi Sensei

Online Samurai Sword Instruction:

Videos and Manuals (click here)

Shihan Dana Abbott offers new ways to learn and study traditional samurai sword training and techniques. He offers very effective instruction methods to build a strong foundation for both, serious or recreational sword students, as well as teachers and/or schools in all forms of martial arts. To do this he utilizes his personalized online samurai sword instruction and samurai sword training courses.

Click here to learn more: www.learnthesword.com

Online Samurai Sword and Kendo Training Programs

The www.Learnthesword.com online training course offers you unlimited access to videos, manuals and media detailing sword training techniques plus the advantage of Shihan Abbott’s personal critiques. You progress at your own pace working out whenever or wherever.

Dana Abbott
Learn the sword
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-575-7319

The Street Smart Samurai Pushing the Limits of Kendo

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Training Kendo in the traditional setting provided a much different brutality for the men. Hazing was definitely included as part of the hierarchy, the pecking order if you will. I mentioned before that you spar until you drop and this was just the beginning. There is a general rule of thumb in kendo and that is…when it comes to training hard and you have expended all of your energy; that point where you are coughing out your lungs, is when your rote muscle memory sets in best.

Finding the Spirit of the Thing is Not Easy

Also, at this point, one might experience euphoria as when running a long distance marathon including crystal clear mindsets and the ability to focus no matter what situation you may encounter. This exertion of energy consumes a lot of one’s power and energy, but over time your body begins to run much more efficiently, without expelling as much energy…sort of like putting a car in overdrive.

Developing your Kiai

Coupled with strong breathing techniques through Kiai allows you to continue and excel where others have failed. Even though the brow beating of underclassmen is horrendous few drop out. They do not want to lose face.

Kendo is a Way of Life

This is why it was such an honor to train and live with the Japanese during my time there. The opportunity to be among the Kendo elite and train under the direction of some of Japan’s most respected teachers was a privilege and a once in a lifetime experience that has provided value in all areas of my life.

Wanna see a great sword? Click here: Dana Abbott Signature Series

Training TIP #6

Points to Consider Practicing The Drop Cut

This 8 minute instructional video shows “How To” Drop Cut an object. Focus, timing and being consistent are very important factors in fighting and in test cutting.  Drop cutting is not about cutting the object, as much as it is about your set-up and follow through. If you are consistent in both of those areas…the cut is always on it’s mark.

It is also great exercise for developing your focus, speed and timing when drawing the sword. Ultimately, it is one more thing that will help in making you a better fighter.

Want to Learn The Sword NOW? Watch This Video!

Street Smart Samurai Japanese Sword Training-Drop Cut Technique

Online Samurai Sword Instruction:

Videos and Manuals (click here)

Shihan Dana Abbott offers new ways to learn and study traditional samurai sword training and techniques. He offers very effective instruction methods to build a strong foundation for both, serious or recreational sword students, as well as teachers and/or schools in all forms of martial arts. To do this he utilizes his personalized online samurai sword instruction and samurai sword training courses.

Click here to learn more: www.learnthesword.com

The www.Learnthesword.com online training course offers you unlimited access to videos, manuals and media detailing sword training techniques plus the advantage of Shihan Abbott’s personal critiques. You progress at your own pace working out whenever or wherever.

Dana Abbott
Learn the sword
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-575-7319

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Street Smart Samurai Faces Kendo Fighting Tradition

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I was very happy and relieved to have avoided the experience of hazing that freshmen students typically encounter in the Kendo ranks. Since this was still in the “Showa Era”, which did not end until the death of Emperor Hirohito, the old school way was still in effect and hazing was just a way of life and tradition in Kendo.

It Was Not So Good to be a Kendo Underclassman

Some of the hazing at Ni Ti Dai could be very brutal.  A few of the  favorite hazing traditions were sparring until you drop…and then spar some more, making the plebes drink until they would pass out, and then drawing mustaches and weird things with permanent markers on their faces.   Sometimes the freshmen would end up looking like a member of the rock band KISS!! It was pretty funny….unless it happened to you.

Wanna see a great sword? Click here: Dana Abbott Signature Series

This Japanese Samurai Sword offers amazing quality and is great looking too! You won’t find a better sword for the money.

Kendo, Where the Strong Survive

Yes sir, you could always spot the kendo underclassmen.  As an American, I would look at this hazing at times and think, “is this really necessary”?   However, when considering kendo philosophy from the Japanese perspective of, “life is not fair and the strong will graduate to teach kendo and the Spirit of the Thing”;  meanwhile the weak will become shoe salesmen, it all makes sense.

Kendo Was Tough Especially For the Woman

Actually, being underclassmen was really not all that bad but, on the other hand, being an underclasswoman was definitely brutal. You would think the women kendo students were disciplined by the Marines on Paris Island because many looked the part. For example, the pecking order of the upper class women was very overbearing and it was not uncommon that they would cut the plebe’s hair so short one could not tell if the student was a male or female. I mean, WOW! They were mean and brutal.

Joining the Ranks of the Kendo Elite

I quickly learned Kendo had no discrimination. It did not care if you were a man or a woman. Kendo training was tough and if you could survive it, you would be a member of something elite for a lifetime. This was the honor of training at Ni Ti Dai. I left with a lifetime of memories and some of the hardest training days of my life.

Training TIP #5

Points to Consider Practicing Kata #7

In Kata #7 you will learn a one handed diagonal cut and a two handed diagonal cut and a thrust. The emphasis on this kata is creating a fluid movement throughout the entire kata with seamless transitions.

Practicing kata develops a strong foundation for your hips and body to learn proper movement and focus when swinging the sword. It is also great exercise for developing your focus, foot patterns and aerobic capacity to give you stamina to be a better fighter!

Want to Learn The Sword NOW? Watch This Video!

Online Samurai Sword Instruction:

Videos and Manuals (click here)

Shihan Dana Abbott offers new ways to learn and study traditional samurai sword training and techniques. He offers very effective instruction methods to build a strong foundation for both, serious or recreational sword students, as well as teachers and/or schools in all forms of martial arts. To do this he utilizes his personalized online samurai sword instruction and samurai sword training courses.

Click here to learn more: www.learnthesword.com

The www.Learnthesword.com online training course offers you unlimited access to videos, manuals and media detailing sword training techniques plus the advantage of Shihan Abbott’s personal critiques. You progress at your own pace working out whenever or wherever.

Dana Abbott
Learn the sword
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-575-7319

The Street Smart Samurai On Kendo and the Smell of Good Manners

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When kendo practice ceased the undergraduates would then go to the locker room which was below in the basement. Going down the narrow stairs you began to inhale testosterone at its peak. Those smells would rival any odors that gladiators in the coliseum exuded.

Imagine being packed in the locker room like sardines and all changing kendo gear at the same time with one goal in mind…and that is to get out of the locker room and rush across campus to your next class. Lessons can be learned anywhere and often are. This where I learned the protocol of Kendo.

In Kendo, As In Life, It is Good To Be King!

When an underclassmen passes an upperclassman…the lesser must recognize the senior’s rank and status. This is accomplished with a bow and greeting known as  “Aisatsu”.  “IT’S GOOD TO BE KING”, say the senior students.   The underclassmen are almost dancing from class to class given the footwork and respect they are required to extend to each upperclassman they encounter. Needles to say there were a lot of underclassmen late to class each day.

Learning the Way of Respect and Honor In Kendo

Aisatsu is a greeting of respect and is accompanied by a crisp “ohaiyo gozaimasu” good morning. In Kendo, as ferocious and aggressive as it may seem, the foundation of “The Spirit of the Thing” is respect and honor for every aspect of the Art. That is simply the Way It Is.

Want to Learn The Sword NOW?  Training TIP #4

Points to Consider Hayasuburi-Part 2

Hayasuburi is a foundational exercise to teach you how to develop timing, rhythm, and focus. In Part 1 you learned  the basics of Hayasuburi so you can practice the movement and develop the rhythm.

In Part 2 you learn to refine Hayasuburi so you can practice it the way Kendo people do it. Mastering Hayasuburi develops a strong foundation for your hips and body alignment to help you when cutting. Finally, it is a great exercise for developing your aerobic capacity and gives you stamina to be a better fighter!

Watch This Video!

Online Samurai Sword Instruction:

Videos and Manuals (click here)

Shihan Dana Abbott offers new ways to learn and study traditional samurai sword training and techniques. He offers very effective instruction methods to build a strong foundation for both, serious or recreational sword students, as well as teachers and/or schools in all forms of martial arts. To do this he utilizes his personalized online samurai sword instruction and samurai sword training courses.

Click here to learn more: www.learnthesword.com

The www.Learnthesword.com online training course offers you unlimited access to videos, manuals and media detailing sword training techniques plus the advantage of Shihan Abbott’s personal critiques. You progress at your own pace working out whenever or wherever.

Dana Abbott
Learn the sword
Scottsdale, Arizona
480-575-7319