If I might add something to this in terms of breathing. I have found that using nasal breathing as much as possible to make a massive difference in my own kendo (and other physical activities. I spend a fair bit of time wandering around steep northern Thai mountains these days as well as, formerly, in western and northern Canada). I've found much of Patrick McKeown's (Oxygen Advantage) work around nasal breathing, replicating, in our physiology, a kind of high altitude training approach (even when not actually at a high altitude) etc. to be very interesting and personally helpful.
@@catrionanicthamhais altitude training is a fascinating approach to training. (I often felt like we were doing a version of breath restriction training when required to wear a mask!)
We just completed a full day seminar. We started off with thousands of suburi. I didn’t think my body would make it through. I decided to focus on my Kiai, and my breath and voice became sharper, and I was amazed that it became easier, my suburi was better, shaper, I was focused. Maybe this is similar? I am only 3rd Kyu, so I don’t really know. But it was amazing for me at 48 years of age to feel so clear when it was so dam hard.
only experienced that state a few times so far in kendo, twice in prolonged Kirikaeshi, and once in a long ass suburi drill. Seems like I need a lot of repetition to reach flow state... also works with playing an instrument, just repeat the same part over and over again, after a few minutes it will spill out of your fingers on its own.
It sounds like a very similar approach to that which Elizabeth was describing. Particularly because you were focused on one specific thing. Great stuff!
This is a great video to open up a discussion... (ha!) Full honours to Yourself and EBB Sensei. I'm not convinced by box breathing for Kendo. It is a really effective method of calming the body (and mind). But we can run the risk in Kendo of divorcing ourselves from our Seika Tanden (Hara) if we use the science based breathing methodologies. Why is it a problem to divorce from Hara, primarily because we lack the ability to kiai. The main problem I've noticed with Kendo in the west, is that folks (generally ) don't use their lower body correctly. They generally don't move from and on their legs, and don't use their hips sufficiently, and a lot of this, aside from culturally not being a floor (mat) based culture, stems from how we are (not) taught to move as youngsters. And what a strong body looks like. Legs are largely neglected. So why is this relevant? It's relevant because it's about how we organise our body, and how we use it (in Kendo). In the Dojo I am constantly encouraging the students to use hara breathing, to get them to issue their Kakagoe from their lower abdomen, NOT from their chest. And to harness their energy (kiai) to their hara. What has this got to do with Flow state? Everything really, as someone else mentioned - flow state and mushin are pretty much the same thing. The awesome book - inner game of tennis, from the 70's was about the western world's first book on zen in sport, without even being aware of that fact. Then we had that little gem, Zen in the Art of Archery. Flow State is just the western term for Mushin- so how do you manufacture Mushin? Consciously you can't - it's something you have to "make way" for, but you can inculcate deep calm, which is a precursor. But if you do that, all the while thinking, "any moment now, any moment now, any moment now, my flow state is gonna kick in," it won't, because even though it is a result of endorphins released because of effort, that effort has to be sincere and sustained, and it has to be full effort (suteru). Just my two pennies worth. And sincerely thank you for this video. Human Capability Studies should be a core curriculum subject in Schools.
Hello, enjoyed this talk a lot! I have been experimenting with this since I read the book last year by Steven Kotler ''The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer'' ( I wrote the comment before reading the info in the description, you both are clearly familiar with the book) I am experimenting on myself a lot with these things recently and will try the box breathing before keiko as Elizabeth mentioned, I do the box breathing in the morning usually. Also I think that really good sensei can get their level down to like 15% stronger then the people they do keiko with and in that way extract the flow state in the student as challenge is right in the sweet spot for flow, too much challenge and you are just smashed (which is nice and very much needed at times) to little challenge also no flow. Also I started experimenting recently in my Dojo with the Gap effect that dr Andrew Huberman mentions multiple times, giving students short breaks sometimes between the sets, around 10 seconds to focus on the breathing and not think about kendo, opponent, what you are going to do, what waza, etc. I especially insist on that when we do Jigeiko, to try and reset each fight not thinking what happened in the previous one and not to think what you will do in the next one. Or if you have a bad day, try to not make all Jigeiko feel that way, but reset each time, not to dwell how you got struck multiple times last fight and your waza was off, etc. So if you could make a video on the gap effect that Huberman mentions, that would be great as I think there is space for that in kendo as we have partner rotations and there is space to focus on the breath and not dwell on the mistakes or thinking too much. Just my two cents. Keep up these videos really good stuff! Nikola
I love what you mention about "really good sensei can get their level down to like 15% stronger then the people they do keiko with and in that way extract the flow state in the student". I think this is an awesome way to think about the motodachi role in general. This acts like a mental focus point for seniors, and is an important reminder of the role of the coach/sensei/motodachi/senior, etc. Great point! The Gap Effect - you got it :) That is a bloody excellent idea for an episode! I have a couple of edits to do, and will make a start on this. Thank you for this suggestion, Nikola!
@@KendoCoach Glad you love the idea for Gap Effect, I cant wait for that one :) Also loved the one where you say that we should coach people. I always noticed that whatever you do, people who want to improve do it anyway. And no matter how good your technique or how strong you are in kendo if you dont bring people to that point that they enjoy, they want to improve in and outside the dojo. I mean only recently I did start to think like that, I am 31 and just now I realized that you just have to follow the concept of kendo first definition and not just try bash an opponent faster then they do you :) Like I was blindfolded from when I started till now which is from 11 years, so 20 years kendo. I mean when I was younger I think kendo did more damage to my character then good honestly, I was young and was always pushed to get some results like we are fighting for millions of dollars. I think that fundamental problem with popularity of kendo outside Japan is that we try to pitch it like samurai swordsmanship, but especially now with all this new phones and stuff people really will need something like kendo. There is no instant reward in kendo and it can learn you that you need discipline and hardship to improve. All parents send kids to money sports, but do not realize that 1% of kids or less will get to top level...I think kendo could make better results in the long run and help people in life not to be dopamine deprived zombies in the future at least :) I mean people often asked me when I was kid why you train this, can you beat someone with the stick in street fight :) I mean I would of loved if I could tell them back then I train kendo so I can learn discipline and have later greater chance to do something useful in life. Have an actual response. I am so happy that your are doing these type of videos about kendo/life. I mean we all do love some nice them kaeshi do-s and stuff but this I think is really important for us outside Japan to realize. I just recently started using all the discipline I got from kendo and I got it for all the wrong reasons, to win some medals honestly but I got the habits really ingrained doing suburi daily really helps. Now try to bleed it out to rest of my activities. The most fun part is after I stopped caring about wins I started making much more of them :) Cant wait for more of your videos, I think this is the way! I never leave youtube comments. But this I just had to. Future is coming with all the tech and I think counter balance is very much needed. Continue please I think this will get popular, I will meet your brother in Zadar and also Ren is now training at our dojo in Novi Sad. Best regards, Nikola
@@isshinkendo2464 Thank you for this comment! You mentioned what it was like as a kid being asked: 'does kendo teach you how to beat someone up with a stick?' (and variations like: 'whats the point in training kendo? You're no good without a stick...'). I recall that my high-school teacher asked me: 'what would you do if you were approached in a dark alley? Would kendo help you?' TBH, I didn't know how to respond at the time, so I asked my older brother, Alex Bennett. I still remember his response: 'Kendo teaches you to stay away from dark alleys!'. (My high school teacher didn't have an answer for that). Thanks again for your engagement with these videos, Nikola. Yours (and everyone's) comments are really helping me to stay driven to do this. Its heaps of work, but it makes it all worth it when I know there are people getting value from my content. Thanks heaps :)
my theory on how to use this box breathing method goes like this. The flow state is the same concept of Mushin in kendo, by focusing our conscious thought at our breathing during a match, we stop thinking about everything else, enabling us to move our body with instinct. So box breathing method not before the keiko, but literally during the match itself, mid way through your match, you will forget even the box breathing method, and left with no thoughts.
Great connection with 'flow' and 'mushin'! This is a bit above my paygrade, but I wonder what others think about this connection - is flow and mushin the same thing? Does box-breathing in the moment lead to flow/mushin for others? (I'm usually just sucking in air to stay on my feet haha)
Flow-Zone and Mushin have been compared and contrasted academically for many years. Literature on this I recommend: Kendo: It’s Philosophy, History, and means to personal growth written in 1995 by Minoru Kiyota Sensei; Krein, K., & Ilundáin-Agurruza, J. (2014). An East-west comparative analysis of Mushin and flow. Philosophy and the martial arts, 139-164; Discussed in my own research, part available in this lecture: ua-cam.com/video/QYSeJADQq_0/v-deo.html Wishing you happy 🌪️🧠🫀contemplation!
as a beginner i'm having a hard time to last during consecutive kirikaeshi & jigeikos. My stomach hurts because of the way I breathe during keiko. what's the best breathing technique to last longer sensei
Its possible that you are experiencing the 'stitch'. Check out this link and let us know how you get on :) www.healthline.com/health/stitch-when-running#causes
Could anyone tell me what dojo she is from? It was mentioned in the video, but I sadly didn't understand what they were exactly saying at that moment, because my English isn't very good.
Brilliant! Thanks youse two! 😀
If I might add something to this in terms of breathing. I have found that using nasal breathing as much as possible to make a massive difference in my own kendo (and other physical activities. I spend a fair bit of time wandering around steep northern Thai mountains these days as well as, formerly, in western and northern Canada).
I've found much of Patrick McKeown's (Oxygen Advantage) work around nasal breathing, replicating, in our physiology, a kind of high altitude training approach (even when not actually at a high altitude) etc. to be very interesting and personally helpful.
@@catrionanicthamhais altitude training is a fascinating approach to training. (I often felt like we were doing a version of breath restriction training when required to wear a mask!)
Fantastic episode!
Thank you! (It's easy when you have a fantastic guest!)
We just completed a full day seminar. We started off with thousands of suburi. I didn’t think my body would make it through. I decided to focus on my Kiai, and my breath and voice became sharper, and I was amazed that it became easier, my suburi was better, shaper, I was focused. Maybe this is similar? I am only 3rd Kyu, so I don’t really know. But it was amazing for me at 48 years of age to feel so clear when it was so dam hard.
only experienced that state a few times so far in kendo, twice in prolonged Kirikaeshi, and once in a long ass suburi drill. Seems like I need a lot of repetition to reach flow state... also works with playing an instrument, just repeat the same part over and over again, after a few minutes it will spill out of your fingers on its own.
It sounds like a very similar approach to that which Elizabeth was describing. Particularly because you were focused on one specific thing. Great stuff!
@@djaxupjazz it usually takes a bit longer than a few minutes for me on my guitar! haha
This is a great video to open up a discussion... (ha!) Full honours to Yourself and EBB Sensei. I'm not convinced by box breathing for Kendo. It is a really effective method of calming the body (and mind). But we can run the risk in Kendo of divorcing ourselves from our Seika Tanden (Hara) if we use the science based breathing methodologies. Why is it a problem to divorce from Hara, primarily because we lack the ability to kiai. The main problem I've noticed with Kendo in the west, is that folks (generally ) don't use their lower body correctly. They generally don't move from and on their legs, and don't use their hips sufficiently, and a lot of this, aside from culturally not being a floor (mat) based culture, stems from how we are (not) taught to move as youngsters. And what a strong body looks like. Legs are largely neglected. So why is this relevant? It's relevant because it's about how we organise our body, and how we use it (in Kendo). In the Dojo I am constantly encouraging the students to use hara breathing, to get them to issue their Kakagoe from their lower abdomen, NOT from their chest. And to harness their energy (kiai) to their hara. What has this got to do with Flow state? Everything really, as someone else mentioned - flow state and mushin are pretty much the same thing. The awesome book - inner game of tennis, from the 70's was about the western world's first book on zen in sport, without even being aware of that fact. Then we had that little gem, Zen in the Art of Archery. Flow State is just the western term for Mushin- so how do you manufacture Mushin? Consciously you can't - it's something you have to "make way" for, but you can inculcate deep calm, which is a precursor. But if you do that, all the while thinking, "any moment now, any moment now, any moment now, my flow state is gonna kick in," it won't, because even though it is a result of endorphins released because of effort, that effort has to be sincere and sustained, and it has to be full effort (suteru). Just my two pennies worth. And sincerely thank you for this video. Human Capability Studies should be a core curriculum subject in Schools.
Hello, enjoyed this talk a lot! I have been experimenting with this since I read the book last year by Steven Kotler ''The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer'' ( I wrote the comment before reading the info in the description, you both are clearly familiar with the book)
I am experimenting on myself a lot with these things recently and will try the box breathing before keiko as Elizabeth mentioned, I do the box breathing in the morning usually.
Also I think that really good sensei can get their level down to like 15% stronger then the people they do keiko with and in that way extract the flow state in the student as challenge is right in the sweet spot for flow, too much challenge and you are just smashed (which is nice and very much needed at times) to little challenge also no flow.
Also I started experimenting recently in my Dojo with the Gap effect that dr Andrew Huberman mentions multiple times, giving students short breaks sometimes between the sets, around 10 seconds to focus on the breathing and not think about kendo, opponent, what you are going to do, what waza, etc. I especially insist on that when we do Jigeiko, to try and reset each fight not thinking what happened in the previous one and not to think what you will do in the next one. Or if you have a bad day, try to not make all Jigeiko feel that way, but reset each time, not to dwell how you got struck multiple times last fight and your waza was off, etc.
So if you could make a video on the gap effect that Huberman mentions, that would be great as I think there is space for that in kendo as we have partner rotations and there is space to focus on the breath and not dwell on the mistakes or thinking too much.
Just my two cents.
Keep up these videos really good stuff!
Nikola
I love what you mention about "really good sensei can get their level down to like 15% stronger then the people they do keiko with and in that way extract the flow state in the student". I think this is an awesome way to think about the motodachi role in general. This acts like a mental focus point for seniors, and is an important reminder of the role of the coach/sensei/motodachi/senior, etc. Great point!
The Gap Effect - you got it :) That is a bloody excellent idea for an episode! I have a couple of edits to do, and will make a start on this. Thank you for this suggestion, Nikola!
@@KendoCoach Glad you love the idea for Gap Effect, I cant wait for that one :) Also loved the one where you say that we should coach people. I always noticed that whatever you do, people who want to improve do it anyway. And no matter how good your technique or how strong you are in kendo if you dont bring people to that point that they enjoy, they want to improve in and outside the dojo. I mean only recently I did start to think like that, I am 31 and just now I realized that you just have to follow the concept of kendo first definition and not just try bash an opponent faster then they do you :) Like I was blindfolded from when I started till now which is from 11 years, so 20 years kendo.
I mean when I was younger I think kendo did more damage to my character then good honestly, I was young and was always pushed to get some results like we are fighting for millions of dollars.
I think that fundamental problem with popularity of kendo outside Japan is that we try to pitch it like samurai swordsmanship, but especially now with all this new phones and stuff people really will need something like kendo. There is no instant reward in kendo and it can learn you that you need discipline and hardship to improve. All parents send kids to money sports, but do not realize that 1% of kids or less will get to top level...I think kendo could make better results in the long run and help people in life not to be dopamine deprived zombies in the future at least :)
I mean people often asked me when I was kid why you train this, can you beat someone with the stick in street fight :) I mean I would of loved if I could tell them back then I train kendo so I can learn discipline and have later greater chance to do something useful in life. Have an actual response.
I am so happy that your are doing these type of videos about kendo/life. I mean we all do love some nice them kaeshi do-s and stuff but this I think is really important for us outside Japan to realize. I just recently started using all the discipline I got from kendo and I got it for all the wrong reasons, to win some medals honestly but I got the habits really ingrained doing suburi daily really helps. Now try to bleed it out to rest of my activities. The most fun part is after I stopped caring about wins I started making much more of them :)
Cant wait for more of your videos, I think this is the way! I never leave youtube comments. But this I just had to.
Future is coming with all the tech and I think counter balance is very much needed.
Continue please I think this will get popular, I will meet your brother in Zadar and also Ren is now training at our dojo in Novi Sad.
Best regards,
Nikola
@@isshinkendo2464 Thank you for this comment! You mentioned what it was like as a kid being asked: 'does kendo teach you how to beat someone up with a stick?' (and variations like: 'whats the point in training kendo? You're no good without a stick...'). I recall that my high-school teacher asked me: 'what would you do if you were approached in a dark alley? Would kendo help you?' TBH, I didn't know how to respond at the time, so I asked my older brother, Alex Bennett. I still remember his response: 'Kendo teaches you to stay away from dark alleys!'. (My high school teacher didn't have an answer for that).
Thanks again for your engagement with these videos, Nikola. Yours (and everyone's) comments are really helping me to stay driven to do this. Its heaps of work, but it makes it all worth it when I know there are people getting value from my content. Thanks heaps :)
my theory on how to use this box breathing method goes like this. The flow state is the same concept of Mushin in kendo, by focusing our conscious thought at our breathing during a match, we stop thinking about everything else, enabling us to move our body with instinct. So box breathing method not before the keiko, but literally during the match itself, mid way through your match, you will forget even the box breathing method, and left with no thoughts.
Great connection with 'flow' and 'mushin'! This is a bit above my paygrade, but I wonder what others think about this connection - is flow and mushin the same thing? Does box-breathing in the moment lead to flow/mushin for others? (I'm usually just sucking in air to stay on my feet haha)
Flow-Zone and Mushin have been compared and contrasted academically for many years. Literature on this I recommend: Kendo: It’s Philosophy, History, and means to personal growth written in 1995 by Minoru Kiyota Sensei;
Krein, K., & Ilundáin-Agurruza, J. (2014). An East-west comparative analysis of Mushin and flow. Philosophy and the martial arts, 139-164;
Discussed in my own research, part available in this lecture: ua-cam.com/video/QYSeJADQq_0/v-deo.html
Wishing you happy 🌪️🧠🫀contemplation!
as a beginner i'm having a hard time to last during consecutive kirikaeshi & jigeikos. My stomach hurts because of the way I breathe during keiko. what's the best breathing technique to last longer sensei
Its possible that you are experiencing the 'stitch'. Check out this link and let us know how you get on :)
www.healthline.com/health/stitch-when-running#causes
💪
Could anyone tell me what dojo she is from? It was mentioned in the video, but I sadly didn't understand what they were exactly saying at that moment, because my English isn't very good.
Her dojo is in Chengdu, China. She and her husband run it. Google her name and you will find it.
@@echopapacharlie thanks
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