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  • Table of Contents
    • A Table of Contents (Map of All Articles)
    • Body Maintenance & Development
    • For Beginners, For Kids
    • For Higher Levels
      • How to Strike (a Hit or Ippon)
      • Seme
    • Mechanics
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KendoNotes

To Help Develop the Mind and Body

Story

Yamaoka Tesshu – the Swordsman, Calligrapher and Zen Teacher

January 14, 2020September 6, 2020kiaiLeave a comment

Thanks to a fellow kendo dojo member, I recently started reading the life story of Yamaoka Tesshu (山岡 鉄舟, 1836-1888), a master swordsman, calligrapher and Zen Continue reading →

StoriesCulture, Inspiration, Story

A Furry Three-Legged Trooper Named Duke and Heijoushin (平常心)

July 8, 2019November 3, 2019kiaiLeave a comment
Duke_Standing
The cool “Duke”.

I met and walked a three-legged dog named Duke with a friend a few evenings ago.  He is a cool “dude.”  He had lost Continue reading →

StoriesHeijoushin, Inspiration, Story, Suffering

Witnessing a Transformation in the Demeanor of a Child in Kendo

August 7, 2018July 7, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch

I recently witnessed something quite astonishing.  The demeanor of a young child, who had been learning kendo for at least several years, changed remarkably during a Continue reading →

For Beginners, For Kids, StoriesKids, Story, Transformation

On Fire in Shiai – An Anecdote on the Power of Music

March 26, 2018July 23, 2019kiaiLeave a comment

An old memory came to mind while watching some of the snowboarding events during the recent 2018 Winter Olympics.  I noticed how some of the athletes would rhythmically Continue reading →

StoriesMindfulness, Shiai, Shikai, Story

Kyudo and Kendo – “How Can They Be Identical?”

March 10, 2018August 31, 2020kiai2 Comments

This is a story of a learning experience I had, among many, thanks to a professor and teacher, Yokoyama Naoya (横山直也) sensei, years ago when I was a student in Japan. Continue reading →

StoriesAwareness, Heijoushin, Kyudo, Mindfulness, Story

Categories

  • A Table of Contents (Map of All Articles) (1)
  • Body Maintenance & Development (9)
  • External Sites and Articles (5)
    • Translations by Imoto Sensei (1)
  • For Beginners, For Kids (8)
  • For Higher Levels (20)
    • How to Strike (a Hit or Ippon) (7)
    • Seme (13)
  • Mechanics (12)
    • Fumikomi (3)
    • Gripping the Shinai (7)
    • Techniques, Exercises (2)
  • Mind Management (43)
    • Managing Habits (8)
    • Meditation, Mindfulness (9)
    • Mushin, Flow-State (15)
    • Wisdom, Quotes (9)
  • Shinsa/Shiai (10)
  • Stories (12)

Recent Posts

  • The Experience of ‘No Thought’ – Progressive Relaxation and Edmund Jacobson
  • Progressive Relaxation: “Mother Knows Best”
  • Han Seok-Bong (韓石峯) – Tenacity, Practice and a Tiger Mom
  • Emotions as Gifts, Signals and “Action-Requiring Neurological Programs”
  • “…ing” and Non-Duality – Quotes
  • Mushotoku (無所得), “The Cat’s Martial Arts Assembly” and Path to 10th Dan ;-)
  • Kyo (虚) and Jitsu (実) in Seme – Quotes and Resources
  • “Nothing is resisted, nothing is sought. Everything is allowed to be as it is.” – Surrendering
  • Deep Belly Breathing and the Wim Hof Method

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