Kangeiko 2004

The start of 2004 saw an addition to the dojo calendar, the new Hizen Kangeiko (winter training). This was to be four days of training to usher in the New Year. Jeff Humm sensei invited a senior as well as two relatively new members to give their impressions of the Kangeiko.

'"Wish for cool water and receive sake"''

Hizen Dojo Kangeiko diary 2004

Satoshi Miyamura'''

Saturday 3rd January

After the intemperance of Christmas and the New Year celebrations, I really looked forward to the start of kendo practice and to get back into the normal rhythm. I think many people felt the same. I arrived at the sports centre around 9:40 and there were already about 4-5 people waiting in the cold for the door to open. By the time the door opened there were more than 15 people. In the changing room everybody exchanged greetings and talked about what they did over the holiday. There was a general sense of excitement about the first kangeiko (mid-winter practice) and perhaps a bit of concern about what "traditional winter training" would involve.

The session started with a toast to the New Year. Following the kendo tradition in Kyushu, we drank a cup of sake. "Fukuju (happy and long life)" was the brand name of the sake - very appropriate to celebrate the start of the new start of the year at Hizen dojo. Drinking sake at the beginning of the year has an important meaning of purging oneself, although it is also the case that kendo training is a synonym for drinking sake. Sake was a big part of New Year celebrations at the dojo I went as a young boy in Tokyo as well. This dojo was close to the local community and during kangeiko there was always many people gathering to exchange sake cup, although some of those people were not necessarily there for kendo but for the sake and shiruko (soup with sweetened small beans and rice cake) offered after the practice.

Then Jeff explained to us the purpose of kanegeiko and told us to see it as a personal challenge/ pilgrimage. After that we did the normal rei at the beginning. The mokuso this morning lasted nearly 5 minutes. The hall became very quiet apart from the gentle sound of the air conditioning turning on and off. I could feel the warmth of sake sinking into my body. This long mokuso at the beginning and the end of keiko was a very good idea because it allowed us to look into our inner side. I tried to drive out various thoughts from my mind by reminding myself of what I should achieve at this keiko. The target I set myself coming into this kangeiko was to put forth every effort into every single cut, especially in terms of footwork.

After mokuso, we stood up and warmed up our body by running, stretching, and suburi. It was very difficult until I started perspiring but once I have broke the sweat I felt better. The first half of today's session was spent without putting our men on. We did basic cuts, kirikaeshi, and some applied techniques like hikimen against men and oikomi men. Then we put our men on and did kirikaeshi, uchikomi, and short jigeiko. The session ended with a 5 minutes mokuso and then we all went down to the pub to celebrate our triumph over the first kangeiko session.

Sunday 4th January

Compared to yesterday, the atmosphere in the changing room is quiet. Everybody is suffering from muscle pain and looks slightly tired. Today we were fortunate to have Fujisawa sensei joining the practice. After the 5 minutes mokuso and rei, we immediately put our men on. Half of the session was spent on basic practice like kirikaeshi, men uchi, kote uchi, etc. After that we did kakari geiko with senior members as motodachi, and then some jigeiko. It was some time since I last had the opportunity to do a jigeiko with Jeff and I enjoyed it very much. I learned a lot from the way Jeff exercises pressure and keeps strong centre. Afterwards he gave me advice that I am cutting too big and that I should try to maintain my movement more compact. At the end of the practice we spent about 15 minutes doing suburi and checking our kamae, posture and body movements.

Monday 5th January

Unlike the last two days, today we had our daily activities during the daytime. In my case I lectured from 9:00 so I had to come in to the university early and prepare for the beginning of the new term. Other people may have had to go through a very busy first day back to work as well. When I arrived at the changing room I was encouraged to see many people eager to face another day of trial. I saw some people putting plaster and tapes on their hand and feet. This reminded me of the time when I trained kendo as student in Japan. During kangeiko or other hard practices, we used a lighter to burn and melt tapes on our hands and feet so that it would not come off during practice. But this also meant that the tape would not come off easily after the keiko and the training camp ended up looking like a field hospital.

Today we spent most of the time practicing jigeiko in mawari geiko format. Jeff stressed throughout the practice that we should discipline ourselves and try to use jigeiko as an opportunity to demonstrate good kendo rather than to think about hitting the opponent. Towards the end of the practice we also did some variation, such as trying to build up kiai and attack at timing of the sound of whistle.

After the practice I felt very good. This was the first time in three days I felt my body was starting to move smoothly. I thought that it was a pity that we have to finish the kangeiko tomorrow. I felt like I can go on for another week.

Tuesday 6th January

The forth and final day of 2004 kangeiko. The number of plaster on people's hand and feet increases. People are tired but also there is a sense of euphoria of finally reaching the last day.

Today we had the whole hall to ourselves, which meant that we had the opportunity to do fumikomi/ suri ashi pracice, kirikaeshi and other basic trainings using the full length of the sport hall. This was very hard and I thought to myself "I cannot believe I wished the kangeiko to last for another week". I had not done this type of practice for a long time. It made me aware of the way I use my body, particularly footwork. Then in the second half of the session we paired up and practiced basic techniques and jigeiko. The session ended again with a toast of Fukuju. After the rei we got together to take a photo. Everybody said well-done to each other and we felt very relieved to have come through the 4-day session.

Finally

The title of this essay is taken from an old Japanese phrase sometimes used to express a feeling to have gained more than expected. We did literally receive very good sake but more importantly what I found during the experience of the 4-day kangeiko was a genuine spirit amongst dojo members and a sense of togetherness. This was not necessarily what I sought or expected, and hence the choice of title.

Kangeiko, together with shochu/doyo geiko, is considered very important in the world of budo. By training under harsh climate and condition one can forge stronger spirit and mind, and hopefully can gain confidence from bearing up to the hard training. The dojo I went when I was a child also had kangeiko at the beginning of each year and it was literally kan-geiko (practice under cold climate) because all windows were opened and the floor was icy cold. At Somers Town sports centre we did not have the opportunity to enjoy the biting cold but still going to kangeiko was a struggle with weakness of mind - the temptation to stay in the warm and comfortable bed, etc. In this sense kangeiko was a personal and spiritual pilgrimage, as Jeff said at the beginning of the first day. But at the same time there was the joy of practicing with fellow kendoka and that was what made the whole experience delightful.

Hizen Kangeiko Report

Natasa Nogic and Alexandra Bandke

We could not wait for these 4 days to come, even lots of people told us, “ You will define the word pain new after these“.

In our new hakamas and keikogis we finally felt, that we belong to the dojo. It was an excitement - how will it look?

We did not know if we would be able to stand the physical and mental part of such extensive training. All that made it more as a challenge.

Though, we have to say thank you to sensei for following Japanese tradition of drinking SAKE before the practice began. To empty the full cups was quite difficult but it helped to loose up, to enjoy the exercises and it killed the germs in our bodies.

The second day was our first time in armour, which was very hard because we felt the full impact of the MEN cut. The extensive practise helped us to focus so we could not complain or think much about it. The first moments were claustrophobic but our concentration was hold together by the person in front of us.

The third day of practise was very hard but also interesting. It was a good process for us as beginners to see and learn from senior members. Some of them were quite keen to practise with us, challenging us and teach us. We did not feel threaten by them.

It was fascinating to see their technique and grace throughout these 4 days, which they had improved through several years of training. We admired them.

Also, that some members of the dojo even after a three hour practise are still ready to explain, teach and trying to work out think - How to meet your opponent.

Now we felt that we could understand better what it actually means to do Kendo.

It was relieving that we did not have to follow targets, therefore we could just concentrate on Kendo. For example sensei explaining how to make a faster cut from the chudan no kamae position.

For us as beginners the best part was to see how it works trying to survive the Training, but even after the hard practise we were looking forward to the next one, surprising how fast it became part of our life.

It was a good way to start the new year and to do Kendo immediately.

All we have learnt in these days is that Kendo isn't just a sport, it is a way of life and our behaviour in practise shows how advanced you are.

It isn't just cuts, it is the movement, self control, tolerance and so many other things which are still want to learn.

We are very grateful to sensei for encouraging us to take part in this training session and the time he has given to us.

We want to say thank you to the members of HIZEN DOJO for having patience and helping through these days.