Takahashi Kentaro Style: Building a Body for Kendo

Following on from last time, we will be asking Mr. Kentaro Takahashi, the training coach for the Japanese national kendo team, to tell us what kind of training is necessary for kendo. This time, in the ninth installment, we will be talking about how to train agility.

Develop agility = faster reaction time

── As you mentioned earlier, there are various ways to train your overall endurance and muscle endurance, but how should you train your agility?

Takahashi:Yes. In the case of agility, it means shortening reaction time, so I think the keyword is reaction. For example, one way to do this is to have someone give you a signal like forward, backward, right, or left while you're in a stance, and then move immediately in accordance with that signal."

Takahashi:Another thing that is often done is to hit each other when the drum sounds, which is also a form of training to speed up reactions. Also, starting to move when there is a signal like a clap of the hands. I think a simulation would be good, so without holding a bamboo sword, someone would give a signal, like "Ready, set, go!", and when that signal comes, you would take even just one step forward. This is training that you can do on your own."

Get ready, concentrate, react to the signal and hit the ball as quickly as possible

Takahashi:Well then, let's go. Please go when I give you the signal. Concentrate. That's right."

Takahashi:Yes, let's try again. Yes, let's try again. Yes. It's something like this."

Concentrate while lying down and react to a signal to stand up as quickly as possible

Takahashi:Another thing that is often done is how quickly you can stand up from a sitting position."

──It's directly related to kendo, isn't it?

Takahashi:Yes, I do. I think that increasing reaction speed is directly related to kendo."

Takahashi:Be careful not to bump into each other. It might be a good idea to practice this as well. Stand up quickly when you get the signal and stand there.

Takahashi:Oh, it's late (laughs)

Players"Lol lol lol"

Takahashi:It's a lot slower than I thought (laughs). The training athletes are a lot faster. They get up in a flash. Yeah, yeah."

player"Can I use my hands?"

Takahashi:You can use your hands."

──That's about as late as waking up (laughs).

Takahashi:Lol lol lol”

Players"Lol lol lol"

Takahashi:Okay, I'll go. It's too late. One more time."

player"It's impossible."

Takahashi:Let's try again. Improve your reaction time. Your body won't move unless it receives a proper command from your brain. Okay, wake up. Okay. Let's try again. Okay, okay."

Next time: "Exercises using bamboo swords"

This time, we will be explaining how to train your agility.

In kendo, speed of reaction time, such as how quickly you can catch the opponent's striking point, is a very important element, so it is important to train in this type of training as well. Training to get up from a lying down position is an action that everyone does every day, so I thought that by simply focusing on doing it as quickly as possible, it could naturally become a part of everyday training.

In the next episode, we will be teaching you about exercises using bamboo swords. Please look forward to it!

Related article

"The Japanese Kendo National Team Coach Teaches You What Kind of Training (Muscle Training) is Necessary for Kendo" [Kentaro Takahashi] #10 "Exercises Using Bamboo Swords"

"The Japanese Kendo National Team Coach Teaches You What Kind of Training (Muscle Training) is Necessary for Kendo" [Kentaro Takahashi] Total of 10 Parts