Kendo Help Needed?

Question

I am participating in Kendo.. and ran into few problems. I should really ask sensei this but.. I have hard time contacting him during weekdays.

1.How do I practice sparring techniques alone? Such as side step kote... timing Dos... and etc? (also where do I find new techniques to learn?)

2. I have a bad habit of not extending my arms... how can I fix this?

Answer 1

One of the drills I use with students for timing and sidestepping in fighting, self-defense, and weapons training is to use a tennis ball tied to a string hanging from the ceiling or a doorway. You swing the ball and if you have to let the ball swing several times and slow down then you are waiting too long to react and move and your skill at judging and anticipating its movement is lacking. Try to move on the first swing of the ball as it comes back towards you before it makes contact with you. This will develop your ability to anticipate, judge, and react. Once you can do this easily have someone swing the ball at you slightly faster and faster. The longer the string or the higher it is hung the more time you have so hanging it in a doorway tends to work a little better.

Answer 2

Sneak into a dept store after closing and go to work at the mannequins... or find / make some sort of target that doesn't lead to arrest.

But on your own there is only so much you can do. You can work form and clean up technique, but you can't work timing unless you have someone to time against.