What Growing Tomatoes Taught Me About Coaching Kendo

We tell students to ‘just keep cutting’… but what if that’s not enough? Repetition is part of the story. But it’s the conditions, not the count, that shape real skill. In this post, I explore hyakuren-jitoku, ecological dynamics, and what it really takes to help students move from rote to real.

The UGLY Truth About Teaching Basics in Kendo (And How to Fix It)

Most kendo coaches focus heavily on big strikes, believing they are the key to mastering basics. This belief is deeply rooted in traditional training structures, where large, exaggerated movements are often emphasized as foundational exercises for beginners. But here's the ugly truth: this approach might actually be holding your students back.

Why Your Kendo Students Aren’t Improving (Easy Fix)

Why do students crush drills but choke in real matches? This post breaks down how traditional kihon can kill real progress—and shows how to fix it fast using principles from skill acquisition research.