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 Psychology Behind Strong Dojo Culture

People don’t *usually leave the dojo because of the training. They leave because the culture stops meeting their psychological needs. This post breaks down the science behind strong dojo culture, and what you can do to keep students coming back.

Simple Kendo Coaching Strategies for Faster Progress

Even solid training can lead to stalled progress if your drills lack context, decision-making, or stakes. This post lays out simple, effective coaching tweaks to keep students engaged and improving—without reinventing your session plan.

The BIG Mistake Kendo Coaches Are Making (And How to Fix It)

One of the biggest barriers our students face in their kendo is not knowing what to do when they’re facing an opponent. And if you don’t find ways to help them with this fast, it could be the primary reason students quit before they ever succeed.

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.