Teaching is learning

Today, we split into two groups for practice.

I was assigned to teach the basics to two beginners.

Well, it’s not easy to teach the basics to brand new students with no prior kendo experience.

In fact, it’s extremely difficult.

But while I was thinking about how should I teach so that the beginners could understand easily, or while doing some research, I made so many new discoveries that made me think, “Ah, now I understand!”

In other words, having the opportunity to teach beginners gave me time to think deeply about each and every movement that I had previously performed ‘automatically’ without thinking.

For example…

Why do I need to keep my left pinky finger half-hooked when holding the shinai?

Why, even though I’m right-handed, do I have to focus so much on properly using my left hand?

Why do I have to always maintain my kamae?

What exactly is a correct kamae?

What’s the difference between ‘maintaining’ a kamae versus ‘freezing’(itsuki) in it?

Why shouldn’t I reach forward with my right foot when striking the men?

My right foot is already in front, so why do I initiate movements with my left foot?

What exactly does it mean to push with your left leg?

Or, what does it mean to ‘strike with your hips” (koshi de ute)’?

And so on…

Before teaching others, I want to understand the logic behind each movement myself. even if I actually can’t move correctly…

When Sensei asked me to teach beginners, I honestly had a brief (no, a huge) desire to participate in advanced training with the other yudansha (ranked people).

But as a student who is allowed to have some rank, I also believe that I have the challenge, or rather the responsibility, of growing as a teacher…

With that in mind, I set myself to focus on teaching beginners.

Thanks to this opportunity, I could have the time to stop and think about important things that I would never have noticed in regular practice, and I feel quite humbled.

Teaching is learning!

Well…

I will go to practice again tomorrow ♪