PUBLIC MARKS with tags kendo & seme

by David Aguero The dictionary defines seme as “attack.” There are two types of seme the visible and the invisible. The visible seme where one pressures an opponent with a sword movement or a body move. The invisible seme is a pressure applied to an opponent to strike with or without the sword pointing at the opponent. In application seme or ‘attack’ can be thought of as applying an ‘imminent attack pressure.’

By Lorenzo Zago 7th Dan Renshi Translated by Emmanuele Levi In the last few years, through ever increasing familiarity Japanese sensei, we have gradually become more acquainted with kendo terms that describe aspects, attitudes and feelings experienced during the execution of an attack. By attack I mean the phase that precedes and follows the execution of the cut. These terms are quite specific and, therefore, complex. Unfortunately, their “real” meaning often tends to get lost in literal or lazy translations.

February 23, 2010 | by George McCall The following is the translation of some notes written by Furuya Fukunosuke hanshi during a kendo lecture at a Yoseikai gasshuku in Nara, 2001*. Furuya hanshi sadly passed away in 2008 but his teachings have been recorded by one of his top students – Uegaki sensei – and published in book format.