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

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

Repetition is Killing Their Progress

With nearly three decades of experience in coaching and coach development—both in the dojo and at a leading university—I’ve seen this pattern time and time again: Coaches rely on repetition, thinking it will automatically make their students better.

But here’s the BIG mistake: Repetition without context or variation delays real progress—and worse, leaves students totally unsure what to do when it counts. And that’s a major problem. This frustration can lead to a loss of motivation... or worse, it could see them quit kendo entirely.

So in this post, I’ll explain how our common-place approach to repetition in kendo could be killing people’s progress, and I’ll give you a simple activity that helps keep people motivated and learning.


Why Repetition Without Context Kills Progress

For the longest time, I thought the secret to making people good at kendo was drilling the basics over and over—getting that muscle memory locked in. But based on my research in the field of sport coaching, here’s what I realised: Repetition without challenge can create a false sense of progress. Movements can look sharp in drills, but when it comes to sparring or matches, things often fall apart.

My students would get blocked, hit hard, get frustrated, and I kept wondering, Why?

Then, through my PhD research, I came across ecological dynamics and constraints-based coaching—and suddenly, it all started to click. These approaches emphasise learning through modified realistic scenarios rather than isolated drills, helping athletes develop decision-making skills in dynamic environments.

In kendo training, we perfect techniques in a controlled environment, without preparing students for the unpredictability of real situations. But if students only learn to perform in perfect conditions, they’ll never adapt when things get messy. And that’s where progress really stalls.

To be clear, it’s not that repetition is the problem—it’s that repetition disconnected from real situations like jigeiko or shiai can slow down progress. Drills are fine, but they need to be paired with realistic scenarios.


How to Fix Repetition & Accelerate Progress in Kendo

Yes, the basics are crucial. We need a solid foundation, and I’m not saying we should do away with kihon. In fact, kihon builds the fundamental movements and discipline necessary for all aspects of kendo. But it’s equally important to provide students with opportunities to apply these basics in dynamic situations.

So, with this in mind, let me share an activity that I’ve found works really well to weave in the unpredictability people need to make the most of their kihon.


Activity: React & Adapt 

This activity helps students shift from mindless repetition to real-time decision-making—without throwing kihon out the window. The goal? Train them to actually read an opponent, not just swing at a predictable target.

Setup
Two players. One attacker, one defender. The attacker approaches with varied tempo and angle, while the defender gives realistic blocks—raising the shinai, dropping the kensen, shifting kamae. Just enough to provoke a reaction or warrant a realistic decision in that moment.

How It Works

  • The attacker closes distance slowly, changing speed and intent as they go.
  • The defender reads the seme and reacts—blocking what they think is coming.
  • The attacker then has to adjust on the fly to strike through the opening that appears.

What It Trains

  • Reading opponent cues in motion, not just static targets
  • Changing seme height and angle to draw reactions
  • Executing kihon with adaptability—not just accuracy

Coach Notes
Encourage attackers to explore how different types of pressure—high/low, fast/slow, omote/ura—change what the defender does. For beginners, keep things simple and slow. For seniors, make it continuous until an ippon is scored.

Make It Fit Your Group
You can stretch or simplify this with tweaks to space, speed, pressure, or role clarity. Start safe and slow, then layer in complexity. This isn’t about trickery, it’s about sharpening their ability to see, adapt, and strike with purpose.


The Real Problem Isn’t Repetition—It’s Predictability

So, is repetition bad? No. But repetition without context—without challenge, decision-making, or unpredictability—is the BIG mistake. It gives students the illusion of progress while quietly stealing their ability to adapt when it matters most.

If your students are sharp in drills but lost in jigeiko, that’s the warning sign. It means they’re learning movements, not kendo. The fix isn’t to scrap basics, but to build in realism, pressure, and decision-making from the very start.

That's exactly what the free Kendo Fundamentals Session Plan is designed to do. (Shameless plug alert)… You’ll get:

  • One plug-and-play session
  • Three common beginner pitfalls, solved!
  • 5 Activities in one session that actually help students progress

Brian still thinks the answer is more men-uchi drills and louder kiai. We love him, but don’t be like Brian. Grab the free plan here.


Up Next: The UGLY Truth About Teaching Basics in Kendo

Most dojos teach beginners with big, booming men strikes. It's tradition. It's loud. It looks right.

But what if that’s actually slowing your students down? In the next post, I’m pulling apart one of the most baked-in assumptions about kendo basics—and yeah, it might ruffle a few hakama. 

Read it here with an open mind. Or don’t. But it’s coming either way. 😉