DO KENDO | ArigaToKendo | Episode 7: How to Properly Suburi — Men | Kote | Do

In this episode, I explain how to practice proper suburi by focusing on the connection between kamae, body movement, footwork, and tenouchi. Suburi is one of the most fundamental exercises in kendo, and developing correct habits here builds the foundation for all techniques. We begin by reviewing correct kamae, including posture, grip, and positioning of the hands and arms. From there, I demonstrate how to raise the shinai (furikaburi), how to generate power using the left hand and hips, and how to apply tenouchi to create an efficient and natural strike. I also explain proper footwork mechanics—how to push with the left foot, move the body as one unit, and maintain balance and posture—before combining everything into basic strikes: men, kote, and do. This video is intended for beginners learning suburi for the first time, as well as experienced practitioners who want to revisit the fundamentals and refine their basics. In this episode: Review of proper kamae and posture How to raise the shinai correctly (furikaburi) Using the left hand and hips to generate power Fundamentals of tenouchi Correct forward and backward footwork Basic strikes: men, kote, and do Common mistakes and corrections 00:00 Introduction – Purpose of Suburi Practice 00:25 Review of Proper Kamae 00:55 Upper Body Posture and Grip 01:30 Position of Hands and Shinai 02:05 Furikaburi – Raising the Shinai 02:40 Generating Power with the Left Hand 03:15 Body Movement and Footwork Coordination 03:55 Demonstration – Men Suburi 04:40 Demonstration – Kote Suburi 05:15 Demonstration – Do Suburi 05:55 Combining Body Movement and Strike 06:30 Key Points to Remember 07:00 Final Advice ⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is for general instruction and personal study. It does not replace guidance from your own sensei and does not guarantee success in examinations (shinsa). If you found this helpful, please like, share, and subscribe. Your support helps us continue sharing kendo with the community. 📌 Subscribe for more kendo fundamentals, technical breakdowns, and traditional training concepts. #Kendo #Suburi #KendoBasics #DoKendo #ArigaToKendo #Tenouchi #KendoTraining #MartialArts #JapaneseMartialArts #剣道 #剣道稽古