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Junichi Haga, genius of the Showa Period. Joined Hakudo Nakayama’s Yushinkan. Along with Kiyoshi Nakakura and Gorozo Nakajima, eventually became known as Yushinkan’s “Three Crows”, a Japanese expression meaning 3 top practitioners of near equal skill.

Though after the war, he worked hard to keep the art of Kendo alive, once Kendo regained its place in the mainstream and gained structured organization, he returns once again to being a private swordsman, and focused on honing his own skills and instructing the new generation.

Before long, the group of practitioners gathered around Haga came to be known as Haga Dojo. The Kendo and methods for practice that Haga believed in were carefully protected, and that Kendo, some forty years after Haga’s death, is still alive today.

Uki Terukuni, who received instruction directly from Haga, explains Haga’s Kendo.

- Take a large back swing and strike. Also put emphasis on positioning to the left and right
- How to grip the Shinai. Swing a heavy object freely back to forward, from left to right
- The concept behind the Kamae (ready stance) : The purpose of the Kamae is to create an inevitable change
- The Ayumi-ashi (footwork) and Hiraki-ashi (defensive stance) of Junichi Haga
- Ayumi-ashi : Inducing Kyoku-giwaku through smooth footwork
- Hiraki-ashi : Always maintain a firm stance from where you can attack
- Counter Opponent Movement : In Kendo, attack the opponent’s spirit and technique with your spirit and technique
- The Points of an Attack that Start with the Tsuki
- Unbalance your opponent with the Tsuki attack
- Using the Shinai to Cut : Kendo was born from sword fights
- Keep striking until you score : Repeat fast and furious but short practices
- Junichi Haga Quotes


This is an english translation of articles published on KENDO JIDAI 2006 July, August, September.