This is necessary to take advantage of the five basic times of attack:

1. A moment of distraction, breath change, a blink or outside disturbance or thought (Sen- sen-senno-waza).


2. Immediately prior to the beginning of any action (Sen-senno-waza).


3. As the mind is involved in beginning the action (Dehana Waza and Senno-waza).


4. As the mind is involved ni the finish of the action (Renzoku and Oji-waza).


5. As the mind relaxes just after the completion of the action (Hiki-waza).

Each of these points is known as a Suki or 'mind stopping' and it is only at these times that it is possible to strike. It is impossible to be so fast as to hit even a novice, providing he has normal reflexes and a basic knowledge of Kendo. Speed is of importance but of no use unless timed correctly. The crucial moment which will decide whether or not the attack is a success is not the moment at which the blow lands but the moment at which the blow starts. Since we can hit many times, even in the early days this aspect is often not fully understood and since the above five moments are constantly occurring and re-occurring there are plenty of opportunities. The idea is to take them as definite applications rather than merely by luck.