Jitoku

How it works

From one keiko to the next.

Jitoku is a kendo training journal that fits into the time you already have: the way home after practice, and a few minutes between keiko. Here is one week, step by step.

  1. Tuesday, after keiko

    Open Jitoku on the way home.

    No phone in the dojo. Jitoku waits until you are out of your bogu, while the session is still in your hands and feet.

  2. Reflect

    Answer three questions.

    What did I actually do? What did I notice in my body? What do I want to try next time? Short answers are enough. You can change the template later.

  3. Tag

    Name what came up.

    A few tags in your own words. Jitoku suggests the ones you have used before, so the same theme gets the same name.

  4. Notice

    See what keeps returning.

    After a few weeks the pattern shows itself. One mark per entry, no scores. The theme you mention most is rarely a surprise, but seeing it makes it real.

  5. Focus

    Choose one thing.

    You decide what to work on, not the app. Your focus moves to the centre of the home screen and stays there until you change it. Insights from your sensei collect beside it.

  6. Thursday, at home

    Practise between keiko.

    Coming soon: small exercises matched to your focus, for a living room or a hallway. Ten minutes, no partner, no bogu.

  7. Next keiko

    Bow in knowing what to look for.

    One glance in the changing room: your focus and the last thing your sensei said about it. Then the phone goes away, and the cycle starts again.

Terms on this page
keiko
Practice, a training session in the dojo.
bogu
The armour: men, kote, do and tare.
jigeiko
Free practice with a partner.
kamae
Your stance and guard, and the readiness behind it.
kiai
The shout that carries a strike.
zanshin
Staying alert and connected after the strike.
debana
Striking the moment your opponent starts to move.

What you need

Five minutes

After each keiko. Exercises at home are optional and short.

Any browser

Jitoku is a web app. Phone, tablet or laptop, nothing to install.

Your sensei

Jitoku does not teach kendo. It helps you keep and use what you are taught.

Try it after your next keiko.

Join the alpha