Seme: Origins of Sen! Strategy and theory of attacking.

Seme is defined as “An attack, offense, assault or Siege”. This is a Kendo term actually that describes he pressure of an attacker puts on their sparring partner prior to an attack. There are two kinds of Seme; visible and invisible or Physical and mental/Outer and inner. Visible/physical, outer pressure is easy to see when you watch a match; its when one person pushes forwards and moves closer, oblique movants that keep the partner moving back or circling in a direction they do not want to move in. Normally this is the whole body moving, good foot work and pressure with the shinai against the now defending partner.  

                Invisible or inner pressure is much harder to see. This pressure can be as simple as pushing harder on the shinai of your partner by minor amounts, but its felt by the partner. Invisible Seme is the most powerful of the pressures, the whole body and intent or mental intent must be communicated to the partner. Invisible Seme or Kurai-sume is the ultimate aim of the Kenshi (Kendo practitioner) because it will unstableness the partner mentally. It makes them reactive and not active in the form of attacking. Metsuke, or gazing into the opponent causes a destabilization of the partners intent, it can cause a mental state of panic or cause them to lose control of their own intent. It can also help you sense any change in intent in Kumite.

                In Karate we use Sen-no-sen, Go-no-sen and Sen-sen-no-sen (may use other term for last one). However in Kendo they use terms like Ken-no-sen, Tai-no-sen and Tai-tai-no-sen to describe the moment of attacking or initiation of the attack/counter attack. These terms were used by the great swordsman Miyomato Musashi and described well by him. Ken-no-sen was the act of attacking just before the opponent, Tai-no-sen was the act of counter attacking after the first strike by the opponent and Tai-tai-no-sen was the act of attacking at the same time as the opponent launches its first attack.

                These theories or descriptions of strategy have been around for many years and use different terms to describe the strategies. Takao Sasaburo, a famous Kendoka, explained these terms using Mittsu-no-sen (Sen-sen-no-sen), in which he stated that the act of striking before the opponent attacks must use Seme to be successful. This is done before the opponent can mentally commit to or generate a strategy or intent to attack. This is essential in creating the correct timing.

                Seme can be used in Go-no-sen or Sengo-no-sen as well. Seme is the art of perception, to counterattack you must first move out of the way of the initial attack, but in such a way as to put you in perfect position to counter the initial attack. And in Sen-sen-no-sen or Senzo-no-sen you need to feel the initial attack coming and initiate a “early counter” attack to stop the opponent as he begins to move. All of these uses Seme or the feeling of pressure in the attack.

                Kendo also brings us other related strategies, such as San-Satsu-no-ho or San-Sappo. These are the three methods of “killing” or dispatching. Ken-o-Korosu is the art of destroying an opponents Hei-jo-shin or normal mind by destroying the “tools” of the attacker, in kendo’s case it is moving, off balancing, or striking the sword, in Karate this is the art of striking a limb. Any number of offensive movements against a limb can fall into this category including striking the leg or arm, sweeping the front foot, jamming the from leg, pushing or “throwing” the arms/hand, slapping the hands. Anything to put the concentration of the opponent into that limb and away from attacking. The idea is to move the weapon out of the center line, put the opponents mind on that limb/weapon and then attack quickly. This is using Seme to create a form of Mental Kazushi (off balancing) and disrupt Hei-Jo-Shin.

                Ken-o-Korosu is sort of the Sen-no-sen of the attacking, its an initial attack that causes the opponent to become mentally and physically off balance.  Waza-no-Korosu is the next level of using Seme or pressure to create an opening or attack. Waza-no-Korosu is to attack the opponent’s techniques. Often called Sen-no-ki or attacking the opponent before hey can attack you. This puts the opponent on the defense, so they cannot generate an attack of their own. This is Sen-sen-no-sen. Essentially it is a blitz style attack that pushes the partner to be defensive and stop them from formulating a counter or initial attack. Often referred to as Suriage-men in Kendo. Essentially its attacking someone with repeated Waza (techniques) to halt or limit their ability to attack you.

                The next level of skill in attacking is Ki-no-Korosu, or killing the opponents spirit/mental balance by forceful Seme that causes unrest in the opponent. This can be done many ways, but pressure and shock are the two essential things you need to keep or introduce to create Ki-no-Korosu. This is were Metsuke comes in! First you have to observe the opponent and use your eyes and mental and physical pressure to off center them, then you have to use movement skill and physical expression (facial and posture) to unnerve the attacker. Also, you can use sounds like clapping, Kiai (spirit shout) and even laughter to unsettle them. Change your timing, rhythm, drop levels, stand up straight, move your arms from one guard position to another, move closer or farther away, oblique step to off set them, essentially move them out of their comfort zone.  All of these create a kind of mental pressure that will “break” the opponent if done correctly. Also moving erratically and unexpectedly will cause a form of mental Kazushi as well.  This stops them from making accurate decisions.

                Regardless of your use of offense, be it Sen-no-Sen or Go-no-Sen you must use Sute-mi when attacking. Sute-mi is “to have no care for your own life” or to throw your grasp of life away when attacking so you have no fear. It’s the total commitment to the attack or strategy that will make it effective or not.

                In conclusion, Seme is more of a feel, attitude or posture that you use to create pressure to use proper strategy like Sen-no-sen. It’s the mental and physical attuited you use to draw this all together. You can not use strategy like Sen-no-sen or Waza-no Korosu with out using proper Seme, if you try it wont work. Seme is the mental state and physical state you use to make these strategies work.