54th All Japan Championships final video

[Halcyon]

Here it is, the final match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4i6TASV9WY

[Holmgren-san]

Great video, thanks.

It's kind of a funny pattern in the finals: Suzuki beats Harada(2004), Harada beats Uchimura(2005), Uchimura beats Takanabe(2006). Takanabe beats ????(2007) :tongue: hahaha Who knows? It could happen.

BTW, I loved Uchimura's men in that video. Was that katsugi waza or is katsugi only over the left shoulder?

[nikozamo]

i was in the budokan and just was great that men... was very cool that day... miyazaki sensei was seated just at little more to my right hand o___O!!!

[Masahiro]

very impressive men-uchi, big swing, though the opponent tried to block, Uchimura's hit still got through. He just might be my next favorite player!!!

p.s. I think his opponent was very good also.

[ahmed61086]

Great video, thanks.

It's kind of a funny pattern in the finals: Suzuki beats Harada(2004), Harada beats Uchimura(2005), Uchimura beats Takanabe(2006). Takanabe beats ????(2007) :tongue: hahaha Who knows? It could happen.




That was the first thing that came to my mind. Its as if the loss only makes these guys that much stronger. BTW, does anyone know if Harada competed this year?

[ahmed61086]

Just forgot to mention, isn't Ryoichi's Kiai just so amazing? And unique too, in my experience.

[Masahiro]

after watching the slow mo for like 10 times, was that a katsugi waza that Uchimura used to get the ippon? but instead of the left shoulder, he did a right shoulder katsugi .... interesting!

[Aegean Warrior]

Nice clip, Thanks for the Post.

[Holmgren-san]

That was the first thing that came to my mind. Its as if the loss only makes these guys that much stronger. BTW, does anyone know if Harada competed this year?

Exactly, that's what I was thinking.

I read somewhere that Harada lost in his eighth match against Takanabe. I'm not sure if it's correct, though.

[webjunkie401]

Great video, thanks.

It's kind of a funny pattern in the finals: Suzuki beats Harada(2004), Harada beats Uchimura(2005), Uchimura beats Takanabe(2006). Takanabe beats ????(2007) :tongue: hahaha Who knows? It could happen.

BTW, I loved Uchimura's men in that video. Was that katsugi waza or is katsugi only over the left shoulder?

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thougt that Uchimura beat Furusawa in the final.

[Landorph]

awsome match.. Japanese team is strong...

and as their players grow bigger and healthier.. genetically... their kendo will get stronger...

[Halcyon]

awsome match.. Japanese team is strong...

and as their players grow bigger and healthier.. genetically... their kendo will get stronger...
LOL. This has to be one of the funniest nonsequiturs I have seen on this forum. What are you, Dr. Evil or something?

[Holmgren-san]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thougt that Uchimura beat Furusawa in the final.

My mistake, you're right. :silly:

It was Furusawa. I just read the places wrong from here http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u=http://usagikendo.blogspot.com/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=7&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D54th%2Ball%2Bjapan%2Bkendo%26hl%3Den% 26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8

[Frame]

just in case you guys didn't notice

quater final
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P4cUJolmT5s

semifinal
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f6qV5HVdAF8

semifinal
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DivXuTMtHlA

the guy who uploaded them, he's my hero
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=dodaichi85

[Goyaman]

To answer the earlier questions, Harada Satoru *did* compete this year but lost to Matsumura in the round before the quarterfinals (Matsumura then lost to Takanabe). It continues the trend as when Suzuki Tsuyoshi also lost in earlier rounds in last year's taikai.
The NHK broadcast made note of Harada's early exit and gave him some good face-time nonetheless.

There's clearly a changing of the guard happening now as younger competitors are emerging (Uchimura is 26) and the older, familiar names from the past years are moving up into the 7th and 8th-dan ranks. It seems likely that this could be Harada's last appearance in the All-Japan taikai and afterward Uchimura thanked "Harada sensei" for his help in preparation for this time.

The broadcast also noted that a lot of the senshu in the quarter and semi-finals are on the Japanese team for the WKC (though Furasawa was not). Next month will be interesting to see...

[WhiteWingDemon]

Wow, now only if i could speak japanese.

[JoonShik]

To answer the earlier questions, Harada Satoru *did* compete this year but lost to Matsumura in the round before the quarterfinals (Matsumura then lost to Takanabe). It continues the trend as when Suzuki Tsuyoshi also lost in earlier rounds in last year's taikai.
The NHK broadcast made note of Harada's early exit and gave him some good face-time nonetheless.

There's clearly a changing of the guard happening now as younger competitors are emerging (Uchimura is 26) and the older, familiar names from the past years are moving up into the 7th and 8th-dan ranks. It seems likely that this could be Harada's last appearance in the All-Japan taikai and afterward Uchimura thanked "Harada sensei" for his help in preparation for this time.

The broadcast also noted that a lot of the senshu in the quarter and semi-finals are on the Japanese team for the WKC (though Furasawa was not). Next month will be interesting to see...
You mean next year right?

anyway, yea, I think this could be his last, not in a bad way, but Harada sensei was in it 10 times already, I'm pretty sure he'll just give the game to the younger ones.

[webjunkie401]

I think he means that the WKC next month will be interesting to see. I'm not wrong in thinking that the WKC in Taipei are in Dec, 2006 am I?

Anyway, can anyone remember the name of the senshu using jodan against Uchimura in the quaterfinals (I think)? My memory is failing me hard at the moment.

[xvikingx]

Takasaka Yuusuke (高坂雄介) of Shizuoka.

[StevestonKC]

Great vid, thanks

[webjunkie401]

Takasaka Yuusuke (高坂雄介) of Shizuoka.

Thanks, can't figure out why my head is on the blink... probably too much beer and shochu saturday night.

[xvikingx]

Thanks, can't figure out why my head is on the blink... probably too much beer and shochu saturday night.

NO EXCUSES!

[OverTrack]

To answer the earlier questions, Harada Satoru *did* compete this year but lost to Matsumura in the round before the quarterfinals (Matsumura then lost to Takanabe). It continues the trend as when Suzuki Tsuyoshi also lost in earlier rounds in last year's taikai.
The NHK broadcast made note of Harada's early exit and gave him some good face-time nonetheless.

Minor Correction: Harada beat Matsumura (1 Men to nothing), but lost to Takanabe (Men to nothing in Encho). Both the AJKF website and my notes in my program bear me out on this.

[Alexandra]

I include another video of the final, which I recorded more closely. I got the tickets in the shiajo's floor and so I could record it from the press area.
It was really exciting. I was just in Tokyo those days and so I had the great opportunity to attend this event in the Budokan. The place was packed and the fuikomi was resounding all around in the budokan. The participants were crossing close to me and people were asking them for autographs. Should you have this opportunity one day, I strongly encourage you to attend. I was impressed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUKXN2MG9Ok (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUKXN2MG9Ok)

[Hai_hai]

youtube blocked at work. I'll catch that later.

[Andoru]

Dodaichi-san rocks for uploading loads of kendo videos!

[Goyaman]

OverTrack, correct as you noted on Harada's match. Cleaning the 'ol megane will work wonders on reading the results...

[webjunkie401]

NO EXCUSES!

You're right, I should be training harder in the dojo and at the bar. Quickly, to an izakaya!

[xvikingx]

Quickly, to an izakaya!

Can I come? I could go for some chicken esophagus and some beers half full with foam.
Actually I really could go for some of that.

[webjunkie401]

Let me recover from this weekend (my liver is still on strike) and I'm up for it.

There is nothing scarier than waking up drunk on the train to hear:

まもなく立川です。立川です。終点です。

Especially when you realize that it's time for the last train and you don't have enough yen in your wallet for a taxi back to your futon in Noborito.

[xvikingx]

I loath that word! 終点is the most dreaded word in the Japanese language. It's sole purpose as a word is to inform you that you are either A) a drunk who is stuck all alone in whole other prefecture, or B) an idiot (drunk or sober; you choose) who has gotten on the wrong train again.
And it's always some place out in the sticks too. Always a town that is composed of train station that could double as a fruit stand, a Koban with no one inside, and a convenience store your only safe haven.

[Yo...osh!]

Something I noticed but...

Don't you think Uchimura has a very uncompromising style? From issoku-itto-no-mae position, he leaps in almost immediately every time, seemingly without first fighting for centre like most kendoka do. It's so persistent and in your face, really hard to build communication if you're the opponent.

I noticed he never steps back from issoku-itto-no-mae distance, simply because he never allows his opponent even the slightest time to generate seme.

So his opponent reacts by either going into tsuba, blocking (in which case he finds opening and gets ippon), or attacking in self-defence, in which case he blocks going forwards, which he got punished once in the semi-finals.

In my opinion his kendo isn't exactly "beautiful" kendo, but effective "winning" kendo nonetheless.

[Halcyon]

awsome match.. Japanese team is strong...

and as their players grow bigger and healthier.. genetically... their kendo will get stronger...
BTW, according to the NHK commentator, Uchimura is 170 cm and Furusawa 165 cm. Not exactly giants.

[Masahiro]

Don't you think Uchimura has a very uncompromising style?
Yes, i think so.

It's so persistent and in your face, really hard to build communication if you're the opponent.
yes, it would be, bu his way of fencing is just like any other all japan competitiors. So in that sense I suppose it just goes to show you how tough it is to be in that bunch and compete with them.

In my opinion his kendo isn't exactly "beautiful" kendo, but effective "winning" kendo nonetheless.
I agree, but i also do think his kendo is prettier than others. After all at least he does some big strikes,

[xvikingx]

BTW, according to the NHK commentator, Uchimura is 170 cm and Furusawa 165 cm. Not exactly giants.

It was fun to watch him dance with Takasaka, the 182cm Jodan player!

[Halcyon]

It was fun to watch him dance with Takasaka, the 182cm Jodan player!
I'll bet. I'll have to wait to see the full video. Speaking of height mismatches, Toyama is 186 cm -- a foot and a half taller than Uchimura. It was like watching him play a Wookie.

[Masahiro]

I'll bet. I'll have to wait to see the full video. Speaking of height mismatches, Toyama is 186 cm -- a foot and a half taller than Uchimura. It was like watching him play a Wookie.

I also had the same thought when I saw the semi-final match between Uchimura and Toyama. although, i did notice that Uchimura never let Toyama play at toma maai after the initial men uchi Toyama scored on him in the beginning. Uchimura always fenced at a closer distance than Toyma would have liked (i think)

[lezics]

Somebody knows a link where these videos can be downloaded? Thanks in advance for the help.