8 dan tournament videos (1999)

[Halcyon]

Here they are in order and in one group. I focused on the matches of the two sensei who made it to the finals, Toda sensei and Yamada sensei. Toda sensei in particular, because of the general paucity of good clips of nito kendo.

Third round, Yamada vs. Ishida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moKiLtA_cCA

Third round, Toda vs. Iwatachi (Probably my favorite nito match of this series. That last men by Toda sensei, preceded by the shoto manipulation, is just so satisfying.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f7l9_eKiuQ

Quarterfinals, Toda vs. Kai (A rare match-up between nito vs. gyaku jodan.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqjbFYcpxD4

Semi-finals, Toda vs. Taba (??)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fZzA13yWFo

Semi-finals, Yamada vs. Yono (??)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBRSJOMizNM

Finals, Toda vs. Yamada (A fine example of how to fight against nito.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U2ModhhI9k

[Kingofmyrrh]

Thanks for the videos. Just FYI, the names are "Iwatate" and "Yano".

[Halcyon]

Thanks for the videos. Just FYI, the names are "Iwatate" and "Yano".
Thanks! I was hoping someone would chime in with the correct names.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

thanks for the vids halcyon, they´re awesome.

[Halcyon]

In that quarter-finals match between Toda sensei and Kai sensei, what do you think Kai sensei gains by going into gyaku jodan against nito? It seems to me that it might be better to go into hidari jodan to get access to Toda sensei's shoto kote. But maybe Kai sensei is trying to prevent easy access to his right kote in chudan?

[Sakari]

what do you think Kai sensei gains by going into gyaku jodan against nito? It seems to me that it might be better to go into hidari jodan to get access to Toda sensei's shoto kote

In that case would it not be simple to hold the shoto so that it would block constantly the hand holding it and also men from that side? With gyaku jodan Kai at least has a distance advantage to the kote on daito side while maintaining the foot position to which he may be more accustomed.

On the other hand the issue could be just that he is trying to make the situation equally novel for both sides. As far as I understand Toda has considerable experience with hidari jodan also.

[...]the names are "Iwatate" [...].

Iwatate, Saburo from Chiba by any chance?

[Oroshi]

Iwatate, Saburo from Chiba by any chance?
That's what it says :)

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

I don´t know if Kai sensei uses to play in gyaku jodan, however, I noticed that he went mainly for the MEN all the time, so in that situation, he gains a lot, considering that blocking his MEN strike would require the use of the daito instead of the shoto.

[Halcyon]

;258986']I don´t know if Kai sensei uses to play in gyaku jodan, however, I noticed that he went mainly for the MEN all the time, so in that situation, he gains a lot, considering that blocking his MEN strike would require the use of the daito instead of the shoto.
I don't quite get your reasoning. Toda sensei would protect his men with his daito regardless of whether his opponent uses hidari jodan or gyaku jodan. In fact, if Kai sensei used hidari jodan, he could possibly have a shot at Toda sensei's migi-yoko-men, right?

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

If he would be on hidari jodan, his MEN would be at the center but it would go describing a diagonal trayectory.. so, a bit to the left side, I think it would be a natural possibility for Toda sensei to block it with the shoto and hit MEN at the same time, my knowledge of nitto is very poor anyway, I´m guessing.

So, attacking from gyaku jodan, he forces to block with the daito, if he blocks with the daito, he won´t score on him, to score an ippon from nitto you need to hit with the daito I understand, so he covers that and also, if Toda sensei goes for MEN, I think gyaku jodan would have an advantage in speed, and Toda sensei wouldn´t be able to block it.

[Ignatz]

I think with gyaku jodan the daito is taken out of play except for Do (which gives you the opportunity for men). They both are attacking from the same relative side. However, the jodan player has the reach advantage because he is using a 39 while the nito player has a 37. Also the shoto is of no use for blocking and setting up a counter with the daito because any attack will be on the daito side.

Problem is that it is a Mexican Standoff as you can see from the video.

[Charlie]

Awesome vids, man. Thank you.

[Black Knight]

Toda sensei is amazing. He looks very tough. If you get in his grill, he'll shove you! :)

[Ignatz]

Toda sensei is amazing. He looks very tough. If you get in his grill, he'll shove you! :)

That kind of bothered me. I came from a very, very agressive phyisical kendo and have over the last several years tried to make my technique more "beautiful".
On the one hand I know that many people want to crowd the nito player, mostly, I think, because they don't know what else to do. I understand the frustration and the unwillingness to allow that. However, it kind of looks ugly.

[Kingofmyrrh]

Toda sensei is amazing. He looks very tough. If you get in his grill, he'll shove you! :)

Trust me, he's as gentle as they come.

[ahmed61086]

That kind of bothered me. I came from a very, very agressive phyisical kendo and have over the last several years tried to make my technique more "beautiful".
On the one hand I know that many people want to crowd the nito player, mostly, I think, because they don't know what else to do. I understand the frustration and the unwillingness to allow that. However, it kind of looks ugly.

I kind of agree with you, but, dont you think that it fits into kendo. Since we are simulating a real fight when in shiai. Isn't there room for some toughness?

I personally think I am too gentle in shiai. But there is one thing I will never resort to, is pushin up on someone after they hit me, so they fall flat on their back. I didn't see toda sensei do anything gratuitous.

[Halcyon]

I think with gyaku jodan the daito is taken out of play except for Do (which gives you the opportunity for men). They both are attacking from the same relative side.
Hmm. I'm going to have to disagree with you there John. By taking gyaku jodan, I think Kai sensei actually exposes his right kote as a target because it is on the same side as Toda sensei's daito. Toda sensei goes for the right kote a number of times -- around the 0:40 mark, twice just before the 2:55 mark and also at the 1:40 mark (which he misses, but it's followed up by an amazing ukenagashi move with his shoto straight out of kendo-no-kata.)
Also the shoto is of no use for blocking and setting up a counter with the daito because any attack will be on the daito side.
Well, yes and no. Check out Kai sensei's spectacular katate-kote-men around the 0:55 mark. I mean, how do these old guys pull off something like that?

[Ignatz]

Sure he exposes his right kote and Toda exposes his left kote. They both have men also. So it is ukiotoshi or a speed contest which generally ends in a tie for no ippon. That's what I meant by taking it out of play.
If I am doing nito with the daito in my right hand and my opponent takes jodan, there isn't really an opening (except for the occasional elbow. . .ooops)

I'll watch them again (and again and again. . .can I get them on dvd?)

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

Check out Kai sensei's spectacular katate-kote-men around the 0:55 mark. I mean, how do these old guys pull off something like that?

I think Toda sensei should have thought something similarin that moment.