First Taikai

[Anjin-san]

I would really appreciate it if you would talk a bit about your first ever taikai, i.e. how you did, what you did to prepare, and what you would tell a newbie who has his first one in a couple of weeks (i.e. me). Thanks in advance. :surprise:

[tyler]

my first taikai experience was when I'd been in bogu about 8 months. It was summer so my university club didn't have its full compliment as it normally would in the fall or winter months. We were one person short of a full team, so they asked me to fill in. I was nervous but they said don't worry and so the choice was more or less made for me.

in the individuals event, my match came up and I pretty much froze in place, only to get demolished. I felt much better having gotten my first match out of the way though, going through the ettiquette etc..

in the afternoon the team matches began. As we prepared for our first match, I asked our captain for some advice. What he said strikes me now as really good advice for a first taikai: don't stand still. As long as you keep moving, keep paying attention to maai and make a good kamae, your chances improve and it doesn't look as bad if you do get tagged. Try and make positive attacks (obviously) but keep good form and keep moving around. I tried it and got demolished again, though it didn't look half as bad as my first match and I felt much better about it.

The second shiai you go to you'll feel much better about things; the first one is something to be gotten out of the way, so relax and have fun. good luck.

tyler

[Neil Gendzwill]

Relax. Try not to get stuck in tsuba-zeriai all the time. Watch for the chance when your opponent turns around after attacking - this is a good opportunity for beginners that is almost always there and almost always missed. If you can exploit this one, you're ahead of most of the other guys.

[Miravil]

The most important thing is never let your opponent sees you being scared. Always pay full attention toward your opponent. My secret (works for me) is give out your kiai as loud as you can. This is not to scare your opponent, it just give you more blood circulation and sometime calms you down a little. Just like some people wistle when they are scared..... :wink:

[Miravil]

Opps.... Your kiai have to be firm and strong, not any simple kiai will do... :silly:

[Nishi]

Relax, dont take it seriously, and try to enjoy yourself. I watch other bouts check things out, this relaxes me as I enjoy kendo obviously, I even hang out with freinds to have a laugh...the trick is to feel as natural as possible. Ive seen people set the alarm on there mobile phones and sleep...talk about relaxed.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

I Take it youre talking about the Mumeishi 3s ?
In which case you would be the kyu grade in the team ?

SO - just follow the lead of the other guys they will have done this before and will be organising the team

you may end up against another guy with no experience or you may end up with a champ - it matters not - what does matter is how you go to your doom !

Stand tall - show good spirit - make good kiai, move around and try to hit the other guy with the stick before he gets you (but dont worry if you dont)

Now - if only i could get this right i might actually win a bout or two :-)

good luck (unless you happen to be fighting opposite me in which case may confusion root you to the spot so that I can get you ;-))

cheers

[Shazzanzzz]

Haha,

My first ever tournament was horrible. I actually managed to get a lot of hits, but never any points, because i didn't really know what zanshin was. My teamates said many times they started to raise the flags then put it down because i never did any zanshin. I was only a year in doing kendo then... I didn't score any points in that tournament, and i fought like 3 times in teams and once in indivisuals. I was really nervous too in the first match, could hardly sonkyoo. I wasn't scared, just really really nervous.

Thinking back, i don't know why i was so nervous...

I did a lot better my second and third ever tournaments because I wasn't nervous, and because I got better I guess.

[isi]

Whatever you do, don't stop unless you are sure that you heard "YAME" and confirm that you see the shinpan's flags being held in the air.

[Anjin-san]

Thanks everyone for the prompt replies, advice and encouragement appreciated.

Phil, you have me all figured out (I'm Ali from Mumeishi, I'll probably see you at practice tommorow night). The reason I'm worried is that the position in the team is clearly marked 'kyu grade' and well, I'm not a kyu grade, I only started kendo in july.

But I can do what I'm told, as long as the good advice keeps coming in I'll do my best to stick to it. Hopefully my annhilation won't look as bad as it could have had I not asked for help.

Thanks again everyone, I was a bit in the dark but these replies have given me a good insight into what to expect come Mumeishi 3's.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Whatever you do, don't stop unless you are sure that you heard "YAME" and confirm that you see the shinpan's flags being held in the air.

That's excellent advice, except that I would add to ignore the flags altogether. The flags go up, the flags go down, nothing's firm until the shimpan tells you to stop. It's no penalty on you if you don't hear/understand the stop command right away either - he'll yell again if he has to. It's a classic beginner mistake to stop as soon as a flag goes up, only to get smoked because the fight is still on.

Also, pay attention to the ring boundaries. Losing by jogai sucks.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Ali - you will be fine - just do what sensei tells you to when youre in class (lots of spirit lots of attack )

In any case you are in a very good position to win some tin so enjoy it

& yes you are a kyu grade because youre not a dan grade (kendo can be so simple ;-)

best of luck