more questions :)

[decembersnow6]

sorry, i am just so new to this shiai stuff that just have so many questions....
if i were to hit kote, or men, or doh, or a different combo. of the three, do i have to get pass the opponent to score a point?

one other thing, how often to you guys hit tsuki?

thanx!

[tyler]

i think the answer is no. If you stirke with ki ken tai ichi (coordination of body, mind, spirit), and you hit the proper area with the monouchi of the shinai (ruffly the last quarter of the blade), then you make good zanshin (lingering awareness manifest in your posture, kiai and maai), that is what is required for a point. You could hit and go past, which is great because you put distance between your opponent and you.
But you could also strike and then give a good solid tai-atari and do something else, as long as you have good control of the maai and show strong zanshin. The thing not to do is freeze in place, or relax your concentration thinking you've scored. Keep aware and ready to move, and don't be in killing distance doing nothing.

thats my guess (= thats what i've been told). I find with myself that i tend to get stuck right in front of my opponent, not doing a good tai-atari or anyting, just landing without momentum. I'm often told to switch it up a bit, try going past or, if not, do tai-atari or just SOMETHING other than standing there. I'm bad for that.

tyler




sorry, i am just so new to this shiai stuff that just have so many questions....
if i were to hit kote, or men, or doh, or a different combo. of the three, do i have to get pass the opponent to score a point?

one other thing, how often to you guys hit tsuki?

thanx!

[Andoy]

Tyler's right. I was told the same by my senseis. Now about tsuki....

I'm assuming that since you're new to shiai, you're not a dan holder (me too!). I don't think non degrees are allowed use tsuki in taikai, but in everyday practice or practice shiai, you will have to speak with your sensei if you're permitted to use it.

In my area(Pacific Northwest), tsuki is one of those rare moves in taikai....sometimes even in everyday keiko. Maybe because if you miss it, it's dangerous if u miss your target and it leaves you wide open. Although it's a good move when executed properly. The thing is, it requires a fair bit of skill and is usually reserved for degree holders. Well that's just my 2 cents.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Generally, you have to move after hitting, either past your opponent, or back, or sideways, or straight into him (taiatari). If you just stand there after hitting you are very unlikely to get the point, plus you are putting yourself in danger if it does not succeed (which is why you don't get the point).

[decembersnow6]

thax for your inputs.

if i were to attend tournaments, is it neccessary to get a rank(kyu or dan)? becasue i live in the east coast, not close to any of the big cities so it is really hard for me to get to a grading...... i have to drive about 3 hours to get to one. what things can i expect to be in a kyu grading?

[moocow65]

well if it's like any of the gradings over where i live, as long as you show up you'll pass your kyu-test. you have to do some godawful kendo to fail i.e. throwing the shinai at your opponent like a spear, running around like a turkey with no head, etc.

[decembersnow6]

one more question.... if i somehow evaded my opponent and got to the side of him can i hit kote or men and still receive a point?

[Ryukyu]

Regarding taiatari, does anybody have any thoughts on the frequency of suing this as part of your kendo "style".
I have been told by one senior member of my club that it is a strength of mine and that I should develop that as a big part of my kenso.
On the other hand, another senior member told me not to rely on taiatari too much.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. :smiley:

[Andoy]

thax for your inputs.

if i were to attend tournaments, is it neccessary to get a rank(kyu or dan)? becasue i live in the east coast, not close to any of the big cities so it is really hard for me to get to a grading...... i have to drive about 3 hours to get to one. what things can i expect to be in a kyu grading?

Well, It depends on the tournament itself. But usually I think it's ok even if you don't have a rank. For kyus there's usually only one division (Mudansha or non-degree.) Other tournaments split it into two (0-4kyu then 3-1kyu). Well, i think you can jump straight up to ikkyu depending on how far you kendo is coming along, i remember starting out with no rank then being awarded 2kyu after months of practice. I'm not sure how it works down there in the US but in Canada, they start grading for 1kyu. Anything below that is responsibility of the students' dojos.

Again, it may be different in the US but here's how the CKF conducts ikkyu grading:

-Kata (first 3 forms)
-Kirikaeshi(both perform and recieve)
-i don't know the japanese term for this but it's basically just free sparring.

then you hold your breath to see if you've passed....

Ikkyu tests are usually automatic, unless you do something awkward like what was said in the above posts....

hope this helps

[Andoy]

one more question.... if i somehow evaded my opponent and got to the side of him can i hit kote or men and still receive a point?

You sure can. Just finish it off with good kiai and zanshin.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Regarding taiatari, does anybody have any thoughts on the frequency of suing this as part of your kendo "style".
I have been told by one senior member of my club that it is a strength of mine and that I should develop that as a big part of my kenso.
On the other hand, another senior member told me not to rely on taiatari too much.
Any thoughts would be appreciated. :smiley:
Ask your sensei if he thinks you are using it too much or too little. Personally, I prefer beating someone with clean kendo rather than shoving him around. I'll use taiatari when necessary but mostly I prefer not to. Frankly it's not that interesting a game if it's a lot of shoving.

[Ryukyu]

Ask your sensei if he thinks you are using it too much or too little. Personally, I prefer beating someone with clean kendo rather than shoving him around. I'll use taiatari when necessary but mostly I prefer not to. Frankly it's not that interesting a game if it's a lot of shoving.
Thanks Neil.
I prefer clean kendo myself, but being fairly new at it, I just didn't know how much taiatari is acceptable. Especially when you're trying to go through and our opponent doesn't move.
But, yeah, I don't want to win by shoving people around either.

[Haggis]

Thanks Neil.
I prefer clean kendo myself, but being fairly new at it, I just didn't know how much taiatari is acceptable. Especially when you're trying to go through and our opponent doesn't move.
But, yeah, I don't want to win by shoving people around either.

If you have scored a good clean cut on your opponent and they dont move...go through them, theoretically they are dead and you are going forward to engage the next opponent.

I wouldn't think there would be any 'limit' on the amount of tai-atari being used, it is an excellent technique for off balancing your opponent or forcing himself to leave himself open (by getting in under him and forcing his arms up).