Meiji-mura

[AlexM]

I have another question (big surprise),

1) When did the first Meiji-mura tournament take place? (the one for all the 8th dans). Was it 1977 or earlier?

2) While we're on the subject, what's it like to see 8th dans fighting each other. I can imagine that it doesn't look much like the All-Japan Taikai but it must be interesting nonetheless. Do they honestly fight mostly through pressure and minimal movement?

Thanks again for any answers and feel free to discuss the subject of 8th dan tournaments if you feel like it.

[Steve]

I've seen a few 8th Dan matches (via video tape only unfortunately) and it was incredible. Players at that high of a level are playing in a manner that you usually only see in text books. Essentially, they are striving for 1 strike resulting in 1 point. most of the match is spent setting up for this attack via seme. You can cut their mutual tension with a knife. They use nuki waza, suriage, katsugi, and others as easily, smoothly, and as quickly as if it were childs play.

What really stunned me the first time i saw it was just how powerful these men's Kiai was. These guys were quite old to, but there kiai was literally booming out of them. Truly impressive.

[Shiro]

I might have an occasion to see 8th dans at work soon. I'm really looking forward to that moment and I hope they will do a shiai. Anyway, I'll probably post about this, I think it will impress me a lot :).

[xvikingx]

.....what's it like to see 8th dans fighting each other. I can imagine that it doesn't look much like the All-Japan Taikai but it must be interesting nonetheless. Do they honestly fight mostly through pressure and minimal movement?

I can't answer the other questions but...
I watched a 8-dan tourny on video and it is interesting at first but then it gets a little old. Very little movement, ippon in encho. I like watching the young guns.