Tournament Entry

[nodachi]

I have a question about entering tournaments...

So, if you are on a college team, I can clearly see that there are tournaments and things amongst the college Kendo scene. However, what happens after that? At my current level and at my dojo, tournaments are not talked about because many of us are either not ready for more than just local shiai with the local clubs or they are too young for it to be of any concern. The sensei and the adults go to their own Taikai, but I never hear about it because it is connected to their other dojos that they attend. So...

How does one enter tournaments? Do you only enter them through your college or dojo? Do people enter them as individuals, or is that even possible?

Please enlighten me as I have no clue about this aspect of Kendo and where and how people find their way into tournaments.

[alexpollijr]

Hmm that's a tough question to answer.

Most of the time, the presence of Dojo members in tournaments is defined either by the Dojo Captain or the Sensei. So I believe that if you have not been called upon, is because they have no tourny for you to participate.

You can, however, check the ZNKR page ofr upcoming taikai and see if there's any who's open to your category, and then you can get the info to enter it.

Down here in southern Brazil we have four taikai in which we could participate.

1) Metropolitan Taikai (local) : Everyone from my state can enter. Since we're the only regular dojo down here it's mostly a local tourny. This one defines who's going to be part of the team who's going to the nationals.

2) South Regional Taikai (region) : To be held for the first time this year. Will feature dojo from the three southermost states of Brazil. Anyone from any dojo in these three states can enter.

3) Brazilian Nationals : Team members are selected from the metropolitan taikai. Individuals must be recommended by the Dojo captain to the federation.

4) Absolute (no grade disctincions) Kendo Taikai : held in the middle of the country, national scope. Members must be recommended by the Dojo Captain.

Hope it helps

[nodachi]

Thanks for the info. I am not interested in going to tournaments yet anyway. I want to focus on some different things first. I was just curious for when the time comes down the road.

Any other countries got info their tournaments?

[Tato]

Hi Nodachi

If you came to Spain you will find two distinct kind of tournaments, one hand there are the regional-national tournaments, to compete on those you must be from a dojo of the region, or from the regional team for the national. (or from the national team for the European).

Then there are the "open tournaments" for those you just need to send the organizers your inscription.

I believe that the rest of the European countries follow more or less the same schema. (Nakamura cup in Belgium, Paris Open, etc). But maybe some people from those countries can provide more precissions.

Rei

[AlexM]

In Canada tourneys are generally come-one-come-all. If you're a member of a dojo (and the dojo wants you to compete obviously) than you register when the invites are sent out.

Sometimes we restrict the number of dojos that participate. For example, the McGill Taikai has always been limited to dojos from Quebec (Province of) and Ottawa (don't if that will change this year). This is because there is a limited amount of shinpan available to us. Tournaments in Toronto for instance are generally open to all (200+ people at the last U of T tournament, about 70 more than the year before).

The only thing I know about tournaments in the US involves the University ones. And unfourtunately these tourneys are closed to all except university undergraduate students (Which makes about 75% of our university dojo, including myself, ineligeble. Needless to say we don't attend).

[Raiza]

I hope the McGill Taikai will include Ottawa again this year...is it in May? You can send the info via saki.

[m_french]

In the SCKF there are 4 or 5 tounaments per year (I beleive), when i was up north almost every Dojo had a Taikai plus there was the N/S tounament and the NCKF championships. California is a great place to be if you like Kendo!:beard:

[Inouye02]

thats because the west coast has the best kendo...just look at Team U.S.A..need i say more ..

[Kendoka]

In Australia, some clubs or dojos have their own internal taikai.

Some clubs even run an inter club or invitational competition

We also have State and National championships. The clubs select and enter teams in the womens, kyu and open (usually dan) championships and we have individual competitionin those categories plus children and veterans (over 40).

Most clubs will participate in their state competition and the states all select teams for the National Championships.

[samurai999]

Inoye2, I think the only non-californian on the US team is Farmer of the womens team. I think there might be 2 now since another is out with the same injury I have....

Tim

[Inouye02]

i think shes from chicago , but she lives in so cal , i think ..

[Inouye02]

oooops my bad , womens team has elizabeth marsten from seattle ..

[samurai999]

hehe.. My bad.. There were 2 to begin with. There might be 3 now.

Tim