• 2012 WKC in Novara - Day 3

    Published on 29th May 2012 08:52 PM
    17 Comments Comments
    The final day of the 15th WKC featured the men's team event. There were many hard fought matches in the pools, and then the ensuing tournament stage, but eventually the field was narrowed down to the US versus Korea in one semifinal, and Hungary versus Japan in the other. Japan defeated Hungary without too much difficulty, but they will be very satisfied with their first third placing. The United States took Korea to the wire, and Chris Yang scored what must be considered one of the gutsiest ippon men strikes ever seen. In the end it was Korea that prevailed though, and the stage was set for yet another Japan versus Korea grudge match. The atmosphere was tense, and the matches were controversial. In the end it was Japan that won, but at what expense to their reputation? I'm sure passionate debates will ensue. A full report of the WKC will appear in the next issue of Kendo World due out soon.

    TEAMS FINAL - match 1:

    TEAMS FINAL - match 2:

    TEAMS FINAL - match 3:

    TEAMS FINAL - match 4:

    TEAMS FINAL - match 5:



    TEAMS SEMIFINAL 2 - match 1:


    TEAMS SEMIFINAL 2 - match 2:

    TEAMS SEMIFINAL 2 - match 3:

    TEAMS SEMIFINAL 2 - match 4:

    TEAMS SEMIFINAL 2 - match 5:


    Due to a problem with the camera, we could not film the first semifinal between Japan and Hungary... Our sincere apologies.
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    Comments 17 Comments
    1. Charlie's Avatar
      Charlie - 29th May 2012, 10:31 PM
      We can't wait for the next issue! Editorial, Dr. A, please!! Online!!
    1. Scott H's Avatar
      Scott H - 30th May 2012, 04:18 AM
      Trying to find a youtube link to that Yang match mentioned, anyone have it handy?
    1. Toshiro Mifune's Avatar
      Toshiro Mifune - 30th May 2012, 05:14 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Scott H View Post
      Trying to find a youtube link to that Yang match mentioned, anyone have it handy?
      Scott H they are talking about the taisho match for USA vs Korea. After losing a point Yang-sensei goes all or nothing and score men soon after they started again.
    1. verissimus's Avatar
      verissimus - 30th May 2012, 06:18 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Scott H View Post
      Trying to find a youtube link to that Yang match mentioned, anyone have it handy?
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KyBK34l6ts

      Two consective men (one for KOR, one for USA) starting at about the 4:05 min mark.

      Even though he lost, I thought Yang Sensei looked very good. Even though KOR taisho was taller than him, Yang Sensei kept his posture and was even able to knock him off balance several times.
    1. Scott H's Avatar
      Scott H - 30th May 2012, 08:40 AM
      Got it. Thanks guys.
    1. Phillip0701's Avatar
      Phillip0701 - 10th June 2012, 01:55 PM
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvKma...eature=mh_lolz
      This shows the entire final men match between Japan and Korea.

      Wow... I gotta say... Korean kenshis got this hard man... especially the chuken match was totally unfair in my opinion. That Kote at 17:55... Park hits Shodai's Kote once and doesn't get ippon so he hits Kote again in a very clear manner with Zanshin.  No wonder he gets so frustrated afterward. In addition to the Chuken match, the first do ippon is very questionable too at 12:39... Park clearly lowers his guard below his waist, that do hit shouldn't have been ippon. That's because it's not right do.. but it's left do (this is only ippon when you guard above your waist line). Again with Jiho match. At 9:35, Katsumi hits Choi's Kote with no Zanshin and his posture is really bad at the moment when Katsumi hits Choi. That shouldn't have been ippon. Poor Koreans.

      Sempo and Taisho matches were somewhat fair but like I said Jiho and Chuken matches were clearly favored toward Japan. For Fukusho match, however, there is a questionable Kote hit that could have been ippon by Kiwada at 22:22. I'd say this one could have been either way. Ippon or no. Nonetheless, I'd say lack of Zanshin so no ippon. This match was somewhat better for the Korean player. Overall, Japanese were favored more than Koreans in this team match.
    1. Neil Gendzwill's Avatar
      Neil Gendzwill - 11th June 2012, 04:22 AM
      There is no rule about left or right doh being legal depending on kamae. That only applies to kote.
    1. Phillip0701's Avatar
      Phillip0701 - 16th June 2012, 08:08 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Neil Gendzwill View Post
      There is no rule about left or right doh being legal depending on kamae. That only applies to kote.
      Samurais wore their swords around their left doh, that's why left doh has to be precisely struck with good kamae. Are you saying that doh was an ippon in your opinion? If you do feel that way, I strongly beg to differ. That clearly is not an ippon. If that was an ippon, then in taisho match, Lee should've got an ippon for the same left doh strike. In addition, that Kote strike from the Korean player in chuken match should've been an ippon because of his strike, kamae, and zanshin.
    1. MikeW's Avatar
      MikeW - 16th June 2012, 10:20 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Phillip0701 View Post
      Samurais wore their swords around their left doh, that's why left doh has to be precisely struck with good kamae. Are you saying that doh was an ippon in your opinion? If you do feel that way, I strongly beg to differ. That clearly is not an ippon. If that was an ippon, then in taisho match, Lee should've got an ippon for the same left doh strike. In addition, that Kote strike from the Korean player in chuken match should've been an ippon because of his strike, kamae, and zanshin.
      I didn't get any feeling towards whether Neil thought the particular do was valid or not. I think Neil was merely saying that the reasoning you gave about the do strike being valid or not doesn't really come into play as guard position does not enter into it. Gyaku do is harder to get ippon on but but not due to guard position, that's all.
    1. Neil Gendzwill's Avatar
      Neil Gendzwill - 16th June 2012, 11:36 AM
      What Mike said.
    1. ben's Avatar
      ben - 16th June 2012, 06:40 PM
      Shodai's do was a stonking good ippon. No doubt. Slow mo does no justice to it. There is, I'll admit, a nice ippon kote on Shodai's right kote when it is down by his side, while he defends sanpomamori-style with his left hand only, by the Korean Chuken. Shodai should have been punished for his sloppy technique by having the ippon scored against him. But this doesn't change the fact that the Korean chuken acted like a baby after the match. I have so many problems with his attitude I don't know where to start. He has single-handedly lowered my opinion of Korean Kendo. b
    1. Lloromannic's Avatar
      Lloromannic - 17th June 2012, 02:48 AM
      Isn't that a bit silly? To judge 500000 people over the action of one person? It would be like me thinking less of you because Tony Abbott has not been dragged through the streets and shot in the mouth.
    1. Lloromannic's Avatar
      Lloromannic - 17th June 2012, 02:54 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Phillip0701 View Post
      Samurais wore their swords around their left doh, that's why left doh has to be precisely struck with good kamae.

      This is Incorrect™.
    1. ben's Avatar
      ben - 17th June 2012, 08:58 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by Lloromannic View Post
      Isn't that a bit silly? To judge 500000 people over the action of one person? It would be like me thinking less of you because Tony Abbott has not been dragged through the streets and shot in the mouth.
      Well old Tony is pretty bad but we've got more dickheads than just him so you'd having to turn lynching into a 9-5 if you felt that was the way to solve it...

      I stand by what I said. When someone represents their country, they are, in fact, representing their country. Call me old-fashioned. If I was a KKF bigwig I would be publicly reprimanding him so that the world knew that his behaviour was not representative of the values of Korean Kendo. That would also help send a message to younger kenshi in Korea that his behaviour is not to be emulated. It's a bit like this news story. b
    1. ben's Avatar
      ben - 17th June 2012, 09:17 AM
      Worse than kenshi of whatever nationality (and it's not because he's Korean than I object to his actions, it's just his actions) doing the wrong thing is the fact that it becomes necessary for shinpan to consider reprimands at all. Kenshi should be self-monitoring, and holding themselves to a higher standard than the rules require. Everything that is good and unique about Kendo is contained in the previous sentence. The day kenshi require punishment to stop them from transgressing is the day that Kendo, perhaps irrevocably, turns from budo into sport. Perhaps that day has already come? b
    1. MikeW's Avatar
      MikeW - 17th June 2012, 10:33 AM
      Ben, although I agree that some of the KOR team members did not show proper reiho I would also say that some of the JPN team members did not show the best kendo either. I personally was not happy with the team finals for many reasons. Shiai seems to be more and more going towards Olympic style win at any cost attitude that a budo attitude and I can't say I agree or am happy with it.
    1. Phillip0701's Avatar
      Phillip0701 - 17th June 2012, 02:43 PM
      I don't want to sound one-sided but after I keep watching the clips, I can't help but to feel that this year, Korean kendokas displayed much better kendo than Japanese kendokas even though they lost. Of course, I'm not talking about their reiho or contempt for referees' calls, which I think was very inappropriate even though I can also feel the wrath for poor judging calls. What do you guys think?

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