From: jon@zeus.med.utah.edu (Jonathan Byrd)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Kendo tournament report
Date: 9 Nov 92 19:01:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: zeus.JON.92Nov9120130
Organization: University of Utah


	Last weekend, the Beikoku Kendo Renmei held its first National
Kendo Championships in Los Angeles, California.  Six members of the
Utah Kendo Dojo attended the two day event.

	The individual competitions were held on Saturday.  The
competitions were divided into several groups, but I only could pay
attention to the divisions in which our dojo's members were competing.

	The women's kyu and dan divisions were combined since there
were only a few dan-level female kendoists in attendance.  As might be
expected, the final match was fought between two dan-level kendoists.
One woman was a nidan, and the other was a sandan.  Naomi Iida, a
student from my dojo, fought the sandan woman in the second round.
Although Miss Iida is only 16 years old, and holds the rank of first
kyu, she lasted through the whole four minute match and four two
minute extensions before she was finally defeated by the sandan woman.
Miss Iida won an Outstanding Competitor award for her performance.

	Lou Barrows, a second kyu student from my dojo, won the adult
men's kyu division.  He fought a total of six matches to take the
first prize.  The skill level of the kyu-level practitioners varied
widely.  Mr. Barrows was head and shoulders above most of his
opponents, but two matches were very close, and went into overtime.

	My division (men's first and second dan) was one of the
largest divisions.  My first opponent was a very good first dan
kendoist from Long Beach, California.  He scored a powerful men (head)
blow against me very early in the match.  He caught me in an extremely
vulnerable position, and I saw stars when his sword connected with the
top of my head.  Somehow, I managed to recover my composure and I
scored two strikes to his kote (glove), winning the match.

	My second opponent was a very large man.  He outweighed me by
at least 50 pounds, and his strategy consisted of pushing me out of
the ring.  He pushed me out very early in the match, and I was
cautioned by the referee.  I then scored a strike to his glove.  He
pushed me out of the ring again, and I was cautioned a second time,
and my opponent was awarded a point.  My opponent continued to shove
me, nearly ripping my head protector off.  He was finally cautioned by
the referee.  With just a few seconds left in the match, I scored a
decisive head blow with a withdrawing motion (hiki-men).  All three
judges's flags went into the air, but then they waved it off.  As I
moved backwards after the blow, I had stepped out of bounds a third
time.  My opponent was awarded another point, and the match.

	At first I was very disappointed over my loss, but I
remembered the advice I had given my students before the tournament:
"Don't worry about the match, just concentrate on beating your
opponent."  I had scored two decisive strikes, and my opponent's
shinai (sword) never touched me.  I felt satisfied that I had used
clean Kendo to clearly defeat him, despite the judges' decision.

	The men's first and second dan division was won by a young man
from New York named Kudo.  Mr. Kudo's Kendo is very quick, very clean,
and beautiful to watch.  I felt he deserved the first prize.

	The men's sandan and higher division was very exciting.  Mr.
Yoichi Morita, a sandan exchange student who is visiting my dojo,
competed in this division.  Mr. Morita's first opponent tried very
hard to push him out of the ring, but Mr. Morita's ability to move
laterally thwarted his opponent's strategy.  It took no more than 30
seconds for Mr. Morita to win the match.  Mr. Morita's second opponent
defeated him in overtime.  The sandan and higher division was won by
Sensei Kataoka, a sixth dan teacher from New York.

	The team competitions were fought on Sunday.  Our five-person
team faced the New York A team in the first round.  We did not win a
match, but Mr. Morita fought to a draw with Sensei Kataoka, and I
managed to last the full four minute match against my opponent, Mr.
Kudo.  The final score was 0-1 for Mr. Kudo, and I lost by judge's
decision.  The New York A team went on to win the first prize.

	All in all, it was an educational, tiring, and exhilarating
weekend, but I must admit that I enjoyed the free practice after the
matches much more than the matches themselves.
--
jonathan byrd
jon@apollo.med.utah.edu
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts