Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-06
JAPANESE swoRDsMEN.
Their Expert Fencing With Foils
Made of Split Bamboo.

Made of Split Bamboo.
From the Pacific Commersiar Advertiser.
If you are ever askedI to engage in a
duel with Japanese.ibeiag the challenged
party, select any implement rather than
the single stick. for Unless you are prof.
Gent in thrusts and parEies you will be
done up in short order, f In feudal times
every able-bodied Japanese was Obliged to
become an expert swbrdsfnan, so that in
the event of war he Gould go to the front
and do his share of fighting But with the
improvement in the methods of warfare,
which the Japanese werehquick to adopt,
the short sword has been .relegated to the
back yard and the shop Of the bric-a -brac
dealer dealer, and fencing fs merely pastime
There is a club in Honolulu. with head
quarters on Maunakea street. whose mem
bers have an instructor in the use of the
single stick.
The headquarters of the Sunrise Single
Stick Club" Is on the lower floor of the
building occupied by the Japanese news
paper of the same name. Through The
business manager Of the paper, a reporter
was given an opportunity to witness an
exhibition between Yajimai and Karikawa.
TWO expert handlers Of the sticks. .
by way or INTRODUCTION the combatants
removed their kimonos and doomed loose
skirts and helmet with strong iron bars
across the face Then they sheathed their
Dodles with stiff bamboo breastplates.
,, is1yty padded gloves with gauntlets fin
ished the costume. The Short sticks are
about five feet long, and are made of sew
eral pieces of bamboo fastened together
Ihere seemed to be no call of time" by
ie1eree; the men stepped to the center
OF the room and saluted each other Inv a
motion OF the arm, and then one utterad a
cultural sound signifying his Willingness
10 10 begin the fray, and they crossed sticks,
nf aoch hath hol1
the neck and the handle grseped with both
hands. Yajimai led, and throughout the
bout was acting on the offensive. while
karikawa braced himself so as to resist
ana ward of any blow that might he di-
rected toward him. Once he was thought
less: Yajimai gave him a crack on the
helmet that resounded through the room
All the time The men were fencing they
look put for what might be coming.
10 the stranger who is not familiar with
the rules there seemed to be no rest for
tne men. If one should receive blow
w r,nr under ordinary circumstances would
warrant his going down for few sec
onds, long enough to recover it must SIM
ply end with the desire. and lis next move
VIII De to get back at his opponent. In this
stockily built than his foe, had the best
OF the fight. but the end was a draw, and
the men retired MINDLESS and with the per
spIratfon pouring from their faces.
iue "rist seemed 10 De the part of the
anatomy oftenest aimed at. and while that
part OF the arm is protected by a padded
gauntlet. the humerus is bare, and a strone
dow means heavy welt and a sore arm.
At the end Of the contest spoken of here,
fajimai carried a mark which was quite
blue. II blow on the wrist ia severe
enough 1t will disable a fencer and the
nght ends, and If 1t can iLt be accom-
piishei In this way. fencer will raise his
stick high above and inclined toward the
pack OF his head, very much after the styl,
OF ancient executioners In the chopping
block process. and bring it down with ali
ms strength on his rivals head-if he can.
CELEBRITY marks every moyenent of the fen
Ger, so that the observers eye is taxed to
its utmost to keep track Of the men.