Evening star., 1896-02-29
JAPANESE FENCING BOUTS.
Sklllful Work With FOils Made of
Split Bamboo.

Split Bamboo.
From the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
If you are ever, asked to engage in a duel
with a Japanese being the challenged par
ty, select any implement rather than the
single stick for urless you are proficient in
thrusts and parties, you will be done up
in short order.
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 organization is solely for
amusement, rather than for business,
though there is probably desire on the part
iCned methods of their forafathers in Quell-
ing rebellions.
The headquarters of the Sunrise Single
Stick Club is on the lower floor of the build
ing occupied by the Japanese newspaper of
the same name. Through the kindness of
Editor Satto, and Hiraoka, business mana
ger OF the paper, reporter was given an
opportunity to witness an exhibition be-
tween Yajimai and karikawa, two expert
handlers Of the sticks.
By way of introduction the combatants
removed their kimonas and donned loose
skirts, and helmet with strong iron bars
across the face. Then they sheathed their
bodies with stiff bamboo breast plates.
Heavily padded gloves with gauntets fin
about five feet long, and are made of sever
al pieces Of bamboo fastened together
There seemed to be no call of time by a
referee; the men stepped to the center of
the room and saluted each other by a mo-
ton of the arm, and then one uttered a
cultural sound signifydng his willingness to
begin the fray, and they crossed sticks the
point of each being held on a level with the
neck and the handle grasped with both
hands. Yajimai led. and throughout the
bout was acting on the offensive, while
karikawa braced himself so as to resist
and ward off any blow that might be direct
ed toward him. Once he was thoIghtless;
fajimai gave him a crack on the helmet
that resounded through the room. All the
t1me the men were fencing they We're shout
Ing as II warning each other to look out for
what might he coming.
To the stranger who is not familiar with
the rules there seemed to be no rest for the
men. If one should receive a blow which,
under ordinary circumstances would war;
rant his going down for a few seconds
long enough to recover. it must simply end
with the desire, and his next move will be
to get back at his opponent In this exhi-
bation karikawa. who was rather more
stockily built than his foe, had the best Of
the first Of the fight, but the end was a
draw, and the men retired MINDLESS and
with the perspiration pouring from their
faces.
Sngle-stick fencing among the Janapese
Is so different from anything ATTEMPTED by
the white people that ii is difficult to make
comparisons or draw conclusions. If quick
hess in an attack or parry is the secret of
the game. 1a1imai and karikawa should be
entitled to positions as experts Their en-
durance, too, is remarkable, consid ering the
thickness of the clothing worn. Swathed
as they are in heavily-padded suits eyi-
IDENTIFY much depends upon the eve. and II is
when one of the fencers catches the eve of
his opponent off his guard that he attempts
blow, but to ascertain when the eve is not
attending to its business is much too dim
cult for stranger to solve-shielded as the
Iencers face is with iron bars set closely
together. S''
Ihere are four points in match with
single sticks between Japanesa-. hiou ,.n
the back OF head. fair one for glancfng
strokes do not count, a thrust at the throat
a stroke on the wrist. and a stroke on the
fencer must occupy in delivering anv ono
OF these biows-it may be from either side
ana from one or both hands. II IL ts a
chopper,' it Is apt to be one that will make
the man receiving it vince, even though he
be protected by all sorts of grotesoue con.
trivances.