Commentary by Shinji Terada
The second match (opponent: Taniguchi Yuki, 19 years old)
The opponent always attacked without pause but Ewa calmly managed it. She scored 2 points and won the match of brilliant close combat.
Commentary by Tooru Sato
Ewa agressively attacked her opponent and she scored uwado.
Then she gained momentum and again scored uwado and won the match.
Hello
Coming form a military and classical European bayonet fencing background where one always plays with the first rule in mind – ” never attempt to make a hit, if or when you can get hit in return”.
The bouts, are always played with the idea in mind that true blades are used, thus running into your opponent, stubbing at will at each other is understandably, under no circumstances advisable.
I would really like to understand the shiai concepts in Jukendo. I love the Japanese arts and have great respect for the Japanese classical arts and I would definitely love to meet Shinji Terada sensei in Japan.
Thank you for taking the time
Alex
I think there are several schools of thought for the shiai mindset.
1. Sports oriented. Probably the closest to what you are talking about. Even when we might look like we are “running and stabbing at will” there is quite a bit of ensuring the other person can’t get you in return. During an attack is usually when you are at your weakest. Many attacks in jukendo have an inherent guarding aspect, they are just very hard to see.
2. More of a simulated warfare viewpoint. You don’t have a lot of time in a bayonet charge to worry about fanciness and tactics. Aggression and confidence are probably more important. Get in and get the job done.
3. A budo mindset. Effectively all weapons based martial arts are stylised and we’re not really there to learn to use a weapon in any practical sense. We are there to learn the weaknesses in ourselves and grow as people, the opponent is there to help keep us honest with ourselves. To grow you should be ensuring you do the things which are harder for you than the things which are easy.
Different people have different points of view and this changes over time.
As a recipient of many a strike in shiai I can tell you that the best way to stop me hitting you is to hit me first 🙂