2018 Kasugai Jukendo Tournament : Womens Individual Match 4
https://youtu.be/_gh8ThEMbGo By Simon Larsen There are two good lessons I saw in this match. Both happen to be problems I had in jukendo. You can see several times Suzuki makes strikes which a few centimetres short of the target and seem slow (0:50, 1:01. 1:24, 1:52). When I had this problem it always felt like... Continue Reading →
2018 Kasugai Jukendo Tournament : Womens Individual: Matches 1-4
https://youtu.be/VtIXyiy0PVU By Simon Larsen This tournament was Ippon Shobu, 1 point matches. These are fairly common in Jukendo and they are pretty high stress affairs (for me anyway). You have to walk out into the match ready to go as a moment’s hesitation or uncertainty will often gift your opponent an easy win. As you... Continue Reading →
Seminar planning or how to not go slowly insane
By Emily Jackman Seminars are amazing opportunities for attracting new practitioners, giving existing ones a chance at training with high level instructors and building up your budo network but what happens if you’re the one doing all the planning? Where do you start and how do you keep sane in the process? Well, as a... Continue Reading →
Training in the 1st Tankendo seminar in ASEAN
By Emily Jackman At the August seminar in Yokosuka I was fortunate enough to meet a number of lovely people from all around the world who had come together to help bring jukendo and tankendo back to their own countries. Among them were Kelly and Edwin from the Hamachidori Dojo in Malaysia who planted... Continue Reading →
Aichi Teams Match – Chuuken
Commentary by Simon Larsen Ewa is really good at maintaining constant pressure and doing kaeshi (returning strikes) techniques. I find kaeshi techniques are really annoying, it means I have to get away from her after a successful strike so much faster and with maintained covering against her. I believe it is entirely possible in tankendo... Continue Reading →
Aichi Teams Match – Senpo
Commentary by Simon Larsen I have a better win ratio in the teams than the individuals, especially if I play in the first position (senpo). As far as I am aware the psychology of going first is not so much to win but to set a good mood for your team i.e. if you lose... Continue Reading →
Mens Individual: Match 65 Senior Division
Commentary by Simon Larsen A lot of people think jukendo is the dangerous one of the two arts but tankendo seems to have more injuries once you have achieved a basic skill level. Certainly I get hurt and hurt myself a lot more often in tankendo. I think the much shorter distances are the... Continue Reading →
Mens Individual: Match 51 Senior Division
Commentary by Simon Larsen This is from the next age group up. Tankendo shiai for the All Japans is not separated into Civilian / Air Force & Navy / Army groups like the Individuals for Jukendo. It is separated into age groups: 0-35, 36-50, 50+ usually. Hisatsune loves shou ippon do. I know; he... Continue Reading →
Match 1 : Ladies Individual : 17th All Japan Tankendo Championships
Commentary by Simon Larsen. I was going to get Ewa drunk and just record her rantings but she insisted I write the commentary. The opening point is a good example of why maintaining your kamae is so important in shiai. Just that small amount of lifting the tip of the tanken while running in made... Continue Reading →