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 →
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 →
Match 70: Final: Mens Individual: 17th All Japan Tankendo Championships
Commentary by Simon Larsen Kikuchi opens with his off centre tactic like we saw in his last match however Takizawa obviously has trained against this and uses some pretty great footwork to start the final step first. Halfway through what looks like a normal step it turns into a full strike. You can see he keeps... Continue Reading →
Match 42: Mens Individual: 17th All Japan Tankendo Championships
Commentary by Simon Larsen Alex's second match. Due to his injury he has started attempting fewer men strikes which I think is a good idea, he has a fast do strike and that scores a lot more often. On top of my personal feelings regarding men vs do there is the risk factor of having... Continue Reading →