Kendo competition

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kendo EM 2005 ( Bern )
Kendo EM 2005 ( Bern )

Nowadays, Kendo is practiced as a competitive sport, with the traditional aspects still playing a major role. A tournament fight ( Shiai ) is won by reaching “points”, whereby usually the winner is whoever scores two points first (and thus ends the fight) or who leads with one point after the fight time has expired. If there is a tie at this point, either an extension or a referee's decision is usual. The fight time is usually between three and five minutes. The variant in which only one point has to be reached to win ( Ippon-shobu ) is less common .

The fight is fought on a limited, square fighting area ( Shiai-Jo ) that is between 9 × 9 and 11 × 11 m in size. Three referees ( shimpans ), who are positioned in a triangle around the fighters, decide on the award of points , which guarantees observation of the action from different angles. A point is only awarded if at least two of the referees vote for it.

In order to reach a point, a kendōka has to meet various criteria that go back to the time of real sword fighting. That is, an attack must be conducted in such a way that it includes various aspects of a realistic sword strike, as traditionally performed with a Japanese katana . It is therefore not enough to just touch the opponent with your own weapon (a bamboo sword, Shinai ) , as is the case with fencing .

Hit areas: 1. Men, 2. Hidari, 3. Tsuki, 4. Hidari-Kote, 5. Hidari-Do, 6. Migi-Men, 7. Kote, 8. Migi

The attack possibilities are limited to four hit areas in the Kendo. The head ( Men ), the wrists ( Kote ), the belly ( Do ) and the larynx ( Tsuki ). The special armor ( bogu ) protects these places. A stab is made to the larynx, the other hit surfaces must be hit with a cut-like movement. You have to hit the right spot on the shinai that corresponds to the optimal cut surface of a sword. In addition, the correct use of the entire body is necessary in order to carry the blow with sufficient energy. A stamping step with the front foot ( Fumi-komi-ashi ) is part of this movement.

Furthermore, a shout ( kiai ) has to be made, which also increases the energy of the attack and testifies to the intent of the attacker. Even after the hit, the fighter must still be attentive, maintain the correct posture and keep an eye on and under control of his opponent ( Zanshin ). A hit is only considered a valid attack and a point is awarded if all these aspects are present.

There is also the possibility of distributing penalty points, whereby two penalty points lead to one point for the opponent. You get penalty points for stepping out of the fighting area, unfair behavior or other rule violations.

In a kendō competition, as in training, attention is paid to correct etiquette, i.e. the behavior of the participants (both the fighter and the referee) are subject to ritualized norms ( reihō ), the goal of which, in addition to a smooth and safe process, is the expression of respect towards others and one's own seriousness.

See also

Web links