[ THIS MATERIAL RETRIEVED FROM HAWAIIKENDO.COM WEBSITE, September 21, 2016 ]
KENDO SHINPAN SCENARIOS
Rev. February 1999
PREMISES AND ASSUMPTIONS
• Fair: put yourself in competitors' places; judge at the competitors' level; avoid bias of "favorite" WAZA
• Accurate: see and hear the WAZA; know the logic (RIAI) of the WAZA
• Precise: be familiar with the rules
• Prompt: decisiveness; practice
• Primary premise: SHINAI is KATANA
BASIC TECHNIQUE
• Holding the flags at the sides
• Clear and prompt signalling and announcements: YUKO DATOTSU, YAME, WAKARE, GOGI, cancellation, abstention, HIKIWAKE, HANSOKU
• Positioning at isosceles triangle; move with SHUSHIN at the top of the triangle; always have at least one SHINPAN on each side of the competitors; avoid blind spots
• Rotation and changing of SHINPAN; standby position for incoming SHINPAN
AN UPDATE
• New specifications on SHINAI length, weight, diameter, position of NAKAYUI, and size of TSUBA: effective April 1, 1999 in Japan (ref. Kenso, Jan 1, 1999)
• SHINAI diameter is the minimum diameter at the tip of SAKIGAWA
• NAKAYUI is tied at a distance of 1/4 length of SHINAI (including TSUKA) from the KENSEN
• Diameter of TSUBA will be =<9 cm, and it must be affixed to the SHINAI (1 in = 2.54 cm)
YUKO DATOTSU: WHAT THE RULES SAY
DATOTSU COUNTS IF
• Done with full spirit and proper posture and movement, and
• Accurate: HASUJI, DATOTSU BU, MONOUCHI
FULL SPIRIT AND PROPER SHISEI MEANS
• Spirit (KISEI): superior SEME, pressuring the opponent, capturing proper opportunities (KIKAI)
• Posture (SHISEI): appropriate MAAI, TAI SABAKI, FUMIKOMI
• Sufficient ZANSHIN
ACCURATE STRIKE MEANS
• Striking proper DATOTSU BUI
• Using the striking region (DATOTSU BU) of SHINAI (MONOUCHI) with proper TE NO UCHI grip
• Using the opposite side of TSURU (HASUJI)
• Must be especially accurate for onehanded WAZA, WAZA as retreating from an attack, or delayed GO NO WAZA after TSUBAZERIAI
DATOTSU DOES NOT COUNT IF
• Simultaneous (AIUCHI, SOSAI)
• KENSEN is on the upper front checking the attacker (KENSEN is alive, not just touching)
• Unsightly or unnecessary retreating; a YUKO may be cancelled upon GOGI
SCENARIOS: WHAT THE RULES MEAN
AIUCHI MEN
• If simultaneous, no count (SOSAI)
• Observe posture, direction of followthrough, and ZANSHIN
• Posture and SHINAI straight? correct or angled HASUJI?
• Observe carefully; raising flag too quickly could lead to error
KENSEN ON THE FRONT AND CHEKING THE ATTACKER
• See if MUKAEZUKI is done backing up (insufficient KISEI and SHISEI)
• Was the person striking the MEN flexed back by the TSUKI?
HIKI DO vs ATOUCHI MEN
• Make a quick decision, do not wait long for ZANSHIN, or there may be a delayed GO NO WAZA
DEGOTE NOT CLEARLY VISIBLE
• SHINPAN on the opposite side of KOTE (blind spot)
• SHINAI angle too high?
• SHINAI going forward? SHINAI angle and body position reasonable?
• Silent communication from reverse side to front side SHINPAN for verification
• Againt the recent popular KAMAE or WAZA (eg, hands up with KENSEN in angle), is HASUJI correct?
MEN KAESHI DO NOT CLEARLY VISIBLE
• SHINPAN position problem?
• TAI SABAKI smooth?
• Posture straight or flexed?
ILLEGAL TSUBAZERIAI
• Pressing over TSUBA with TSUKA
• Deliberately putting SHINAI on opponent's shoulder
• SHINAI over opponent's SHINAI in an unreasonable way to prevent from being struck
• Use as delaying tactic: HANSOKU
TIMING OF WAKARE
• Call when at KOCHAKU JOTAI, stalemate or both sides unable to move or attempt a WAZA
• WAKARE is not the same as MOTSURE, chaos or "mixing up"
JOGAI
• JOGAI is when a foot or other part of the body is completely out side of the court (not stepping on the line) or supporting the body with SHINAI with KENSEN out of the court
• Illegal pushout vs JÔGAI: no need to wait for foul; stop for accident prevention
• Legal attack, SEME with KENSEN: do not stop simply because one is about to step out or it will be unfair
• Stepping out negligently by momentum after an unsuccessful WAZA is HANSOKU; stepping out after an unrealistic HIKIWAZA is HANSOKU; being pushed out after a reasonable contact after a WAZA is HANSOKU
• RENZOKU WAZA: if the first WAZA occurred within the court, the final WAZA can count even when opponent is JOGAI; if the last WAZA is no good, then apply HANSOKU
SHINAI OTOSHI
• Means loosing control of SHINAI, so not only when SHINAI is completely dropped to the floor
• Can apply if SHINAI is in the air uncontrollably, even if it is recovered before striking the floor
• Not necessarily if SHINAI leaves the hand for a split second (HANASHI), even if it bounces off the floor, but control is maintained
• Do not stop too quickly, but give the opponent one chance to strike
FALLING
• If unable to get up right away, and the other is unable to strike immediately, then stop
• After falling, laying down prone in order to avoid being struck is HANSOKU
• Not a fall when one knee is down in ORISHIKI with back foot on toes (as in KENDO KATA #7) and is able to continue
OTHER SCENAIROS
• HIKI DO or Left DO: look at HASUJI, TE NO KAESHI
• HIKI MEN: look at HASUJI, and position of left hand (is it in center?)
• RENZOKU WAZA: only the last point counts if WATARI WAZA
PENALTIES (BASSOKU)
• Use of illicit drugs, or offensive remark or behavior to SHINPAN or opponent: automatic loss with 2 points to opponent, and cancellation of previously earned points
• Use of irregular equipment: automatic loss with 2 points to opponent, but does not apply to matches prior to discovery; once discovered, individual cannot participate in future matches (alternate may enter in team match unless otherwise stated); when both contestants are found to violate the rule, both will lose and previously earned points cancelled
• ASHIKAKE or ASHIBARAI, pushing opponent out of court with unreasonable force, stepping out of court, losing control of SHINAI, asking for stoppage without good reason: one HANSOKU each; two HANSOKU awards a point to the opponent; simultaneous HANSOKU is announced red then white (unless white is awarded a point for red's second HANSOKU); if simultaneous HANSOKU results in both losing at the same time, announce red then white, then cancel the HANSOKU (SOSAI); from the second time, simply announce SOSAI
• Others: grabbing or holding the opponent, grabbing opponent's SHINAI (any part) or HABU of own's SHINAI, deliberately placing SHINAI on opponent's shoulder, lying prone to avoid opponent's strike after falling, deliberately waste time, improper TSUBAZERIAI or strike: one HANSOKU each; two HANSOKU awards a point to the opponent; simultaneous HANSOKU and SOSAI rules also apply
EFFECT OF SHINPAN ON COMPETITORS AND KENDO IN GENERAL
• For beginners, take at 60% perfect, not always at 100%; acknowledge "almost good" WAZA to encourage so that the beginner will try to improve; for official matches, must standardize (eg, better than 80%)
• When discussing the validity of points at GÔGI, consider how the decision will help to improve KENDO; remember the Concept of KENDO (KENDO NO RINEN): "KENDO is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principle of the KATANA"
• SHIAI is a means to improving KENDO, not an end
• When in doubt, GOGI
HANTEI
• Superiority of technique by a strike that is close to a YUKO DATOTSU
• Superiority of conduct by posture, movement, etc.
REFERENCES
• International Kendo Federation. The Regulation and Subsidiary Rules of Kendo Shiai and Shinpan: The Guidelines for Kendo Shiai and Shinpan. 1996 (July 24)
• H Shioiri. Shinpan no joshiki. Kendo Nippon 1997;255:1741
• Special editorial: Shinpan no hongi to kokoroe. Kendo Jidai 1992;241:1027
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