Techniques and Tactics from Medal-Winning Men's and Women's
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Techniques and tactics from medal-winning men’s and women’s national teams in the 16th World Kendo Championships 1ABCDE 2AD 3C 1C Authors’ Contribution: Yukiko Takami , Mitsuru Nakamura , Takamitsu Iwamoto , Tatsuya Ohno , A Study Design Ken-ichiro Mutoh4B, Mayumi Otsuka5B B Data Collection C Statistical Analysis 1 D Manuscript Preparation Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan 2 E Funds Collection Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan 3 Faculty of International Business Management, Beppu University, Oita, Japan 4 Faculty of Science and Technology, Seikei University, Tokyo, Japan 5 School of Physical Education, Tokai University, Kanagawa, Japan Received: 17 April 2018; Accepted: 24 May 2018; Published online: 28 June 2018 AoBID: 12176 Abstract Background and Study Aim: Although kendo is increasingly being practised worldwide, few studies have compared methods and tech- niques used by practitioners in different countries, except for some studies that focused on Japan and Korea. The current research is highlighting prevailing techniques by athletes from different countries. Application aim is to support the expansion of the kendo. Material and Methods: DVDs containing video of 240 matches among competitors from five countries that represent the podium winners in both the men’s and women’s categories of the 16th World Kendo Championship Tournament were used in this study. The researchers classified all of the effective strikes into the following categories: (1) ma- jor technique classifications (2)datotsu-bui (3) technique sub-categories. Chi-square tests were used to com- pare the usage frequencies of the different techniques analysed in the study between men and women and the respective countries included in the study. Results: No significant differences in technical manoeuvres used by men and women competitors were found. There were also no significant differences between the ratios of effective strikes or thrusts between men’s com- petitors from the four countries studied. The effective strike ratios of Korea and Brazil differed from those of Japan and the USA in women. Conclusions: There are differences in how men and women practice kendo due to differences in physical characteristics, but none was found. Among women kendo practitioners, some differences in skills among different countries were identified. The findings of the current research will aid in the dissemination of kendo globally. Keywords: competition analysis • kendo matches • skill • striking zones Copyright: © 2018 the Authors. Published by Archives of Budo Conflict of interest: Authors have declared that no competing interest exists Ethical approval: The study was approved by the local ethics committee Provenance & peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed Source of support: Departmental Sources Author’s address: Yukiko Takami, Faculty of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, 1-1 Hiraka-gakuendai, Inzai-shi, Chiba 270-1695, Japan; e-mail: [email protected] © ARCHIVES OF BUDO | SCIENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS 2018 | VOLUME 14 | 197 This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. Original Article INTRODUCTION Ashi-sabaki –footwork to Application aim is to support the expansion of attack smoothly or avoid a swiftly striking opponent. The International Kendo Federation (FIK), the kendo. founded in 1970, aims to promote kendo interna- Dan – rank is indicating the tionally (includingiaido and jyoudo) and cultivate level of skill. mutual trust and fellowship among its member MATERIAL AND METHODS Datotsu-bui – zones where organisations [1]. To this end, FIK sends Japanese a point is scored when an kendo specialists to the Asian and European Analysed competition accurate strike or thrust is made. continents as well as the Americas yearly. Fifty-six countries were represented in the 16th Furthermore, in cooperation with the Ministry of WKC tournament, which was held in Japan from Debana-kote – the act of striking the opponent’s kote Foreign Affairs andNippon Budokan, FIK also dis- 29th to 31st May 2015 (Table 1). Four competi- used at the moment when an patches instructors globally through coordination tion categories that originated in the 11th WKC opponent moves forward to apply pressure or is about to with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. tournament were used: men’s team, women’s attack. Importantly, FIK also hosts the World Kendo team, men’s individual and women’s individual. Of Championship (WKC). The first WKC was a men’s the fifty-six countries represented, a select few Debana-men – the act of striking the opponent’s men only competition held in 1970. Eleven countries were consistently podium winners. In the men’s used at the moment when an participated in this event, and it has been held categories, these countries are Hungary (which opponent moves forward to th th apply pressure or is about to once every three years since then. Beginning in took third place in the 15 and 16 WKC compe- attack. 1997 with the commencement of the 11th WKC, titions), Japan, Korea, and the USA. Japan, Korea, women’s competitions were added. the USA, and Brazil represent the medal-winning Dou – the piece of kendo equipment which covers the countries in women’s competitions (Table 2). chest and stomach areas. One Kendo is an athletic event that is rooted in of the striking zones. Japanese culture through its categorisation as The current research uses data from competitions Hiki-men – the act of striking a martial art. Martial arts and budo, in general, in which these teams competed due to their rela- the opponent’s men while retreating in situations where seek to develop both the mind and the spirit of tively high kendo performance. Specifically, 240 one is very close to the those who practice them. As such, kendo has the team competitions (130 men’s and 110 wom- opponent. dual-objective of not only skill improvement and en’s competitions) were analysed in the current Hiki-waza – techniques competition but also spiritual and personal devel- study. Data from 130 individual men’s matches where the player strikes while opment [2]. Judo, also a martial art, has been were analysed in this study: 35 matches from retreating in situations, such as tsubazeriai, where one is very adopted as an Olympic event and gained world- Japan and Korea, 30 from the USA and Hungary. close to the opponent. wide acceptance. As a result, many studies have For women’s individual matches, 110 data were Iaido – from a seated or been conducted to identify those qualities which analysed: 30 matches from Japan and Korea, 25 standing position, the enhance competitiveness and the effects of com- from the USA and Brazil. Data were taken from swordsman draws the sword from its scabbard and engages petition rules on the sport [3, 4]. video recorded from a second-floor seat in the the enemy. venues hosting the matches. All matches were Kendo has begun to spread internationally, but recorded in full. Ippon-uchi kote – the act of striking the opponent’s kote there is a lack of research with regards to differ- with making the first strike ences in how the sport is practised in different Analysed items with all one’s strength. countries, compared to the extensive research Data from effective strikes or thrusts as defined Ippon-uchi men – the act of that has been conducted in Japan and Korea by the kendo guidelines [9, 10] during compe- striking the opponent’s men [5-8]. Kendo’s worldwide proliferation warrants titions were classified according to gender and with making the first strike with all one’s strength. more research in how it is practised internation- competitors’ nationality. Details will be provided ally. The current research is highlighting prevailing below. Jyoudo – A martial art that controls an enemy with a cane. techniques by athletes from different countries. Kote – the piece of kendo Table 1. A number of countries that participated in World Kendo Championships (WKC) by continent. equipment; the gloves which cover the hands and forearms. Continent One of the striking zones. WKC Total Asia Europe America Oceania Africa Kote-nuki-men – the act of 11 8 18 7 2 1 36 striking the opponent’s men after warding off an opponent’s 12 8 23 7 2 1 41 striking kote. 13 8 24 8 2 1 43 Men – the piece of kendo 14 7 19 9 2 1 38 equipment which covers the head, face, throat, and 15 9 27 9 2 1 48 shoulders. One of the striking zones. 16 11 32 10 2 1 56 198 | VOLUME 14 | 2018 www.archbudo.com Takami Y et al. – Techniques and tactics from medal-winning... Nippon Budokan – the Table 2. Results of the World Kendo Championships. general purpose hall for budo which was constructed in Place kitanomaru-koen in Chiyoda- WKC 1st 2nd 3rd ku, Tokyo, in1964. men Oji-waza – the act of parrying the opponent’s 11 Japan Korea Canada Brazil strike by moving the shinai and the body, and then 12 Japan Korea USA Italy counterattacking the emerging opening immediately. 13 Korea USA Japan Taiwan 14 Japan USA Korea Brazil Shikake-waza – a general name of techniques for 15 Japan Korea USA Hungary initiating an aggressive attack. 16 Japan Korea USA Hungary Tsuki – one of the striking or women thrusting zones in kendo. 11 Japan Brazil USA Canada 12 Japan Korea Canada Taiwan 13 Japan Korea Germany Canada 14 Japan Korea USA Brazil 15 Japan Korea Germany Brazil 16 Japan Korea USA Brazil RESULTS A broad classification of techniques is as fol- lows: shikake-waza are offensive manoeuvres The overall effective rate of strikes was 178 for carried out prior to an opponent’s attack and a men and 161 for women, which does not repre- counterattack during an opponent’s advance is sent a significant difference.