[KENDO RANT] - Is Tsuki Dangerous?

[@ericfavre2301]

i actually saw with my own eyes a dojomate getting hurt badly and sent to hospital with a tsuki by a brutal and careless opponent in a competition. - it happened this way (bear in mind girl was about 1.60m/ 55Kg guy was about 1.80m 80Kg): > girl launches men > guy sees this and launches morote tsuki, misses and catches girl full speed on the side of the neck without easing on his grip. > girl loses her shinai, turns around, passes out and falls face first flat out with her men mask banging on the floor. > girl goes to hospital emergency unit with a 10cm bruise on the side of her neck and spends the next 8 hours doing x-ray, scanner and under observation. - what shocked me the most is that the referees didn't give hansoku and as my dojomate had to go to the hospital emergency unit the idiot kenshi got rewarded winning the match by hurting his opponent.... referees have a huge impact on kenshi behaviors and i believe that uncontrolled/unnecessary brutality should not be accepted in anyway on the shiaijo.

[@AryadiSubagio]

I feel sorry for your friend, so far I only got bruises from a tsuki attack

[@Elfavzla]

Eric Favre what a moron!! Omg he should have been exiled from Kendo for doing that to ur friend!

[@dunedainrangers1309]

Andy, I've always understood that tsuki was included as a waza because this was used historically to defeat an opponent in armor. Not that necessarily an armored samurai was vulnerable specifically in the throat, but that if an armored fighter had any openings in his armor, it would be as small as the target for tsukiwaza. I prefer this to European sword sports, where you can score almost accidentally anywhere in the legal target area.

[@Looka89]

Hi Andy, thanks a lot for sharing bit of knowledge every day, and for making this community less kendorant! One question for future episodes: I am now approaching to take the godan grading (about a year from now). What should I focus on during the practice? What are the requirements to grow from yondan? I moved last year to UK and in the club I joined the instructor is sandan and wasn't really able to suggest a direction. You're the best! Keep on with your shows!

[@luizgustavovasques4663]

Guess you're the instructor now haha!

[@johnlillard4305]

Hi Andy, I think this is a topic that comes up a lot. I come from a very small school, and we don't really teach it, in part because we're all still very young with our kendo journeys. I think it's interesting though that it's not allowed until a high school level and attests to part of the "danger" of it. It also does take some maturity to realize that you need to back off it if it's not there really. I'd really love an episode of the kendo show around how to teach and practice it safely (especially without armor when you're starting). I also think it's a technique that can get a bit "handsy" it really should come from the body/hips right? I really love these new kendo "rant" videos I think it's refreshing to you a bit more candidly a bit lest polished seems more genuine to me somehow. I hope your success with them continues.

[@AbderrahmenBesbes]

thank you for the various explanation, it''s fascinating

[@elbee2324]

I think the concern for Tsuki is that crushing the thorax or wind pipe is an actual possibility from this technique, which can result in long term injuries, the need for a tracheotomy (an artificial wind pipe being inserted either temporarily or permanently) or even death if the air way is completely blocked and not treated in time. The other main strikes of Men, Kote and Do will not do that much with a Shinai, except perhaps a too high Do strike causing broken ribs, which is difficult to cause death with. I think Andy is right in saying that the threat of danger is probably higher than the actual danger, as it's more likely you will strike the collar bones, chin or the large neck muscles surrounding the wind pipe rather than the wind pipe itself, and you need a generally more piercing strike to seriously damage the wind pipe than what the tip of an average Shinai would do. Still though, being safe is about preventing injuries from happening in the first place, and beginners will struggle with getting the right distance for striking, not anticipate their opponent's (or their own) movement, or will swing to early on a men strike and miss will still they or their opponents are moving forward, which can result in an accidental strike to the neck. Teaching in a controlled environment, where you know how the opponent will move as a motodachi and is wearing armour, helps build experience as well as manages risks. I still would not like inexperienced kendoka (let's say Kyu players for convenience) doing intentional Tsuki strikes in shiai, especially in high stakes tournaments. I say that as just a way to manage risks. Build up your skill by passing the kyu levels, and then you should be able to control the situation better and make this a less risky situation. The risk of death or serious injury is low, certainly, but that's still not a desirable outcome. You can manage that risk and try to avoid it by having the "Dan only in tournaments allowed to strike" rule as a way to reduce that outcome from occurring at all. Just one last thing, the idea of serious injuries from Tsuki strikes being hearsay does not mean they do not occur. It's like the idea of a splintered Shinai taking out someone's eye by breaking off and going through a Men guard. The risk is there, even if you don't see people with eye injuries. That's why we are always encouraged to check our Shinai, especially after a series of heavy hits or being exercises. Tsuki injuries can be managed by controlled practice and then allowing them in tournaments only for Dan levels, in much the same way.

[@luc8254]

13:21 wait a sec, that KILLS people??? Wtf I didn't know people died doing kendo holy shit 😳

[@erickendoka2953]

Great video, thank you !

[@abunigel13]

Question: how would you describe the general perception of Kendo practitioners in Japan? I know it's got a reputation for being smelly, but are there any kendoka stereotypes of culture or character you've picked up on? Thanks for generating so much kendo content for the international community!

[@user-lx8ep1wz8n]

Thanks for your videos, Andy! It would be great if the videos had subtitles in English

[@yaroxkendo3043]

What can I do against people who are always SO CLOSE. Especially the tall people in my dojo tend to be SO RIDICULOUSLY CLOSE in maai.They should be in disadvantage, but they aren't. Blocking my strikes all the time which looks to be easyier when being so close. It's between chika and issoku itto no maai. Please give me some advice, I'm frustrated. :)

[@kissaku]

I'm a mere 3. dan but I can give you my grain of salt to this. Usually more experienced people can manipulate maai against less experienced people, even being abnormally close as a tall kenshi. If it's against people same level as you then I suppose trying to concentrate taking a smaller step when striking if your opponent hovers in close proximity. If the maai is uncomfortable you can also try to step back with a good kamae to your ideal maai, kinda like trying to reset the maai. But you always have to keep in mind when backstepping if your opponent follows you straight up it might give him a good place to strike debana (because of your momentum shift) or even tsuki. That's why good kamae and pressure should be maintained while tweaking the maai. There is no rock solid way to always be on top of the "maai -game" and it is definetly one of the harder aspects of ji-geiko. If your kamae is strong and kensen is in the centre it is rather hard to strike through it even if you are in a disadvantage in your maai. Also if your opponent is blocking a lot you could try feinting the first strike for example seme -> raising kensen making opponent think you strike men -> he blocks -> strike do when it opens up. Usually if you get under the skin of a blocker like this they start doubting and their blocks will not be as effective after that.

[@yaroxkendo3043]

I am ikkyu-ranked and train kendo since 2015 approx. 4 times a week. He is a nidan, training kendo for more than 10 years... I'm from Germany, kyu gradings are somehow different over here. Nonetheless thanks for your reply. I try feinting men strikes a lot and then try to hit kote. But the appropiate angle is weird, and I already am close so I just hit his shinai instead of his kote. I think about this kind of kote strike: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3iXo4Ksmt2JjM0 I'm very curious about the footwork in this video lol :D Very hard, sometimes it works. Most of the time it doesn't :)

[@AhrimanVII]

Using hiki strikes could be a usefull counter to this terrible tactic. You can then move away more safely to a good distance and then strike them when they move again too close to you.

[@yaroxkendo3043]

I will try harder. Problem is I am a 180cm ~63kg skinny person, he 190cm ~85kg I guess. I'm kind of the fastest striker in my dojo, but tsubazeriai is not what I like to be in. Especially because he often scores hiki men or hiki do on me.

[@AhrimanVII]

@@yaroxkendo3043 well you know which waza to work on then ^^

[@gilbertogawa9372]

Hello, how are you? I´m 2 Dan and I was wondering to know if ican do Tuski on a higher dan oponent during di-gueiko or even in a Shiai and or this would be consdiered not very respectfull. tks

[@kozmatheclown]

Nice.

[@senbonzakuya]

What is your opinion on the possibility of head trauma, brain damage and long term risk of dementia from Kendo? There's a relatively recent reddit article which explores this a bit: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/kendo/comments/8299cz/long_term_brain_damage_in_kendo_why_i_might_leave/

[@SC.920]

Question. After changing jobs I haven't been to my dojo in over a year now, or really kept in touch. Would it be rude to go back there to practice now

[@UltraNyan]

its only rude if you show up for a few times and quit again

[@luizgustavovasques4663]

Just give'em a call and say you want to go back, I'm sure they'll be pleased.

[@sgtjyf01]

I've personally seen one case of Torikeshi. In the 2015 Asia Open final between Singapore and Korea. 11min mark. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ_Me52ghMehjpo I remember picking up my jaws when it I saw the Korean kenshi started multiple fist pumps.