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The need for shiai
(matches) at real speed is a necessity for the true understanding of the
speed and power needed for the use of an actual katana. Tenouchi (grip),
Kiri waza (cutting techniques), Taisabaki (body movement), Maai (distance)
and sen (timing) are all needed to achieve this. To attempt this in an
unprotected manner is to invite potential serious injury to practioners.
To rely too
much on protective armor and lightweight shinai
is to invite unrealistic strikes and a mindset of "I did not feel it do
to my armor therfore it would have done no damage". This is too common
in these days. At my dojo we practice shiai with and without bogu. We use
bokken as well as shinai when the bogu is worn and the "cuts" recieve quite
alot of respect when delivered with control using a bokken.
Practice of tameshigiri
also tends to keep ones techniques in perspective. A wild or flashy shinai
cut may look impressive when it smacks a do (breastplate), but try that
same cut with a live blade and watch embarrassment set in as the blade
fails to cut and bounces off the tatami wrapped bamboo. Most practioners
know that a shinai is nowhere near the weight and balance of a shinken.
Flashy one handed cuts with a shinai would more than likely injure the
arm of the practioner if done with a live blade. Cuts to the head (especially
the face) tend to go unnoticed while wearing the men (headgear), while
in reality any cut to the face, even a glancing cut, would be serious indeed.
The best way (in my opinion only) to achieve
realistic learning is to practice shiai with and without bogu. While wearing
the bogu the practioners can let loose with speed and learn true timing,
but this needs to be tempered with controled shiai with bokken to foster
healthy respect for the katana and the cuts it is capable of. Notice the
term "controlled shiai". This is exactly what it imply's, an
advanced shiai used by those who have demonstrated
proficiency in the kihon and can control the impact of the bokken.
I have never had
an injury at my dojo using this type of shiai due to the respect we show
the bokken in these matches. They are done at full speed but the strikes
are pulled at the end to avoid any undue injury. This is not a shiai for
beginners, but for serious deshi of the katana. A balance of shinken and
shinai is needed to foster growth and respect. One keeps the other in perspective.
I
am not the end authority on this issue, nor
is this by any means "new" knowledge. The founders and masters of Iai\kenjutsu
all new this and practiced this way, some people have just lost some of
there perspective due to lack of well rounded training in all aspects of
the art of the sword. I am only one instructor offering a view of what
he does in his dojo in one small corner of this world. There are many paths,
mine is only one.
Arigato Gozaimasu,
Walt Bushey Sandan Gendai Goshin
Iaido
Kunami Ryu Budokai