THE JAPAN PROMOTIONS OPEN INDIVIDUAL SHIAI NIGHT

At DO SHI KEN YU KAI we have a formal competitive league structure held over an extended period of time. Shiai night is held on the last Friday of the month. SHIAI may take the form of individual or team matches. The league runs through March, April, May and June with a break in July and then recommences in August and continues through September, October and November. Prize giving occurs at the end of the year in December.

TAIKAI (competition) is a key element of kendo practice. It is important to place oneself in competitive situations against unfamiliar opponents in order to test the effectiveness of ones technical, mental and physical competence.
Familiar opponents can be used to gain match practice and prepare for TAIKAI. This should always be done with as much realism as possible.

It is beneficial to do SHIAI in a SHIAJO that is smaller than the regulation area so that players become acutely aware of the dangers of stepping out. Whilst we do not generally apply the Jogai foul on SHIAI nights competitors who constantly step back and allow themselves to be forced out of position will be penalised.

It is essential in a TAIKAI to be fully focused, to show fighting spirit and be intent on not losing the match. In order to win you will need to fence in a calm and relaxed manner (fudo shin), and demonstrate high quality techniques.

Show your opponent respect on SHIAI night by crushing them as quickly and efficiently as you can. Use your best techniques, the ones you would use in a national or international TAIKAI. This will highlight weaknesses and should spur those who lose matches to seek out stronger opponents and to train harder.

In SHIAI it is difficult to perform correct waza. Spirits are high and techniques may suffer, but this is a good time to learn to control oneself and relax.
To quote HIROSHI YUI (nanadan): "Delight at your nervousness because it shows that you care about what you are doing." We must not however allow nerves, anger, fear or any other sicknesses to cloud our ability to perform at the highest level that we are capable of.
Clearly this is very difficult but the more practice you build up and the more TAIKAI you enter the more familiar and comfortable you should become with the pressures and demands of competition.

Good luck to all those taking part and thank you in advance to those who assist in the administration of the league.

GaryO

Articles relating to shiai and refereeing can be viewed here. REFEREEING   SHINSA & SHIAI

Standings Shiai League as of May 2008

May Scores tables

Final Standings 2007 Shiai League

Results of 2006 Shiai League

Unfortunately some results were lost due to a damaged computer, so we have calculated the final scores on the results that were not lost. They are as follows:

Mark Halls 24 points

Gary O'Donnell 15 points

Gareth Mason 10 points

Leng 9 points

Keith Rose 7 points

Andy Fisher 7 points

Vicky 6 points

Martin 4 points

Harry 4 points

Bob Yorke 3 points

Mark Needham 3 points

Mark Bailey 2 points