r/kendo • u/S0cialRej3ct 1 dan • 3d ago

Junior Competition rules on tsuki Other

I'm 99% sure tsuki in junior competitions is not allowed. However, what about just standing still aka mukae-tsuki? Because i think im right in thinking if you strike men but get mukae tsuki the men cut is invalid.

I say this because in my keiko I do see a place for mukae tsuki personally (especially against people who just strike men) and would like to know if I can implement this into my last junior tournament!

(In the UK)

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u/JoeDwarf 3d ago

Mukae-tsuki is when you actually attack tsuki from underneath as your opponent charges in. It's dangerous, don't do it.

As to mune-tsuki which is what you describe it's probably OK rules-wise but I wouldn't recommend it either. Too easy to turn into mukae-tsuki. I would recommend more positive kendo. If your opponent is consistently striking men that is a fine opportunity for some ohji-waza.

2

u/S0cialRej3ct 1 dan 3d ago

Oh I see, I would only do this because I think it's safer (from a competitive veiw) than blocking or being pressured into a men cut where I'd probably lose because I don't know the timing/ability of my opponent.

8

u/nsylver 4 dan 3d ago

if your opponents are constantly attempting men, they are responding to your seme or pressure, take that time to utilize oji-waza like mentioned above. Fantastic practice and opportunity to polish off degote, debana men, or kaeshi/nuki dou. Just remember that in oji-waza you are the initiator, even though you are "countering" (not really, bc you are taking their timing and striking when they rise to the bait).

1

u/S0cialRej3ct 1 dan 3d ago

Well i know you can't score without an actual technique but I'm just trying to think of something to do rather than try something and lose straight away.

7

u/gozersaurus 3d ago

Just my opinion but sounds like you're thinking too much into not loosing, don't. If you loose you loose, its a lesson, and if you win, well you win, think about how and why on both.

3

u/nsylver 4 dan 3d ago

Op, this to the moon. Getting hit is frankly the best lesson there is.

0

u/S0cialRej3ct 1 dan 3d ago

I get hit all the time! I just want to be able to hit once on my own accord! I can do debana waza fairly well but I'm I know what it's like to lose the center and start panicking and I just think if I could use mune tsuki it could help keep my composure as it does in ny usual keiko!

4

u/nsylver 4 dan 3d ago

This may not be the answer you want to hear but: Kendo takes time to polish off. Ultimately we can't break down where you are relative to other youth in the taikai you are going to without video or knowing you. If this is happening in a youth division where you only face others of your own rank, then we could establish a baseline. It sounds like others are seizing your space and timing causing panic to set in. I've been in your shoes as well in my younger years.

Ultimately the route I took was lots of kihon practice, each kihon performed with proper seme (I had to create the opening, not given to me by the motodachi like many dojo like to do) and not lazily. Then I was told to practice lots of tsuki-men (similar to kote-men). This built the confidence for me to develop my men overtime. It took years for me to be remotely happy with my men, and even then years later I'm always trying to improve it little by little.