[Jeffery]

Well I wasn’t there at the scene, and its been about 5 years I think, but during jigeiko near the end of a lesson, a kendoka went for a counter attack after hitting the kote to the men, but he didn’t notice that when he hit the kote, the shinai splintered and snapped, and when he went for the thrust towards the men the snapped, spear like shinai thrusted through the men and through the other kendoka’s eyes, and instantly killed him.

It’s a sad story, and will always plague me whenever I use to practice kendo.

Looks like he didn’t oil the shinai well…..

[koebforfrn]

I somehow find that incredibly hard to believe. Where was this supposed to happen, when, and who said so?

[Trientoriciom]

I somehow find that incredibly hard to believe. Where was this supposed to happen, when, and who said so?

The sensei in that ninjutsu class located in joondalup told me. I forgot where exactly, but it was either in Perth, or in Japan.....

[HunterM]

I've never heard of such an event. My sempai had a shinai splinter and go through his men but even then he just got a scratch on the cheek. There was an incident at the olympics in western fencing, when they used to use tight, thick string masks instead of metal (prompted the metal masks) where the rubber tip of the sword (can't remember which, think it was epee or foil) got caught on the string, came off, went up the opposing fencer's nose and into his brain killing him instantly. And there was a case in the states where the pin on an iaito had worn right through, the iaidoka hadn't checked it before had and the blade flew out and killed someone. But they're the only two incidents I can recall and neither of them occurred here.

[9wQlZkIj]

http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/sho...2&postcount=18
http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/sho...2&postcount=19

[Thomas12400]

Thanks Stroud!

This sort of thing has not happened here. I think theres more chance of you getting abducted by aliens than being killed by shinai slats.

[zuhraliyana]

Thanks Stroud!

This sort of thing has not happened here. I think theres more chance of you getting abducted by aliens than being killed by shinai slats.

That depends on who you are training with. I know of some people (non Japanese) who train with very sub standard shinai. Taking a risk with this is pointless, shows no respect for the opponent and will never do Kendo any favours.
I think it's essential to have strict rules about shinai care and maintenance. I'm personally in favour of having the stripping down and re-stringing of the shinai - within a reasonable time limit - as a compnent in Ikkyu grading.

[longrema]

thanks, you just totally freaked me out...

[Avaboormavoro]

That depends on who you are training with. I know of some people (non Japanese) who train with very sub standard shinai. Taking a risk with this is pointless, shows no respect for the opponent and will never do Kendo any favours.
I think it's essential to have strict rules about shinai care and maintenance. I'm personally in favour of having the stripping down and re-stringing of the shinai - within a reasonable time limit - as a compnent in Ikkyu grading.

Very true, I guess Im used to training with people who are very good at shinai maintenance.

I strip down, sand, oil and restring a shinai in a matter of minutes!! hehe, you get lots of practise when you buy the cheapest you can get.

[Tuqofiw]

like the army goons take appart there weapon and put it back together as fast as possible. We should have a shinai-take apart and put together record as well

[foodselfdourileka]

I think that freak accidents are just that...People can get killed while fishing ie the bloke who got speared by the marlin he had hooked.. Even sucking lollies can be detrimental to your health if you run with the stick in your mouth(Just ask your mum.)So I will try not to worry to much about It. I do however think that people should know how to correctley care for their shinas Like don don says it should be part of ikkyu grading.

[Kissntell]

Ive seen many splintered shinai at some club's practices. We do not focus enough on equipment care in kendo, at least here in belgium. I once showed my club mates how to propperly fold their hakama, but I'm still the only one who actually does it every practice

[Jenisoisy]

but he didn’t notice that when he hit the kote, the shinai splintered and snapped, and when he went for the thrust towards the men the snapped, spear like shinai thrusted through the men .

Tsuki is a thrust, Men is a downward strike, not a thrust.
The worst that could happen (Men) is multiple splinters shredding off the shinai and high risk of eye damage, but not death.

No one I know performs tsuki from kote as the kissaki is very low with kote, and there would be a risk of sliding under the tsuki dare, not good.

[dhYTvlAv]

Tsuki is a thrust, Men is a downward strike, not a thrust.
The worst that could happen (Men) is multiple splinters shredding off the shinai and high risk of eye damage, but not death.

No one I know performs tsuki from kote as the kissaki is very low with kote, and there would be a risk of sliding under the tsuki dare, not good.

...but if you strike Kote and the opponent continues a forward movement it is quite conceivable that the mengane might be struck by the rising shinai...

[Golotop]

Crabbi, I was referring to original post

and when he went for the thrust towards the men the snapped, spear like shinai thrusted through the men and through the other kendoka’s eyes, and instantly killed him.

[xochex]

As an aussie I can say I never heard that happening...and we are a pretty small community! Something like that would never go unnoticed! Not to say that bad accidents can't happen. A friend has his scrotum torn open during a tournament back home when a kensen went astray during a shiai. I can tell you the first aid officer had nothing in his bag for that one!

[wbondarmunw]

hehe that was brestovac sensei he likes to tell that story

[iqxdvjgmat]

that was brian????

(mental note to self: never winge about a blister to brestovak sensei...)

[VarenHokalos]

urban legend? kendo legends iai legends can be amusing too. people noto-ing shinkens through their forearms and such.

[sStevenRitziI]

urban legend? kendo legends iai legends can be amusing too. people noto-ing shinkens through their forearms and such.

Actually bunny man, that one is true, see the pictures on sword forum. There is a thread smewhere here with the link.

I don't want to gross anyone out but I once tore my scrotum open too and had to get stitches so is not technically impossible (before you ask, this was not a Kendo or Latex related incident )

It does make for a great pub anecdote, If we ever meet for pints I will tell you the full story