[Fertassa]

In a match, I wouldn't stop until the judge stop me, but I wouldn't hit an opponent on the floor. If i get a chance to hit him while he's falling, then yes, but not WHILE he's on the floor. In ji-keiko, of course, you help the guy up.

[EsAllCams]

So you wouldn't take advantage of an opponent who has less skill than you? Or no skill at all? You would give up your own skills and fight at their level? If you fall, there's usually something you could have done correctly to avoid that, so it's not luck, unless somebody just happens to throw a banana peel under your feet

I do understand and respect the rest of your arguments, but I don't quite understand why you wouldn't use an opponents weakness against him or her.

How bout this one...Have you ever played someone at something and lost because of some odd technicality? I know I really get angry when stuff like that happens, makes me feel like Ive been cheated =X. So, do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you. This seems like it's getting kinda redundant though. Something like falling isnt really someones weakness, it's more like bad luck. If someone falls every match then it's a weakness, but I dont think anyone's that bad at footwork =).

[strongjannabiz]

Hi!

One day when I am finally in bogu and allowed to spar, and if my opponent fell, I would not try to hit him/her. I know my first reaction would be to stop and make sure they are ok. I don't care if I win or lose as long as my opponent isn't hurt.

Kaoru

[22paseabelldaps]

I voted "Attack" but I should have voted "If the Judges do not stop the bout, yes." We are taught to strike ONLY if you do it immediately otherwise it's just bad sportsmenship. Honestly, I just can't make myself do it... yet.

[vodaPlaps]

I wouldn't do that to you Mike. Your Do is a much bigger target.

DOOHHHHH!

[Sakkola]

*hugs Alicia* My thoughts exactly!

[Louthcoombutt]

Probably more spirited is what I'm after.. with confidence in that if I do something, then it will be allowed and correct.
I have no desire to put anyones nose out of shape by say..: Knocking them on thier backside and cutting men... or disarming someone and cutting men... or whatever.

for what it's worth, i've seen folks at a tournament who have been overly agressive with pushing and have been awarded with a hansoku.

As for knocking people on their backsides, sometimes it just happens and it's not normally your fault. if you simply go in for men and then tai-atari and you knock someone on their ass it shows at the very least that something was wrong with them... their feet, their balance...

it just happens and it's part of kendo.

many years ago, i got into a very bad habit of hitting men and then coming up with my arms.. it put me off balance at the point of tai-atari and I had ZERO zanshin. My sensei cured me of that right smartly. He's a big guy.. probably outweighs me by 50 kilos.. and he eventually, he would let me hit men and then he would take a step forward and crash me backwards.. causing me often to bend straight backwards at horrible angles. I threw my back out once doing that and it cured me of my improper technique.

Just one of those cases where the sensei teaches physically rather than verbally.

[wsbizwsa]

i know i would rather lose and learn and become a better kendoka for it, than win by taking advantage of my opponents bad luck and using no skill. alicia

So you wouldn't take advantage of an opponent who has less skill than you? Or no skill at all? You would give up your own skills and fight at their level? If you fall, there's usually something you could have done correctly to avoid that, so it's not luck, unless somebody just happens to throw a banana peel under your feet

I do understand and respect the rest of your arguments, but I don't quite understand why you wouldn't use an opponents weakness against him or her.

[lodsemelf]

I have always been taught to fight Queensbury rules... ie you do not hit a man when he's down (by my family not my sensei), but in Kendo its different.. because its attack attack attack....

I have had in my Kendo life certain oppertunities to strike fallen or falling opponents, and have not.

My question is : is it accepted that a fallen or falling opponent is a target, or should one move to safe distance and await the opponent to resume???

Peoples comparisons between kendo as battlefield, and kendo as a sport welcome.

[paralelogram]

I voted "Attack" but I should have voted "If the Judges do not stop the bout, yes." We are taught to strike ONLY if you do it immediately otherwise it's just bad sportsmenship. Honestly, I just can't make myself do it... yet.

heheh.. .i'm not fast enough to do it

[Gubocang]

If the match hasn't stopped then I will definitely go for it. I've seen people go for tsuki when their opponent was down.

Tim

[erepsysoulpfbs]

Yes, Attack, attack etc etc.

I do that all the time anyway.

[ticskebasse]

I think it depends on the situation. I had the chance earlier this year when a fellow kenshi fell. When he rolled over his men was open. I was about to hit him when I noticed he was in a lot of pain and holding his knee. I backed off. Turned out he dislocated his knee. I felt sorry for him getting hurt but would have really felt like an ass if I would have hit him.

[TouccuraLar]

The rules allow you one shot so long as you take it immediately. You should take it in shiai. For jigeiko, let the poor fellow up.

[kSmica]

So you wouldn't take advantage of an opponent who has less skill than you? Or no skill at all? You would give up your own skills and fight at their level? If you fall, there's usually something you could have done correctly to avoid that, so it's not luck, unless somebody just happens to throw a banana peel under your feet

I do understand and respect the rest of your arguments, but I don't quite understand why you wouldn't use an opponents weakness against him or her.

I think this is what it boils down to actually. Whether or not one should beat the opponent because the opponent is substandard is certain areas or because you are superior in areas he is good in. Personally, I wouldn't like to exploit the weakness of my opponent, I'd rather find the area I'm superior in (and he also strong in) and defeat him that way, there is no honour in defeating someone less skilled than you. I do realise however, that shiai is about winning, so it's probably more of a judgement call there.
Winning because of a fluke also does not truly show whether you are better than someone else.

Oh, one last thing, if you're good in something which your opponent sucks at, and your opponent is good in something you suck at(whilst both being at roughly the same standard). And you happen to be better at footwork than he is, then I think it's probably okay to hit him when he's down because both of you will be exploiting the other's weaknesses.

[RuttyUttepe]

Same here. Only difference is I'd back off if my opponent was obviously injured.

[defenderfors]

im not sure... i mean, it wld be acceptable after all it is him tht fell, but if tht happenned to me (if my opponent fell) i would rather wait then take the opportunity, it wouldn't be seen as shameful if u just attacked and u'd jus be considered lucky... but i dno it jus wldnt seem rite to win a match by taking advantage of such an event...

[amelveEnromma]

Example: In 1994 at the Kitamoto camp, Toda sensei was playing against a European, Toda sensei was doing Nito, and was being quite surgical in his attacks. He kept backing the European up with his kamai. Pretty soon, a lot of us were standing around watching, and Toda sensei kept backing this guy up. He finally backed him up to the observers. WHile most of us got out of the way so Toda sensei could maneuver him to the wall, one of the Australian guys pushed the European kenshi forward really hard, destroying the match. When a couple of us called him on this, he said that the guy should not back out of a fight. I think he should have stayed out of a match he was not involved in. His action made it look like a school yard fight where the crowd keeps pushing the kids back in to a fight. His actions also destroyed the advantage that Toda sensei was keeping. If Toda sensei wanted him to attack, he would have backed him to the wall (Which he was doing) and the guy would have had nowhere to go. During kendo practice, I have seen people backed up against walls, out doors, across the dojo etc. The person doing the backing is gaining an advantage and will prove their point when the opponent is against a wall.

I just had this funny mental image of a kendoka who keeps forcing his opponent backwards, out the door of the dojo, across the street, down the lane, and eventually winds up spilling the guy into an ocean somewhere.

[KuRoregioNka]

Cheers Mr.Tvola,
I'm thinking of becoming more agressive/assertive.
I've noticed that a few people have voted without comments... If you could give at least a one liner why you have voted the way you have, I would appreciate it tons.



Many thanks

Paulo (AKA emitbrownne)

[NumsAmenniams]

btw... fwiw.. i voted on this poll for 'attackattackattack!' rather than 'attack unless the judges stop the action' because i think if you wait to see whether or not the judges will stop the action, it will be too late to attack.

just thought i'd voice my opinion on that.