[Anatolii]

I have my first Taikai this Sunday (Tomorrow) which is going to be a small/medium event with about 25 teams.

We been told there are going to be a lot of beginners there as well but there will be a big number of high levels up too 2ed Dan.

I'm taking part in a team of just 3 beginners.

My Sensei and my other Senpai's think I should do what beginners do best and defend and block a lot and ruin and spoil their attacks, untill we can see an opening to attack ourselves.

My Sensei is an 6th dan and has been doing Kendo for 46+ years so, sound advice I think.

But what is on my mind a lot right now is should I get the first attack in? (This is to say, if am fighting against an fellow beginner) because the first attack would give you that edge I feel and afterwards, you can defend and block.

Or should I just defend and block from the start?

I been training since Sep last year twice per week and have been in armour since Dec last year.

[Munccoughe]

Kill him with your ki!

[doogiehoussi]

Is he saying this cause the other two are better than you ?

I think if you're trying to win then blocking heaps depends on how many points ur team has and which place you have in the team.

If you are just three beginners though, I would have thought you should just get out there and do kendo to get some experience under your belt.

[Dominick Yo]

I couldn't say and wouldn't like to say if they are better then me or not, we started training at the same time, but in a small way, I'm more advanced in training then the other two because I been training twice per week both in my beginners course and afterwards while they have not. My Sensei has regularised this because in our line up before practice, I been told to stand further up the line then my fellow beginners.

I'm not sure where I'm going to be placed in our team, but from talking this week about team tactics, our other club teams (we putting in 3) our best members are taking the 3rd spot. So chances are that am going to be placed 2ed or 3rd as well, but honestly, really not sure.

Normally in free pratice and Jigeiko I always strike first against my fellow beginners or senpais as befitting what we are told as beginners, always attack and keep attacking.

We only just started to learn more about defence and attack after defending in the last month, so I feel out of place allowing someone to attack me first so I can attack them.

[Phassetus]

Or should I just defend and block from the start?

Even if you are a beginner some referees may be eager to award you penalty for fight avoidance or award a point to the other person even if his/her attack is not perfect.

So in opposiotion to your sensei I would advise to attack, attack and attack. This way your opponent's attacks will be disrupted and you will have a chance to score.

[elossenen]

Yea im inclined to agree given the circumstances... Maybe he was meaning it in a philosophical way, as the best defence is a good offense, lol.

[Gastonleruanich]

If this is your first taikai, then I think the best thing to do would be to not worry about tactics too much. Don't expect to take the gold medal, and just enjoy the experience as the result doesn't really matter. Afterwards contemplate on your matches, and think about how you can improve based on how your shiai went, but whilst you are there just enjoy it and do your best...

[Avaindimik]

I have my first Taikai this Sunday (Tomorrow) which is going to be a small/medium event with about 25 teams.

We been told there are going to be a lot of beginners there as well but there will be a big number of high levels up too 2ed Dan.

I'm taking part in a team of just 3 beginners.

My Sensei and my other Senpai's think I should do what beginners do best and defend and block a lot and ruin and spoil their attacks, untill we can see an opening to attack ourselves.

My Sensei is an 6th dan and has been doing Kendo for 46+ years so, sound advice I think.

But what is on my mind a lot right now is should I get the first attack in? (This is to say, if am fighting against an fellow beginner) because the first attack would give you that edge I feel and afterwards, you can defend and block.

Or should I just defend and block from the start?

I been training since Sep last year twice per week and have been in armour since Dec last year.

If you're in a team of 3, then you already have to sacrifice two matches. I'm a bit confused by that advice, unless there are a lot of 3-only teams. Attack, and don't get sucked into tsuba-zeriai. You should EXPECT your opponents to try and snuggle out an easy win. They can go 0-0, 0-0, 0-0 in the remaining three matches and STILL win, after all. You should also think about which of the matches to concede.

[ehib8yPc]

Make triple sure you don't forget anything from your gear. Nothing like showing up at a taikai without kote.

Also, 3 person team taikai are fairly common in most places i've seen (admittedly I have never seen one in S Korea)

[Lerpenoaneway]

If this is your first taikai I would say just try and show proper etiquette while entering and leaving the shiai-jo. Winning isn't important, and most people lose their first match (except in the case where there are two first-timers...then someone has to win their first match ) anyway, so it'd probably be best to attack a lot as others have said, disrupting the chances for the other person to settle. That being said, your sensei said otherwise, so take this for what it's worth.

Just try not to be too nervous, and have a good time meeting other kenshi. The first taikai is more like dipping your feet into the water before you go swimming. Test the temperature and then jump in!

[Erunsenef]

... I would advise to attack, attack and attack....

3 points;
A] One is never more vulnerable then when attacking; Chudan is your best friend;
B] Control the ma-ai... if you can;
C] Your leaders - who know you best [and have done this before] - advise strong defence... do as you are advised by him/them.

[onlineslotetes]

No wait no hang on, I have some great tips for winning taikai.

1 - tell your opponent his wife is crap in bed except when she sticks her middle finger in!!!
2 - eat a lot of garlic and drink lost of fizzy drinks; nothing like a garlic belch to deter an atack (dont do this if your opponent is French cos they is used to pongy breath)
3 - sing loudly and out of tune. Your opponent will think you are a retard and not wish to hurt you
4 - smear your shinai with fecal matter (preferably that from cats or pigs which really whiffs bad). Honest to go, the fecker will be backing off from the word go.
5 - hit the bugger on the thighs and watch him squeal like a girl. Yes yes, I know this isnt normally allowed in kendo but it is in iaido so when he complains just tell him to stop being a baby and do some real swordwork
6 - when he comes in close (tsuba-za-reai?), let go of your shinai and grap the bottom of his Do. Ram it up into his jaw. When he starts to fall backwards put your other hand behind his lower back and push him down going over your hand. When he is down (and probably winded) take his shinai and batter the bajaysus out of him. When the refs intervene just say you are doing old school kendo rather than the wussy stuff you guys do now.

Hope this helps,

let me know how you get on wth these useful tips!

[Ruilnasr]

Just got back from the Taikai!

My team won 2 matchs, the first allowed us to be put into the leader side of the competition fighting for first and second place. We won our second match but lost the third but only just, the first two teams was beginners like us but the third team was a little higher level, not much, but enough to block us scoring.

I won two of my matchs, first match, I scored Kote and then Men, second match, I scored Men and Men and the 3rd match I draw, none of who I was facing could score on me, but they did hit me a few times.

The first match was the hardest, mostly like due to nerves, I was breathing a lot and running out of steam likely due to the Kiri and always attacking, while the second match wasn't as demanding as the first, the third match I just took it easy like the second.

I did what I like the most and attacked first in all three matchs, using loud Kiai as loud as I can and kept attacking Kote and Men while blocking when needed. The third match was a lot harder because he kept getting really close to me which wouldn't allow any of us to attack, through in afterthought, maybe that's what he wanted as a team tactic.

Anyway, met the players afterwards and they was really great guys, very friendly! Hope to see them again.

My next Taikai is on the 2ed and 3rd of April and later in May.

Last thing, I and my team and my club had a lot of fun, have to say, my team members did really well themselves.

[grudabor]

I will be going to my second Taikai next month (can't wait), I felt that I did well last year and won my first macth, the second I lost because I went out of bounds. It's hard when you're being instructed to do something outside of your comfort zone, I think that when you are told to do something you should think of it as maybe he's telling me to incorporate it or be more consious of defending a bit more. When you go up in the ranks, you will notice how much of a asset it really is because you have more control when you know what the other person is doing. The only advise I dare give is to try to stay in control, keep your center line protected, stay relaxed and just let you body react naturally.

BAM

[PerfectCreditForYou]

Just got back from the Taikai!

My team won 2 matchs, the first allowed us to be put into the leader side of the competition fighting for first and second place. We won our second match but lost the third but only just, the first two teams was beginners like us but the third team was a little higher level, not much, but enough to block us scoring.

I won two of my matchs, first match, I scored Kote and then Men, second match, I scored Men and Men and the 3rd match I draw, none of who I was facing could score on me, but they did hit me a few times.

The first match was the hardest, mostly like due to nerves, I was breathing a lot and running out of steam likely due to the Kiri and always attacking, while the second match wasn't as demanding as the first, the third match I just took it easy like the second.

I did what I like the most and attacked first in all three matchs, using loud Kiai as loud as I can and kept attacking Kote and Men while blocking when needed. The third match was a lot harder because he kept getting really close to me which wouldn't allow any of us to attack, through in afterthought, maybe that's what he wanted as a team tactic.

Anyway, met the players afterwards and they was really great guys, very friendly! Hope to see them again.

My next Taikai is on the 2ed and 3rd of April and later in May.

Last thing, I and my team and my club had a lot of fun, have to say, my team members did really well themselves.

Superb my friend,

tell me; which of my tips did you have most success with?

[TobaccoNUE]

6 - when he comes in close (tsuba-za-reai?), let go of your shinai and grap the bottom of his Do. Ram it up into his jaw. When he starts to fall backwards put your other hand behind his lower back and push him down going over your hand. When he is down (and probably winded) take his shinai and batter the bajaysus out of him. When the refs intervene just say you are doing old school kendo rather than the wussy stuff you guys do now.

Had a real good chuckle at this, especially imagining the refs and audiences reactions.

A genuine lol moment after a hard day at work, thanks Sats.

[_tppga_]

One always aim to please.