Newbies Guide To Shiai
Ok, this one goes out to the team, y'all
But everyone else should take note, because from next year once a month we will be having the UCL Shiai League, from October until April, and it'll be an annual thing, but more about that another time....
So, 1) Entering the Shiaijo (fighting area) as a team
The First 2 fighters MUST have men and kote on and be holding their shinai, others take nothing and have only dou and tare. Walk in together when the shinpan (referees) are ready, don't wait to be told. Form a line about a metre from the start line, taking your que from the Taishou (Captain), who will be Najaf. When the referee shouts "REI" you bow to each other. If yours is the first match of the day, then he will shout "SHOMEN NI REI" in which case you all turn to face away from the shinpan when he says SHOMEN NI and bow when he says REI. When you bow to the opposition, only bow so deep that you can still see the whites of their eyes. Then leave backwards out of the shiajo, clapping as appropriate, and the senpo (first fighter), in this case Anthony, should prepare to fight.
2) Entering the Shiaijo when the match is over.
Line up at the sides while the shinpan line up on the head referees side. Once they are ready, enter the shiaijo to within about a metre of the start line. Don't wait to be told. At this point the only person with their Men and Kote on and carrying their Shinai should be the Taishou (Najaf). When the referee says REI, bow to the opposition, then walk out backwards and clap them sportingly.
3) Before and after your fights
When you have finished your fight, take off your men and kote in the line with the other fighters who are preparing/finished. This is done in the same manner as in the dojo, so make sure it is tidy when you have taken it all off. You may sit cross legged instead of Seiza (Kneeling down) only during the number 2 3 or 4 fights. During the first and last fight you must sit in seiza. You should clap to encourage your team members, but under no circumstances are you to shout encouragement or advice. Other teams may do this, but we are not school kids. During the first fight, the Chuken (Number 3 fighter), in this case Richard, should be putting on their men and kote and getting ready to fight. During the second fight the Fukushou (number 4 fighter), or Joe, should get his stuff on, and during the third fight, the Taishou puts his stuff on.
4) Entering the shiajo before your fight.
Get ready at the side of the shiaijo, either as the refs walk to position and unroll flags if you are first, or as the other person is fighting before you. When it is your turn, walk up to the outside line of the shiaijo, and when the other person and the shinpan appear ready, walk in to the shiajo and Bow together with your opponent. IMPORTANT make sure that you walk far enough into the shiajo before your bow, so that after your bow, it will only take you 3 steps to get to the starting line infront of you. If you mess it up you will be asked to do it again until you get it right!! After the bow, just like jigeiko, take 3 steps to the line, and then sonkyo, together with your opponent. It is important to do this at roughly the same time as your opponent otherwise you will get asked to do it again. If your sonkyo is too far away from the line and the shinpan gestures that you should move forward, DO NOT shuffle forward in sonkyo, stand up get to the line and sonkyo again. The shinpan will now shout HAJIME which means begin, so stand up, scream your guts out and twat the other guy on the shoulders and elbows a few times.
5) Leaving the shiaijo after the fight
The shinpan will either say HIKIWAKE (draw) or SHOBUARI (winner) and hold up the according flag, crossed for a draw or one in that direction for the winning side. When they do this, go into sonkyo, put away your sword, stand up, take 5 steps back, and bow to your opponent. This all should also be done roughly together with your opponent. After bowing, walk backwards out of the shiajo, walk to your spot in the line up, and sit down and take off your stuff. Under no circumstances should there be any gesticulating to the tune of I was robbed or Eat that Harry Tipper, or anything else similar, its just not cricket. Or Kendo.
6) When you have to go to the side line for any number of reasons
Whilst standing, put away your sword, take 5 steps back and kneel down in seiza. If it is because your opponent is retying their armour, then stand up when they begin putting on their kote. If it is for a GOGI (Explained later) stand up when the shinpan return to their positions. If it is you who has to put on the armour, then do it bloody quickly, but hopefully that will not have to happen.....
7) Stoppages during the fight
Scoring - The shinpan will shout MEN/KOTE/DOU/TSUKI - ARI when at least 2 flags of the same colour go up for a strike. Stop and return to your starting line and wait for the shinpan to shout HAJIME again.
Penalty - The Shinpan will shout "YAME" (Stop!), and a flag will be held out around leg height to indicate a penalty. Return to your starting point. The Shinpan will then point to the person recieving the penalty and say HANSOKU IKKAI/NIKAI depending on weather or not this is the first or second fowl. If it is to you, bow to the Shinpan when you recieve the penalty. 2 penalties equals a point for the opposition. If this happens, a flag will go up in the direction of the person recieving the point and the referee will say IPPON-ARI. Whichever, the Shinpan will then say HAJIME.
GOGI - The shinpan will shout YAME, and then hold up both flags in one hand and say GOGI. This means he wishes to have a discussion with the other shinpan. At this point, put away your sword, take 5 steps back and kneel down, and wait for them to finish.
Other - The shinpan may stop the fight for any other reason, such as an injury, or a shinai becomeing tangled. He will shout YAME, go back to your starting position.
8) Stopping the fight yourself.
To stop the fight yourself, you should raise your right hand clearly so that the shinpan cannot make a mistake, and at the same time backway from your opponent, so they can't attack. You must have a very good reason for stopping the fight (eg broken shinai) or you will recieve HANSOKU (Penalty point) for being stupid. You will then have to explain yourself to the shinpan and if he agrees with you take whatever action is necessary.
9) Other bits of advice
Shout lots! Make sure that you show enough kiai to "claim" each attack. Stay away from the edges of the shiaijo. Leaving the area results in HANSOKU, and alot of people will try to barge you out if you are close to the edge. On the flip side, if they are close to the edge, try a quick technique then body check them out of the shiaijo. This is something we will go through next year once the shiai league has started. Don't be scared to attack. The more time you give your opponent the easier it will be for him. This doesn't mean attack endlessly like uchikomi geiko, and it also doesn't mean attack without a chance, or just for the hell of it. Just don't give them too much time to think. Make sure you do correct TSUBA ZERRI AI. This means tsuba's MUST touch. Anything else could lead to a penalty. Don't get violent. Even if the other person is a maniac, do not sink to that level. There are clubs out there with a reputation for being heavy handed, you don't want it, believe me. Do NOT argue with the judges. No matter what, even if you disagree, keep your mouth shut. The judges word is final, and over the course of your kendo life you will have decisions that gor for you and against you. Live with it. No Tsuki. From anybody. Full stop. None of you can do it yet. Even you Najaf. And leading on from that..... Don't go for things you haven't really tried. If you get beaten because you tried to do some crazy technique that you saw someone else do and thought was cool, the team will hate you, and I will kill you. And Finally
TRY YOUR HARDEST! That is the most I or anyone else can do. If you come out losing but can say that you tried your best, then that is a positive thing for you and the team. No regrets!
NEVER SURRENDER! NEVER SAY DIE!
RRRRRRAAAAAOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
