We played the Canadian Women’s Team at the U of T Tournament last weekend. In one of the matches, our biggest, tallest player was matched up against the smallest player on the women’s team. She stepped out of bounds once. If he’d played a more physical game (i.e. more pushing), he might have been able to get her to step out of bounds again. That would have resulted in a point for us. All other things being the same, we would have won the team match.
I talked with my student later about why he didn’t do that. His response reminded me of words I’d uttered myself in U of T tournaments past. “I didn’t want to be known as THAT guy who won by pushing out a smaller opponent.”
It was interesting to hear that. I’d lost a match in overtime years earlier because “I didn’t think it was a proper way to win” the match. I backed off slightly and my opponent promptly took advantage of that and scored a point, winning the match. A former sensei said to me after the match that I should have pushed my opponent out because, after all, it’s a tournament. You lose, you’re done.
Pushing in keiko is generally a waste of energy and time. In tournament, there’s a different dynamic to pushing. When there are clear rules about how points are scored, it’s important to know what they are. If you can avoid taking penalties and get your opponent to take one or two, you’re closer to winning.
Is it “perfect world Kendo”? Of course not. Ideally we’d win because we did our best Kendo. The reality is if you win by making your opponent take two penalties, you still win.
Obviously, Kendo isn’t sumo. Only scoring points by pushing your opponents out of the ring isn’t good Kendo. However, if there’s a reasonable opportunity to “push your opponent off a cliff” (the metaphor I like to use for stepping out of bounds), I think it’s warranted.
I should also point out it’s absolutely fine if you make your opponent step out because they’re backing up in response to pressure from you. If they step off the cliff because they’re not aware of the edge of the ring, well, that’s their problem, isn’t it? Same result, different method – a push with spirit vs a physical push.
An interesting point, and a valid one. It also comes up as a debate at every tournament. IMO, pushing just to push is poor kendo. If it’s a major part of your shiai kendo, then it is a major part of your dojo keiko, and that means that deep down you’re just a bully. Yes, pushing is part of kendo, and done correctly at the right time it is a wonderful waza (which should be used!) to create an opening from which you can land a strike. But there in lies the key… are you creating an opening with the intent to strike (a waza), or are you pushing just to push (bullying)?
Abusing your size/strength against an opponent to exploit a rule present in sports detracts from the sports aspect of kendo. Unfortunately smaller players, usually women, tend to fall victim to this. Yes, size doesn’t matter and according a quote my wife relayed to me (source unknown): “All are equal under the sword.” Smaller players need to learn to deal with larger ones, and everybody needs to learn to deal with “pushers”.
But it really comes down to this: are you pushing to overwhelm your opponent with the intent to *just* push and overwhelm your opponent? Or are you pushing to create a suki (opening) through which you can hit (i.e. your intent with the push it to land a strike with your shinai) or taking advantage in a momentary lapse in your opponent’s posture, readiness, or zanshin (push out of bounds if they are unready and at the edge of the court).
The first reason is not good kendo, nor is it good sport. The others are.
Last up here’s a quote I’ve always liked re: pushing.
“Shiai represents a duel between gentlemen. If a person imagines real
swords are being used, an insightful appreciation of Kendo can be realized.
e rough style of Kendo, such as pushing and shoving your opponent aer
a hit in order to break zanshin, or charging into an opponent in an aempt
to intimidate him/her, is unrealistic in a real duel. ere could be none of the
shoving mentioned above as the man would be dead! Charging foolishly into
an opponents sword will produce the same results. We can continue to perpetu-
ate productive ladies and gentlemen or, we can produce competitive brutes who
intentionally hurt people and bend the rules […] under the pretense of Kendo.”
Whether the fight were to be with real swords with the intent to kill or with bamboo swords in the sport of Kendo (tournament), the intent is the same. Survive and win. If you find opportunity to win by pushing your opponent out and getting closer to a point, then so be it.
If your opponent loses posture or zanshin, that is their problem. In Kendo, you should always maintain a strong zanshin. If you fall out of it, then it is your fault, and not your opponent’s fault. It is at that moment that your opponent should push to their advantage.
Remember, if the intent was to push your opponent around the entire court (I’ve witnessed this), then that is hansoku, and the judges will call it. If, however, your opponent is at the edge of the court and you are pushing to make an attack and THEY lose their posture or zanshin, then it is clear to ANY kendoka to make that push to put them out of boundaries and to cost them a point.
Just my 2 cents.
Have a look at this shiai match around the 7:30 mark.
https://vimeo.com/38549432
Takeo gets pushed out of bounds. No intent to hit – just an intent to push.
I see nothing wrong with this.
Takeo should have known he was near the edge of the court and acted appropriately.
What do you think?