Realism of Hand Strikes in Kendo: An Examination of Technique and Injury

Striking the hands in Kendo, a traditional form of swordsmanship, is a legitimate and effective technique designed to target the opponentrsquo;s hands or wrists. This style of strike is recognized for its accuracy and impact, playing a crucial role in scoring points.

The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Hand Strikes in Kendo

Hand strikes, known in Kendo as shotei uchi, are indeed a realistic technique when practiced under controlled conditions. They are often aimed at neutralizing the opponentrsquo;s ability to engage effectively, potentially controlling the flow of the match and securing points.

In Kendo, the intent of such strikes is not to remove the hand but to demonstrate skill and control. This is further exemplified by the protective gear typically worn during practice, including the mokken (bamboo sword), men (head protector), kote (wrist protector), do (body protector), and thousand (thousand-punch tatami mat). These protective measures mitigate the risk of serious injury, ensuring that the strikes remain both impactful and safe.

Key Points in Kendo Hand Strikes

Targeting: Strikes to the wrist or hand (kote) are legitimate in Kendo, aimed at controlling the opponent. However, the volume of force used is regulated to ensure that the strikes are effective without being excessively harmful.

Controlled Environment: Practitioners are trained in such a way that the intensity of the strikes is modulated. The gear worn during practice includes protective areas that safeguard against severe injuries. The strikes in Kendo are intended to be powerful and forceful, but ultimately controlled and safe.

Injury Potential in Real Combat vs. Modern Practice

Real Combat Scenario: In a real combat scenario, targeting the hands could lead to significant injury, as the bones in the hand are susceptible to breakage or dislocation. However, in Kendo, the intent is not to cause injury but to score points and demonstrate skill.

European Championships in Bern 2005: An interesting instance at the European Championships held in Bern in 2005 showcased a yūkō-datotsu (scorable point) to the kote (wrist). This moment highlighted the effectiveness of wrist strikes in Kendo, underscoring the realism and practicality of such techniques.

Scorable Point in Kendo: A scorable point in Kendo is defined as an accurate strike or thrust made onto a datotsu-bui (point scoring target) with the shinai (bamboo sword) making contact at its datotsu-bu (bladed end). The competitor must display high shinpan (correct posture) and zanshin (continuation of awareness) throughout the strike, indicating both the physical and mental preparedness to continue the match.

Datotsu-bui Targets: Men-bu: Top or sides of the head protector (sho-men and sayu-men). Kote-bu: Padded area of the wrist protector (migi-kote and hidari-kote). Do-bu: Area of the side of the body protector (migi-do and hidari-do). Tsuki-bu: Area in front of the throat in the head protector (Tsuki-dare).

Shinai Contact: The datotsu-bu of the shinai is the forward or blade side (jin-bu) of the top third (monouchi) of the shinai. The strike must be made with enough force to demonstrate control and impact, as if a real blade were involved.

Zanshin and Continuation of Awareness

Zanshin: Throughout the execution of the strike, the kendōka (Kendo practitioner) must maintain zanshin, or continuation of awareness. This requires the practitioner to be mentally and physically ready to attack again, ensuring that the technique is both effective and timely.

Our Senseirsquo;s Instruction: In training sessions, our sensei often emphasized the need for enough force in strikes to make a real combat scenario more realistic. The training method was to imagine the strikes as if using a real katana, aiming to "cut through" the opponent. This included cutting off the hand, splitting the wrist, and slicing through the head and body.

Conclusion

While striking the hands is a realistic and effective technique in Kendo, the idea of removing hands through such strikes is more a dramatic exaggeration than a practical outcome of the sport. The focus is on demonstrating control and skill within a safe and regulated environment. Nonetheless, the potential for serious injury exists, highlighting the importance of proper training and protective gear in Kendo.