The following youtube video is from 2017
all Japan high school kendo championship at summer (called as inter-high in
Japanese).
It was individual part, 1st
round. The first match in following video is especially interesting, so I
introduce this part. Red player is Itoh belongs to Sendaiikuei high school and
white player is Seike belongs to Takachiho high school.
This white player is very deft player that
can hit various kinds of Men. His body balance is also good, which made dynamic
and powerful stroke possible.
For example from 1:42, he shifted clockwise
and trying to stroke Men at the same time. Without deft technique and balance,
this couldn’t be possible.
At 2:10, white player hit Men from the
reverse side with abrupt positioning change.
2:17 Men was steady stroke, though it
looked prevented by red player. Soon he added hiki-Men.
At 3:03, white player tried Kote. To change
rhythm of Men attack, it had some effect.
Soon after that, white player hit hiki-Men
again. And red player failed to prevent it and Men became ippon.
The next moment at 3:20, white player fit
the timing red player came to hit. White player dodged a bit rightward and at
the same time he stroked Men.
From red player’s view, he might feel white
player suddenly disappeared from his front and felt some impact of Men.
It was a magical stroke!