Uchimura who is finalist 2018 all japan
kendo championship (AJCK), used Men-kaeshi-Men ippon from 2nd round
to quarter final round.
Men-kaeshi-Men is very difficult ippon, and
we do not see frequently.
Uchimura is one of few players able to use
this technique. The following was 2nd round match. He was red side
player.
He is doing offense and defense at the same
time and that is one of his unique feature of kendo.
At 0:59, from feint he hit Kote, what notable
was his movement after hit. When they contacted, red player bent his neck so as
not to be hit after his Kote, moreover he shifted his body to another direction
to evade opponent sight. So, white player couldn’t react soon to hit.
2:05 red player slowly swung shinai and
approached, and as soon as he found opponent raised his shinai to guard his
Men, red player hit opened Kote.
In case opponent player tried to counter
back this time, I think there was less possibility to be hit because he can
clinch the space as his forward momentum is faster than opponent’s in the
serial movement.
2:33, white player impatiently hit Men from
distance and red player didn’t miss this opportunity. He dodged opponent
momentum with footwork of left backward, and swung down to smash Men.
Uchimura always seems to think offense and
defense at the same time and able to choose most optimal stroke depend on the
opponent’s reaction. He is very elusive and has many variety of attacks and counterattacks.
So, he remain strong even he became close to 40 years old, which many players
finished peak competence in general.
Flexible and swift footwork allows him to
do like that kendo style.
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