2001 Volume 33 Issue 2 Pages 16-23
The purpose of this study was to clarify the unique kendo moves used by the All Japan Kendo Champion Masahiro Miyazaki, six-time winner of the all Japan Kendo Championship.Using a direct linear transformation method, traces of the locomotion movement of the kendo players were measured. These measures permitted analysis of the spatial distances between the two competitors (i. e., ma-ai) during their matches. Distribution curves revealed two main types of ma-ai, one which had a higher peak position of sword-guard tangle (i. e., tuba-zeriai), and the other (i. e., issoku-itto-no-maai), which is the distance which enables players to either strike the opponent by taking one step forward and to evade the opponent's striking one step backward. Longitudinal data of 47 matches over 10 years (1990-1999) revealed that:
1) The percentage occurrence of Miyazaki's issoku-itto-no-maai was lower relative to tsuba-zeriai, which is typical of all such players.
2) The number of Miyazaki's offensive and defensive movements from issoku-itto-no-maai was higher than that of all such players.
3) The total times of confrontation in Miyazaki's issoku-itto-no-maai were significantly lower than that of all other players. Namely, his initial offensive movement is much earlier than that of all other players.
4) Miyazaki's percentage occurrence of issoku-itto-no-maai tended to increase year by year, coupled with a decrease in the number of offensive and defensive movement from ma-ai.
