Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine characteristic of the “men” striking motion performed by top kendo athletes by comparing to lower level collegiate kendo athletes.
It became clear as a result of analyzing the data that men striking motion is divided into two phases: Back-swing (first phase) and Forward-swing (second phase).
1. Top kendo athletes extended both shoulders and wrists, and maintained the angle of the body bending forward more than collegiate athletes.
2. There was no difference in the Shinai velocity or horizontal velocity of the center of gravity of the body between top kendo athletes and collegiate athletes.
3. Flexion velocity of the left wrist in the first phase and extension velocity of the right wrist and both shoulders in the second phase of top kendo players were faster than collegiate kendo athletes.
4. In the first phase, top kendo athletes raised both wrists more rapidly than collegiate athletes, after the left wrist moved to the bottom.
5. Collegiate athletes moved the wrist to the top and the right wrist moved forward at the last stage of the second phase.
6. Top kendo athletes extended the left shoulder more than collegiate athletes in the second phase.
7. Horizontal velocity of the right ankle of collegiate athletes decreased in the last stage to the first phase.
