1998 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 13-22
Most kendo players have gone through a traditional training camp, which is called as Kangeiko. The camp has been carried out during the cold early mornings of winter. The camp is thought to be effective in cultivating the mind and improving the physical fitness of the kendo players. In this study, we tried to quantify the training intensity of the camp accomplished in a college kendo team, and examined the effect of the camp on anaerobic work capacity of the college kendo players. Eight male college kendo players participated in this study. Training in the camp was performed for about two hours from 5:00 to 7:00 am. , and the camp was continued for ten days in January in 1997. Training program during the camp consisted of warm-up for 20 min. , Kirikaeshi for 20 - 30 min. , Kakarigeiko for 30 - 40 min. , and Gokakugeiko for 40 - 50 min. by interval training form. We measured heart rate every 15 sec. throughout the trainings on the 2nd and the 9th days of the camp in each two players, and calculated the heart rates in every 15 sec. during Kirikaeshi, in every. 30 sec. during Kakarigeiko, and in every 1 min. before training and during warm-up and Gokakugeiko. We measured the average, peak, and total power outputs during exhaustive 30 sec. cycle pedaling at the load of 8.7% relative to body weight. Heart rates repeatedly increased to 160 - 190 bpm during Kirikaesi and Kakarigeiko, and to 140 - 160 bpm during Gokakugeiko, which corresponded to 80 - 90%HRmax and 70 - 80%HRmax, respectively. The average, peak, and total power outputs during the cycle pedaling were significantly increased 3 days after the camp, indicated that anaerobic work capacity of the players was significantly improved by accomplishment of the camp. We concluded that the high intensity training camp in winter was a traditional discipline method in possible to improve anaerobic work capacity of kendo players using the basic methods in kendo practices. The traditional training camp in kendo would be available for a training in pre-season.
