This study pays attention to the 17th-21st European Kendo Championships. It attempts to clarify problems with refereeing in the internationalisation of kendo by analysing the numbers of matches, referees, and average number of refereeing episodes and so on at these championships. It also examines ways of improving and training referees in Europe. The 17^th-20^th Championships took place with juniors' individual matches and women's team matches on the first day, men's team matches on the second day and men's and women's individual matches on the final day. The average number of refereeing episodes in these championships was 14.24 on the first day,28.95 on the second day and 57.01 on the final day. The 21^st championships took place with juniors'individual and team matches and women's team matches on the first day, women's individual matches and men's team matches on the second day, and men's individual matches on the final day. The average number of refereeing episodes was 25.04 on the first day,43.15 on the second day and 33.35 on the final day.
Comparisons between the European Kendo Championships and the 13^th World Kendo Championships and two other championships held in Japan that followed the same schedule of three days revealed that the average numbers of referees per a match court at the EKC were less and the average numbers of refereeing episodes at the EKC was much higher. This shows that referees at the EKC are required to carry heavier burden dues to the lack of numbers of international referees in Europe.
In order to remedy a problem with the lack of referees in the UK, the British Kendo Association has revised the content and conditions of grading examinations for fourth dan and above. Those candidates are required to choose a compulsory question about refereeing in their grading paper and to have refereeing experience at official competitions.
Following this. example, it is expected for both the European Kendo Federations and the affiliated associations and federations to devise ways of identifying and training referees.

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This study focused on the activity of the left trapezius muscles during two fundamental kendo strikes: the basic large shomen-uchi (straight attack to the head in which the shinai is swung in a large arch) and the competition-style small shomen-uchi (straight attack to the head in which the shinai is swung in a small arch). We used electromyography (EMG) to investigate differences between the muscle activity of high-level college kendoists who competed regularly on the college team and midlevel college kendoists who practiced with the team, but did not compete with it.
The participants were 10 high-level and 10 midlevel male members of the University of T(varsity)Kendo Club. Participants performed both the large shomen-uchi and the small shomen-uchi seven times each and completed a survey asking them to “indicate the groups of muscles you use during a large shomen-uchi and those you use during a small shomen-uchi. ”
We then described methods for instruction of the shomen-uchi based on results of the above investigation.
1. Duration of left trapezius muscle activity
For both groups of participants, the duration of EMG activity of the left trapezius muscles was significantly shorter in the small shomen-uchi than in the large one. Concerning the latter, no significant difference between groups was seen in the duration of muscle activity. However, in the small shomen-uchi activity, a significant difference was evident, the higher-level kendoists exhibiting longer durations of activity than the midlevel kendoists. In fact, no left trapezius muscle activity was recorded for 5 out of 10 midlevel players.
2. Perception of use of the left trapezius muscles

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A study was carried out to investigate the differences of psychological competitive abilities of athletes in kendo among junior high school students, senior high school students, and university students. The levels of these abilities for athletes in kendo, estimated by using the “Diagnostic Inventory of Psychological Competitive Abilities of Athletes (DIPCA.3)”test, were compared among a junior high school student group (n=126), a senior high school group (n=137), and a university group (n=138). Results: 1) The levels of “will to win, ”“confidence, ” “strategic planning, ” and “teamwork” in regard to psychological competitive abilities were significantly higher in the university group than in the junior high school (p<.05) and senior high school (p<.05)groups.2) The levels of “mental concentration and stability” in the senior high school group were significantly lower than in the junior high school (p<. O5) and university groups (p<.05). These results suggest that the experience of kendo and growth closely influence the psychological competitive abilities in kendo.

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