The study aims to clarify how psychological tactics works in a match between kendo masters and how they integrate their physical movements with psychological tactics. The subject of this case study is a kendo eighth-stage master who has won several Japanese Kendo Championships and is a respected teacher. The stimulated recall interview was used, in which the subject watched a video of one of his past matches and talked through what he saw, thought, and intended to do in key scenes. The analysis revealed that kendo masterʼ psychological tactics consisted of a series of processes such as reading the opponent, moving the opponent, constructing a premise for attack, creating an opening for the opponent through reading each other, moving the opponent, and executing an attack after reading the opponentʼs reading. The psychological bargaining is composed of a series of processes.

    Kendo is a competitive sport in which two players compete for valid strikes using bamboo swords (shinai). During competitions, it is important for the players to be quick and agile while manipulating the shinai forcefully. Therefore, Kendo players need to practice and train hard every day. However, there are a few studies emphasizing on the appropriate exercise prescription for Kendo players, and the necessity to collect their physiological data for ensuring their safety during practice and training.
    This study included 10 healthy male athletes from the Kendo Club of University N who had participated in national competitions during their high school or college. Their maximal oxygen uptake and blood lactate concentration were measured to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of training methods for improving their competitive performance. In addition, since there is no established protocol for estimating the maximum oxygen uptake of kendo athletes, we decided to experimentally verify the validity of the protocol set in this study. The participants performed an all-out test using the pedaling motion of a bicycle ergometer.
    The results showed that the measured maximal oxygen uptake values were lower than that of the previous study. Furthermore, the measured blood lactate concentration values suggested that the metabolic capacity of glycolysis was high and that of aerobic respiration was low. These findings suggested that in addition to the Kendo-specific technical training of the players from University N, there is a need to incorporate training methods that will enhance their aerobic capacity and performance. Also, it is desirable to set a protocol for the all-out test for kendo players that leads to all-out in a short time.

    In recent years, long distance pool swimmers participate in open water swimming in the world. They often do over 1500m continuous swimming training (open water swimming training), not only intermittent training. The effect of the open water swimming training on the results of competitive swimming and physiological adaptations have not been revealed. The present study examined the effect of open water swimming training for competitive swimmers on results of competitive swimming and physiological adaptations. 4 distance swimmers participated in this study. After the training in a month, a change rate of 1500m freestyle velocity was 100.86％. As for the vLT, subject A changed from 1.45m/s to 1.49m/s, subject B changed from 1.38m/s to 1.42m/s, and subject C changed from 1.35m/s to 1.36m/s. As for the OBLA, subject A wasn’t changed, subject B changed from 1.47m/s to 1.51m/s, subject C changed from 1.42m/s to 1.44m/s. Open water swimming training might be improved vLT, OBLA, and 1500m performance.