Kendo: munetsuki

[Enfield]

I have a question for people who know about the history of modern kendo (or anyone else who happens to know the answer): why is munetsuki not a valid dotatsu? It seems that the do is made to protect while receiving it, and I seem to remember reading an old book about kendo a long time ago (maybe 10 years, long before I started kendo) which stated that munetsuki was a a valid a strike, but only during certain situations. Also, munetsuki works like any of the other strikes in negating an opponents strike. That is, if you munetsuki while they do something, it counts as aiuchi and hence no point.

So it seems to me that munetsuki probably was a valid target. So my question is two-fold: 1) Was munetsuki considered a valid target, and 2) if so, why isn't it now? (It certainly can't be safety, as kubitsuki is still there.)

- Kent

[hyaku]

Hello there

Yes munetsuki was introduced to became a valid datotsu. It was only valid against Jodan-kamae. Bearing this in mind it was a bit of a non-starter as there are few people who fight from Jodan. Most people can't even do chudan correcty and it's not encouraged unless they are very tall

Also fighting with a person in Jodan reduces striking effectiveness to wrists and head so it sort of evened things up a bit

I can't remember the exact dates now. Perhaps someone else can't jog our memories. I do recall it was about ten years ago I was at the local University trying out a 4 shaku shinai I remember up-ending some poor guy with a tsuki to the chest and feeling really bad about it.

At that time smooth chested do became the fashion as a sliding thrust would not count. I still have a nice red Do I bought at the time that is so dark it's nearly black with plain red stitching on the chest and no embroidery.

This validated area quickly went away as fast as it arrived in less than a year. Basically because a thrust to the high bony chest area would by ineffective (ippon ni narenai) and that the already decided Do area was sufficient for datotsu.

Even in sword techniques the blade is turned flat to thrust to the chest isn't it.

Regards Hyakutake Colin

http://www.bunbun.ne.jp/~sword