Sometimes in the nineties when I was beginning Kendo, a Bulgarian kendoka gave me a copy of Matsumoto sensei’s videotape of Kyoto Taikai. Knowing little about kendo, my friends and I watched in awe those magnificent shiais. In fact, at the time when the internet wasn't grown up, this videotape was the only example of kendo shiai we had, a source of learning and inspiration..... Although since that time, I have seen many kendo shiais and my knowledge of kendo has been grown a bit, I never forget the old videotape. And yet, this year I had an opportunity to watch the 110th All Japan Kendo Enbu Taikai, held at Butoku-den in the Kyoto-shi Budo Centre.
It was early morning at Heathrow airport. My bogu and shinai were packed safely in the bag, documents and money were with me, I only needed to relax and enjoy the travel. Although, the fact that I was going to see for the first time the famous Kyoto Taikai, and practise kendo in Japan made me excited and a little nervous. My little knowledge of the Japanese language and culture made me exposed to all sorts of mistakes and misunderstandings. After a brief flight to Amsterdam airport and some waiting finally, I boarded an aeroplane that was going to bring me to Japan. Armed with the recent Salmon sensei’s books I sunk into virtual travel through kendo, pausing from time to time to think where I am on the path of kendo. After a long flight, the plane landed at Kansai Airport in Osaka, and I had a chance to see Osaka and train in Shudokan. The next day began Kyoto Taikai.
Kyoto Taikai is one of the most important kendo events with a long history. First, it was held in 1895 and this year (2014) is its 110 edition. The event continues for 4 days. On the first day perform various koryu and iaido and jodo masters. The following 3 days kendo competitions start, when over 2000 participants with 6th, 7th and 8th dan have shiai. The venue of the event is Butokuden, an old Budo building made of wood with traditional mat sits, most of the time fool of people who wanted to watch the matches. Every morning starts with asa-geiko from 6.30 to 7.30 in which everyone, even beginners like me, can take part. All motodachi are 8th dan. They stay in the middle of the hall and in front of them are long queues of eager for practice kendoka. If you cannot put your men on fast enough you end up at the bottom of the queue and the chance to have more then one practice is very little. I didn’t perform well with putting my men on and couldn’t have a chance to practice as many times as I wanted but, I could manage to practice with Sumi sensei, Iwata sensei, Sueno sensei and Iwatate sensei.
The competition starts at nine. The first day begins with kendoka who is 6th dan then continues with kendoka who are кyoshi and after that start the shiais of 8th dan. Every kendoka performs at only one shiai. Those shiai represent not only proper kendo, performed well, without any wrong or unnatural movement. They represent the true spirit of kendo. When you watch them you learn the art of grandmasters. But it is not only watching important. It is one present in the way of absorbing the spirit of that great kendoka. On the other hand to be there, to sit properly, to watch quietly, relax and concentrate is a kind of practice called mitori-keiko. I wonder if my brain and body can memorise and later copy such incredible kendo.
For me, Kyoto Taikai had also another importance. I met several teachers some of them I knew from before (as Sumi sensei, Matsumoto sensei, Tashiro sensei Iwata sensei, Sueno sensei) but I was just introduced to Iwatate sensei. It turned out that all those interactions put me in a few challenges I couldn't withstand. This tells me that my spirit was not strong enough and I didn't manage to maintain my zanshin at any time. Also, this important kendo event led my mind to unexpected thoughts regarding some aspects of Kendo. I tried to rethink the meaning of kendo for me. Watching the performances of grandmasters who showed no presence of fear or desire to win but to perform proper kendo. It looked like they didn't care to win against their opponent. Then what was important. I think I can find the answer to the atmosphere of the entire event. The relationship between participants, shimpan and audience. Their posture, self-control, zanshin, rei. All those thoughts led me to the heart of kendo: "forming the human character through the way of katana. I think this is the most important legacy of Kyoto Taikai.
