THE TIMING OF STOMPING (FUMIKOMI) IN KENDO ATTACKS: COMPARISON OF KYU AND DAN LEVEL KENDOKAS

Authors

KwangYul Jeong, University of BayreuthFollow
Franz Konstantin Fuss, University of BayreuthFollow

Category

Combat Sports

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

According to the doctrine of Kendo, spirit, sword, and body must be synchronized. This principle also applies to the timing of stomping when striking the head target. We instrumented a right Kendo sock and a Kendo helmet (head gear) with piezoresistive sensors, and measured the time interval Δt between two impacts, stomping and striking the head target, in 16 Kendokas (6 Kyu and 10 Dan holders). Δt was significantly (p < 0.0001) different in Kyu and Dan holders, with medians of –0.040 s (stomping before striking) and +0.502 s (stomping after striking) respectively, indicating that the two impacts were not synchronised. This study proposes to revise the doctrines of Kendo and accept the fact that in Dan holders, the foot impact on the ground occurs on average 0.5 s after striking the head target.

Recommended Citation

Jeong, KwangYul and Fuss, Franz Konstantin (2024) "THE TIMING OF STOMPING (FUMIKOMI) IN KENDO ATTACKS: COMPARISON OF KYU AND DAN LEVEL KENDOKAS," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 42: Iss. 1, Article 63.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol42/iss1/63