Looking back at '24 Detroit Open to '25 Detroit Open - by Yutaro Matsuura
"Shomen ni Rei!" the referee announced at the conclusion of the match. I bowed to the Shomen along with my opponent. Unfortunately, things had not gone my way, another Senior Division final, another loss. This defeat hurt more than usual because it was at the prestigious Detroit Open Kendo Tournament. I don't want to sound whiny, but I was never hit, other than the strike to the shoulder. However, I had exhibited careless Zanshin and was caught on a turn. Shoulder or not, if I had been quicker and squared up to my opponent sooner, all could have been avoided.
My students were very encouraging and happy that I had placed second, which is one of the reasons why I love them so much. Together, we ate our bentos and returned to the gymnasium. They always have a way of cheering me up.
As I took my position as the Court C Shunin, I was approached by two individuals I recognized but had never really spoken to: Sang Wook Cha and Yong Back. I knew that Cha had just made a run in the Godan and up division and that Yong was the "Shinai Mall" guy. They asked if I could give them some time to find their Senpo and Jiho.
Meanwhile, the loudspeaker blared, "All Team Matches Starting NOW!" Feeling a twinge of sympathy for them, I approached the Chief Judge, Komizu Sensei, and pleaded for some additional time. Those who know Komizu Sensei would agree that he is not the ideal individual to try and reason with. Unsurprisingly, I was promptly reprimanded and told to return to my table and to start forfeiting those who did not report on time.
"Sorry, guys…" was all I could say, but they understood. Missing their Senpo and Jiho, the team's spirits were low. However, the Chuken and Yong rallied and set the stage for Cha. The comeback was complete. After the tournament, Yong approached me, thanked me, and offered me a Shinai. I later sent him the specifications of what I preferred to use, marking the beginning of my love for the Hitoyama Premium Shinai. Most importantly, I had made a good friend through Kendo, and at that time, I had no idea about the adventures that awaited us in the coming year. Oh, and legend has it that the missing Senpo and Jiho had succumbed to their nerves and were occupied in the restroom. Cha berated them upon their return.
Yong and I would converse and joke about the poor Sempo and Jiho as time passed. I wrote a product review for the shinai he sent my son, and in return, I received more Shinai. This exchange led to the first Hokubei Kendo Workshop by Virginia Kendo, which took place in June. I must say, it was so much fun meeting new people and having the opportunity to teach in a relaxed atmosphere. This experience boosted my teaching confidence, not to mention all the other fun activities available in Northern Virginia.
During the summer, Yong visited my home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a vendor at the Michigan Cup Tournament. It was an opportunity for us to hang out and discuss more Kendo. Then, he offered to sponsor Taichi and provided him with the new Haechi Bogu. Taichi was excited and put on a fantastic display for Hokubei, winning multiple medals at the event. Unfortunately, Taichi sustained an injury during a soccer mishap afterward and missed the fall Taikai season, including our Midwest Federation Championships. I had told Yong I would win in the Seniors category, but for some inexplicable reason, the age limit was raised to 55+, rendering me ineligible.
In November, we held our second workshop in Virginia, another sold-out event and another significant boost for my teaching confidence. I love helping people improve and knew that the results would be favorable by demonstrating and explaining techniques with patience and pertinent details. This seminar focused on Kote and Men and their applications. This focus brought to my Kendo a new level of awareness for teaching and self-improvement. As always, I made sure to join Jigeiko with as many participants as possible. All I could see ahead was Detroit and my chance for vindication.
Competing in the Seniors division had been a struggle for me. I had participated in seven Senior events, achieving three runner-up positions and two third places, which is not what I had hoped for. As someone who relies frequently on Debana Kote, the slower pace in these competitions has made timing quite challenging. Many of my opponents have had a defense-first mentality and displayed considerable patience. I often found myself being the first to lose patience and make avoidable errors. While I have a strong "guard" in my Kamae, I lacked the patience to capitalize on it. I pressed forward and felt that the pace of my Men would get through, but it was proving ineffective. Another issue I've encountered in the Seniors division is that many competitors come in very close to launch their attacks. I get very uncomfortable when this happens, rendering my Kote less effective, as I tend to throw it, thinking I have enough space. Confusion and doubt started to creep into my Kendo, and some might say that I had caught a Kendo "sickness." Even worse, I felt a disconnect between my happiness in teaching and giving seminars and the balance in my own Kendo.
During my run to the finals in the Detroit Taikai, where I began this story, I approached the competition with a focus on staying in Kamae. However, I became influenced by the notion that my technique had to be aesthetically pleasing, straight, and predominantly Men. This approach initially worked; I was taking center and successfully scoring Men. I honed in on the right distance and could push forward effectively into my Men attacks.
Then I ran up against a 6-Dan opponent who was very skilled at taking Men. I couldn't break him, in fact, he was the one getting close to scoring Men on me. My footwork faltered, and so did my posture, as my patience crumbled. I resorted to throwing Kote attacks until, in Encho, one finally landed. I won, although I paid dearly as my game plan had fallen apart.
In the semi-finals, I allowed my large opponent to push me around (and crush my elbow with a Do attack. This situation would have been avoidable had I maintained my footwork. I resorted to a Hiki Men and De-Kote to secure the win.
Returning full circle to the finals, I let the confusion creep in. I was unsure whether to stick to my game plan and try stepping in on a Men or to set up what I do best and get one Kote. At that moment, my strategy had unraveled completely. In the end, I went for Men but made a slow and sloppy turn, leading to defeat.
Fast forward to this year, 2025. After the Virginia workshop in November, I trained hard to build on the momentum of the last year. I focused on holding a stronger Kamae, establishing distance, and effectively taking the Men. I felt physically stronger, using every opportunity to prepare, even walking my dogs daily to 300 miles over the summer. I dedicated many hours to practice during my two weeks off for Christmas. I was ready. My Men attacks improved with my legs underneath me and arms fully extended. I practiced hundreds of Suburi with my students. I was ready.
And then it hit me. I was struck with the flu in late January- a terrible ordeal. I had not been on antibiotics since 2002, but this time, I faced fever, pain, fatigue, cough, and headaches. I missed an entire week of work and could feel my efforts over the past months evaporating. Even when I finally made it back to practice, it was as if my progress had been erased. I had to adapt my approach. Kote is what I do best, so I started to throw it in practice, and it was still there. It was there whether moving forward, backward, or even off balance.
When I arrived at the gym for the Detroit Open Kendo Tournament and heard that the Seniors division was in the morning, I made a decision. I would use my two primary weapons and focus. I could still feel the damage from the flu, so concentration was critical. I would lock into Kamae and set up for the Kote, either by threatening the Men with constant sustained pressure or by looking for mistakes made by the opponent.
In my first match, I faced a "lifter" who had made it to 4-Dan but relied on a Nuki Waza. This was a nightmare for a Kote striker like myself, as the Kote is always above the opponent's head. So, right from the start, I had to abandon my initial plan and adapt. Fortunately, Men were presented, and I was able to advance quickly. Next, I encountered a formidable opponent from the East Coast. This match truly tested my tactics. I focused on moving in small steps toward the middle, enticing him to raise his hands, trying to anticipate where the Kote would be. This was an extremely effective tactic against this opponent as he was committed to executing his pressure and throw, allowing me to predict the position of the Kote and advance successfully.
In the semi-final, I faced a fellow 7-Dan and former champion. I had the opportunity to observe his previous matches and pick up on the cadence of his footwork, his distance to throw Men, and, most critically, when his hands started to lift. But it was as though he read my mind. At first, he didn't throw Men at all, making me believe that I could get Men. When he did throw one, he closed the distance more than I anticipated and hit my Mengane, giving me a bit of a scare, but the officiating on my court was solid, and no flags went up.
He avoided throwing Men from the cadence I observed earlier, but my Kamae was settled in now. He was unable to break through the center. The end came when I threw a Kote, mistakenly thinking the Men was coming, only to realize he was also going for a Kote. He stopped, but I maintained momentum toward his Men following our canceled-out Kotes, which secured my place in the finals. Kote-Men against Kote is a Waza I practice frequently with my students, and it paid off here.
The finals presented me with a very unexpected opponent: a Shodan who had taken a 30+ year break from Kendo and had just eliminated two Yondans, a Godan, and a Rokudan on his way to the finals. What concerned me was the ease he had in doing it. This was my moment to have faith in my Kamae, not to let anyone at this level, regardless of their strength, get through. I aimed to end the match with Kote early on. Everything I set up - my Kamae, footwork, and left hand - seamlessly ended this person's hopes.
One long year reflecting. One long year of waiting. Kendo is always about reflecting on the past while continuing to move forward.
