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May 20, 2025
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8.dan sensei says...
by: Anonymous

Sensei,
I just stumbled across this old post of yours looking for something else and thought I'd share a personal story on this subject of scoring with the shoto...

I was once (3.dan at the time) at the Cleveland tournament and noticed some nito players warming up. Tagawa-sensei (8.dan, as you know) was my head of court and I decided to ask him -- "I may be shinpan for a nito match. Do you think it is possible to score with the shoto?"

Tagawa-sensei thought for a moment and said: "If it is VERY clear, yes, it is possible to score with the shoto. But with the shoto, it is never clear."

I thought that was the best answer I ever heard.

Kendo-Guide.Com
Yes. I know Tagawa sensei! :) I think it is hard for non-nito practitioners to know what is ippon or not with the shoto. As we always say, "You cannot know what is valid if you have never used the technique before".

Maybe we start practicing nito to understand the kodachi usage.

Aug 16, 2009
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Thanks a lot for the answers
by: Anonymous

Thank you very much for the answers, and I also need an apology to you to causing an extended page for my complicated questions......., but for the first time I feel very clear of it since very long time hahahhaha.......

Ok I hope we could have the full official rules for the nito player in the future may be from the ZNKR or IKF or other international organization, so we could practice with good confidence with what is allowed and what is not allowed.

Kendo-Guide.Com: I?m glad it helped you. I will work on it but no guarantee when it will be finished. Sorry about that. I will work on it as soon as possible. I am sure that IKF has rules on nito. Ask your federation for a copy of the Shiai and Shinpan Regulations.

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