So, tasuki. Those red and white things we tie to our do-himo during shiai to identify which player is which. If you actually do some shinpaning you soon realise that having the identifying marks on the players backs can cause confusion, especially at the speed at which top level kendo is done.
So, for the All Japan University Championships (and only for these championships at the moment), which are held in Osaka every year, they have been experimenting with a new type of identifier. Check out the picture above.
The are simply 2 elastic pieces of coloured cloth that go around the left and right flaps of your tare. I think this is not only an elegant solution, but that they look pretty cool as well (I heard that the red stripe increases your speed as well).
What do you think?
This is really interesting, actually they do a similar thing at the SBS Kumdo Championships (SBS Kumdo Wang) in Korea. At SBS they attach coloured markers onto the Tare, normally coloured squares.
Yeah Jon, its pretty ace. Works well and looks good. I hope the use of it transfers to normal shiai in Japan.
I just wonder does it actually make a noticable difference?
Usually throughout a shiai you keep track of who is red and who is white. So at the ippon you have a fair idea.
It may help a bit, but I think shimpan will still send up the wong flag every now and then, so I can understand the reasoning, but I just wonder is it really necessary?
But then agai, if it makes you go faster I’ll have two
Keeping track of whos is what colour is sometimes hard. I think that this helps identify who is which quicker. Also, you are generally looking at the kendoka from sideon…. so the tasuki on the back can be difficult to see.
I like this!
I think it definitively makes a difference and would reduce the flip flop effect when shimpan do know who scored ippon, but their flag up is mistaken and they have to switch.
Now about it looking cooler i don’t agree…. for me the old tasuki in the back is def more elegant!
Now, that’s a good idea. Too bad for elegance.
Just out of curiosity anyone nows for how long have tasuki been used? 30 years, 40?
Good question. Let me look into it.
I DO know why they are red and white…. but I will leave that for another post!