Pre-War Kendo 5: Tsubazeriai and Taiatari

In the first four parts of this series, I translated the sections of Takano Sasaburo’s Kendo Kyohan concerning techniques for men, tsuki, kote, and do.  As I wrote in part one, I originally planned to make a fifth entry translating the sections on tsubazeriai, taiatari, and grappling (kumiuchi).  However, the section on grappling was long enough that I decided to make it into its own entry.  Thus part five will cover tsubazeriai and taiatari.

Tsubazeriai, taiatari, and kumiuchi are sections three through five of the chapter titled “Information about Shiai” [仕合心得].  Sections one and two of that chapter are “Normal Information” [一般の心得], which covers things like reigi and the notion of fighting fair and square, and “Preparations at Tachiai” [立合の支度].

鍔糶合
Tsubazeriai

（一）離方
敵に接近して鍔糶合となつた時は、速に離れるやうにする。離れ際が大切であつて、必ず敵の?を撃つて引くか、太刀を押へて、敵に手の出せぬやうにして、迅速に引き離れるのである。此の心得なくして、空しく引く時は、敵に乘ぜられ敗を取ることになるのである。

(1) How to Separate
When you have come to tsubazeriai, coming close to the enemy, separate quickly. The moment of separation is worthy of attention, so separate pull back quickly, either striking where the enemy is unprepared or suppressing his sword so that the enemy cannot extend his hands.  If you don’t know this and pull back ineffectively, you will be defeated by the enemy.

（二）鍔糶合の心得
鍔糶合となつた時は、身體の縮らぬやうに足腰を伸ばし、頭を起し、敵の顏と我が顏とを並べて丈較べをしても、敵に較べ勝つと思ふ程丈を高くして、强く敵の懐に入り込むのである。之によつて我が心の勇猛强固なることを敵に示し、敵を畏縮せしめるのである。此の心得があれば如何に深く入り込んでも、四肢が伸び々々として、動作も敏速自在になるのである。外形だけでなく、氣分で敵を押へることが必要である。

(2) Information About Tsubazeriai
When you have come to tsubazeriai, extend your legs and waist so that your body doesn’t shrink, lift up your face, and even compete in height lining up your face even with that of the enemy.  Make yourself tall to the point of feeling that you will defeat the enemy, and enter strongly into the space in front of the enemy (futokoro).  By doing this, you will reveal the strength and valor in your heart and make the enemy cower.  If you have this knowledge and enter quite deeply into the enemy’s space, your body will be at ease, and your movements will become free and nimble.  This isn’t just a physical matter.  You must suppress the enemy with your spirit.

體當り
Taiatari

（一）體當りの方法
體當りといふは、我が身體を以て敵の身體に衝き當たり、敵を突き退け、突き倒し、後撃せしめざる方法である。撃込むと同時に少しく顏を左に側め、右肩を出し、强く弾力あるやうに敵の胸に當たり、同時に雙拳を以て敵の腭に向つて掬ひ上げ、突き倒すのである。熟練すれば敵を二三間も突き退け、突き倒し得るものである。體當たりをすれば敵は突き倒されまいとして、何處かに隙の出來るものである。其の機を逸せず撃込むのである。

(1) How to do Taiatari
Taiatari is colliding your body with the enemy’s, knocking them back or knocking them down and preventing them from striking after you do (ato uchi).  At the same time as you strike, turn your face slightly to the left, put your right shoulder forward, and strike the enemy in the chest in a strong, bouncing manner.  At the same time, scoop up with both hands towards the enemy’s chin and knock them down.  If you are proficient, you can knock the enemy back two or three ken [about 3.5 to 5.5 meters] when you knock them down.  If you do taiatari, the enemy will try to not be knocked down, so you can make an opening somewhere.  Don’t miss this chance to strike.

（二）體當りの受方
敵が當つた來る時は、體を躱して之を避け、又は「入れ當たり」と稱して、我が體を一旦縮めて復た伸ばして敵に當たる。敵が强く烈しく當つて來ても、之を柔かに受けて突き外し、如何なる大力の者が突き掛けて來ても、平然として突き外し、突き返し得るやうに鍛錬すべきである。敵が强く突いて來る時には、右にでも左にでも、我が體を稍斜にして受ける時は凌ぎ易い。體當たりは平生からよく練習して置くべきである。

(2) How to Receive Taiatari
When the enemy comes to collide, shift your body and avoid it, or in what is called “ireatari“, momentarily shrink down then stretch out again to strike the enemy.  Even if the enemy comes in strongly and furiously, you can receive it easily or avoid it.  You should train until you can calmly dodge or push back even when someone of incredible strength comes at you.  When the enemy pushes strongly, if you receive by turning your body slightly diagonally to either the right or the left, it is easy to stave him off.  You should practice taiatari regularly and often.