Home
Hataya Sensei DVD
Search
Bushido
Respect for Katana
Sword Dictionary
How to Guides
    Bow In Ceremony
    Warm Up Exercises
    Bow Out Ceremony
    Wearing Uniform
    Formal Uniform
    Wearing Daisho
    Uniform Folding/Care
Katana Selection
    Sword Dimensions
    Sword Testing
Katana Maintenance
    Katana Cleaning
    Mekugi Replacement
    Katana Disassembly
    Is my sword sharp?
    Edge Geometry
    Surface Polish
    Sharpening Guide
Training Basics
    Kihon (Fundamentals)
    8 Basic Cuts
    Toyama Kata
    Toyama Kukmitachi
    Seitei Kata
Taikai Guides
    Taikai Rules
    Judging Guide
Tameshigiri
    Target Prep & Spiking
    Cutting Patters
    Cutting Videos
    Target Comparison
St Petersburg Dojo
    Intro Letter
    Femal Sensei
    Dojo Members
    Code of Conduct
    Classes and Fees
Promotion Pictues
Rank Testing
Links

Taikai Rules and Regulations

These guides are for students and instructors at the Konjaku Kioi dojo and any competitors in taikai sponsored by the dojo.  All competitors and seminar participants are required to read and understand these rules. Failure to follow these rules may result in your expulsion from the seminars and tournament.

Tai Kai Rules - Etiquette

• This is a Japanese-style tournament. American-style behavior and methods will not be allowed. Train accordingly.
• Competitors should never approach the Judges during the competition unless asked to do so by the judges. A liaison will be available to bring any problems to the attention of the tournament coordinator, Elder Sensei.
• Swords must be handled with respect and great care at all times. Improper handling will result in immediate expulsion from the event.
• Swords will not be worn unless engaged in or getting ready for competition.
• All judging will be done based on Japanese tournament standards.
• All competitors must remain quiet and respectful at all times. There will be no loud talking, laughing or improper behavior inside the building.
• Any show of disrespect towards a judge or other competitor will result in immediate expulsion from the event.
• Each competitor is responsible for being aware and ready to compete when it is their turn.
• Competitors should exit the floor quickly and quietly after their turn.
• All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judges.

Top of Page

Tai Kai Rules - Equipment

• No shoes are allowed on the competition floor.
• Competitors will wear shoes or sandals when not on the tournament floor.
• All participants must wear a full-length traditional hakama, Iai obi, and kendo gi top. Loud fancy colored uniforms will not be allowed.
• Tabi socks are permitted on the competition floor only.
• All competitors need to have tameshigiri swords pass a safety inspection.
• No live blades will be used in kata without special permission / approval by the Tai Kai Committee. We ask that participants use iaito or blunted steel blades.
• All swords will be subject to a safety inspection. The following may be reasons for failure:
  • Loose or obvious chips in the edge of a blade
  • Cracked or bent blade
  • Loose or defective nakago or tsuba
  • Loose or missing tsuka-ito
  • Cracked or defective koiguchi
  • Excessively cracked saya
• 440 stainless steel / homemade / replica swords will not be permitted.
• All swords should have traditional wood saya, wrapped handle, and tsuba.
• WWII military fittings will not be permitted.
• All mekugi must be in excellent condition and inspected prior to use. ($10 replacement charge)
• Wearing of wakizashi will be limited to Nidan or Higher (excluding the wakizashi tameshigiri event).

Top of Page

Single Elimination Tournament

Kata, Tameshigiri, Wakizashi, and Team Tameshigiri are all multiple round single elimination competitions. Competitors are paired off for each round. From each pair, one person may advance to the next round. It is also possible for both competitors to be disqualified if both make serious mistakes. One competitor is assigned red and other is assigned white. Depending upon time limitation for the event, the competitors may perform simultaneously, or the white competitor will perform first. Both competitors should enter the competition area when called up. They should then bow to each other. They should also bow to the judges both before and after their performance. They should stand quietly and respectfully when not performing. The officiating team will have 3 or 5 judges. They will each raise a red or white flag to indicate the winner. They will raise both flags crossed to indicate that both competitors should been disqualified. The result of the round is the ruling of the majority of judges. The competitors should again bow to each other after the judgment and leave the competition floor. A competitor may be passed through the first round to create the proper number of competitor pairs. They may also be passed through a round if their prospective opponent was disqualified. This process continues until only two competitors remain undefeated. The final round puts these two against each other for 1^st and 2^nd place. The losers from the previous round face each other for 3^rd and 4^th place.

The single elimination tournament may seem harsh to us. One mistake and you are out of the competition. It is not easy to deal with being eliminated in the first round. We must put the competition in the proper perspective of Japanese Swordsmanship. When two opponents face each other, only one moves on to the next fight. The winner is the last person standing.

The judges may add an extra qualifying round to tameshigiri events. All competitors will perform the first round cutting sequence and get a pass/fail ruling from the judges. You must pass to qualify for the rest of the event.

The competition will be set-up in the order in which competitors register. A competitor should not face a member of their dojo in the first round. A graphical representation showing each round in an event will be available. The competitors may be broken into two groups to facilitate a large event. Two panels of judges will be used until the final round is reached.

Top of Page

Kata Competition

The Kata event is a single elimination competition (Single Elimination Description).  There are three rank categories. Kyu ranks, Shodan , Nidan and above.  Events for each rank will only be run if there are four or more competitors in that catagory.  Each competitor will perform three kata per round. Any Japanese style kata may be performed but Toyama Ryu and Zen Nihon Batto-Do Renmei seitei kata are preferred. Katas performed must be Japanese-style (short and focused). Long, drawn out or fancy American kata are not permitted. Judges will base their decision on such aspects as timing, form, fluidity, effectiveness, attitude, and over-all presentation. Competitors should remember that they are judged the entire time they are on the competition floor and not just when they are performing kata. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judges.

Top of Page

Tameshigiri Competition

The Tameshigiri event is a single elimination competition (Single Elimination Description).  There are three rank categories. Kyu ranks, Shodan , Nidan and above.  Events for each rank will only be run if there are four or more competitors in that catagory.  Each competitor will perform a series of cuts on one to three targets per round. The cuts are described below. A sequence of cuts may be started from the left or right. The targets will be single tatami mats. Judges will base their decision on such aspects as performing the proper sequence of cuts, angles of cuts, cleanness of cuts, and over-all presentation. Competitors may face disqualification for missing the target, not cutting all the way through a target, knocking the target off the stand, knocking over the stand, or hitting the peg in the top of the stand. The Judges may direct a competitor to stop and not continue if they have been disqualified. A competitor should never touch the target or stand. This includes adjusting the target or righting a stand that has been knocked over. Judges will penalize a competitor for not making cuts in the proper sequence, bad cutting angles, having a cut pass through a previous cut, having a cut pass through the top of the target, and shaving off too thin a piece of the target. Competitors are being judged for proper attitude and decorum the entire time they are on the competition floor. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judges.

Free-form cuts on can be any series of cuts the competitor wishes to make. If multiple targets are used, the competitor may vary their spacing and arrangement. Multiple targets should be treated as if they represent multiple opponents.

Top of Page

Wakizashi Competition

The Wakizashi Tameshigiri event is a single elimination competition (Single Elimination Description). Each competitor will perform a series of cuts on one target per round. The cuts are described below. A sequence of cuts may be started from the left or right. The targets will be single tatami mats. Judges will base their decision on such aspects as performing the proper sequence of cuts, angles of cuts, cleanness of cuts, and over-all presentation. Competitors may face disqualification for missing the target, not cutting all the way through a target, knocking the target off the stand, knocking over the stand, or hitting the peg in the top of the stand. The Judges may direct a competitor to stop and not continue if they have been disqualified. A competitor should never touch the target or stand. This includes adjusting the target or righting a stand that has been knocked over. Judges will penalize a competitor for not making cuts in the proper sequence, bad cutting angles, having a cut pass through a previous cut, having a cut pass through the top of the target, and shaving off too thin a piece of the target. Competitors are being judged for proper attitude and decorum the entire time they are on the competition floor. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judges.

Free-form cuts on can be any series of cuts the competitor wishes to make.

Top of Page

Dotan Competition

The Dotan event is a single round competition based on how many horizontal targets can be cut with a single vertical cut. The targets may be single or double tatami mats. The cut must be made at a 90-degree angle to the targets. Whole and fractional targets will be counted. Each competitor should advance to the dotan stand when directed by the Judges and then draw their sword. The targets may be touched ONCE with the sword to judge distance. If the target is touched more than once the competitor may be disqualified. After making a single cut, the competitor should remove their sword from the targets and back up about five steps before performing chuburi noto. If two competitors tie for one of the top places, they will both make another cut to determine their placement. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judges.

Top of Page

Team Tameshigiri Competition

The Team Tameshigiri event is a single elimination competition (Single Elimination Description). A team of 3 competitors will perform a rokudan-giri on one target per round. Each person must make two of the six cuts. A sequence of cuts may be started from the left or right, but must continue in the proper pattern. The targets will be single tatami mats until the final. The final will use double tatami mats. Judges will base their decision on such aspects as performing the proper sequence of cuts, angles of cuts, cleanness of cuts, and over-all presentation. Competitors may face disqualification for missing the target, not cutting all the way through a target, knocking the target off the stand, knocking over the stand, or hitting the peg in the top of the stand. The Judges may direct a competitor to stop and not continue if they have been disqualified. A competitor should never touch the target or stand. This includes adjusting the target or righting a stand that has been knocked over. Judges will penalize a competitor for not making cuts in the proper sequence, bad cutting angles, having a cut pass through a previous cut, having a cut pass through the top of the target, and shaving off too thin a piece of the target. Competitors are being judged for proper attitude and decorum the entire time they are on the competition floor. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judge.

Top of Page

Tai Kai Rules - Kumitachi

Kumitachi will NOT allow use of anything but Iaito.  NO BOKEN / SHINKEN.  Kumitachi is scored and is not an elimination event.  Each pair of competitors will perform three Kumitachi.  Kumitachi must be Japanese-style (short and focused). Long, drawn out or fancy American kumitachi are not permitted. Judges will base their decision on such aspects as timing, form, fluidity, effectiveness, attitude, and over-all presentation. Competitors should remember that they are judged the entire time they are on the competition floor and not just when they are performing kumitachi. All aspects of the competition are subject to change by the head judge.

Top of Page

Tai Kai Rules - Miscellaneous

• Competitors must be students of a sword style recognized in Japan or have permission from the Tai Kai Committee to compete.
• Nihonzashi LLC retains all video and picture rights for the Tai Kai..
• In the case of disqualification or expulsion from the event, no entry or spectator fees will be refunded.
• All events must have at least 5 competitors/teams entered.  Any event with less may be subject to cancellation.  Competitors who have registered for that specific event (This does not include those who have registered for the Package price for all events) will have their registration fee for that event refunded.
• All events are subject to cancellation due to time restriction for the Tai Kai.  Competitors who have registered for those specific events (This does not include those who have registered for the Package price for all events) will have their registration fee for that event refunded.

Top of Page