Influence of different manipulations of Shinai on the striking motion of kendo beginners

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20094
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59030:Physical education, and physical and health education-related
• Research Institution: Kobe Shinwa Women's University
• Principal Investigator: Tsubaki Takeshi 神戸親和女子大学, 発達教育学部, 准教授 (40582515)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 剣道 / 初心者 / 竹刀 / 操作性 / 打突動作 / 気剣体の一致 / 時間差

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different manipulations of shinai on the striking movements of beginners in kendo, and obtain information that may contribute to the acquisition of striking movements with “Ki-Ken-Tai-no-Ichi”. The following results were observed: (1) the shorter the length of the shinai in relation to the height of the individual, the shorter was the time difference between striking and stepping; (2) the position of the center of gravity of the shinai did not affect the time difference between striking and stepping; and (3) the movement-associated factors that affect the time difference between striking and stepping were unclear due to differences among the movement patterns of individuals. These results indicate that using a shinai of approximately 70% of the individual’s height is more effective in mastering the striking motion.

Free Research Field

剣道、トレーニング科学、スポーツバイオメカニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

気剣体の一致(上肢と下肢の協調)した打突動作を修得させるために、学校現場では剣道に類似した運動を行わせる方法が多く用いられている。しかしながら、剣道の動作は日常生活や他のスポーツに見られない特有の運動様式であるため、協調した動作の修得に課題を抱える生徒が多く散見される。本研究では、その課題を解決することを目的として、使用する用具(竹刀)の影響を検討した。その結果、通常の竹刀（３尺9寸）よりも竹刀長が短い方が打突と踏み込みの時間差が減少した。本研究で得られた知見は、今後の初心者指導における気剣体の一致した打突の修得の実践知として、用具の選択の1つの基準として活用が期待される。