Guest
Ash Morgan (USA, #249) vs. 山田学 Manabu Yamada (JPN/Kanto, #104) from the 2nd round of the men’s individual tanto randori competition at the 8th International Aikido Kyōgi Tournament, held Sept. 20-23 at the Butokuden in Kyōto, Japan. The International Aikido Tournament is held every other year, and is organized by the Japan Aikido Association, the governing body of Shodokan style Aikido, also sometimes called Aikido Kyōgi (Sport Aikido) or Tomiki Aikido. This style, founded by Prof. Kenji Tomiki, is the only style that incorporates free sparring (randori) and competition, similar to Judo. In tanto randori, one competitor is given a substitute knife (tanto) and attempts to stab his opponent (toshu), who attempts to use Aikido techniques to throw the attacker. After a minute and a half, the two competitors switch roles, and continue for another minute and a half, at which point the match ends and a winner is declared. Points are awarded for successful stabs (
