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Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Kazuma Ikezawa und King Kazma
Für die Fans von "Summer Wars"
For the Fans of "Summer Wars"
Summer Wars (jap. サマーウォーズ, Samā Wōzu, dt. „Sommerkriege“) ist ein Anime-Science-Fiction-Film aus dem Jahr 2009.
Der Film entstand unter der Regie von Mamoru Hosoda im japanischen Animationsstudio Madhouse. Im Mittelpunkt der Handlung steht der zurückhaltende Elftklässler Kenji Koiso, der aus Versehen einen Hack der virtuellen Welt OZ ermöglicht und sich zusammen mit der überaus großen Familie seiner Schulfreundin Natsuki Shinohara anschickt, den Zusammenbruch der virtuellen als auch der davon abhängig gewordenen realen Welt zu verhindern.
(Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Wars)
Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ Samā Wōzu?) is a 2009 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, animated by Madhouse and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film's voice cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, Sumiko Fuji and Ayumu Saitō.
The film tells the story of Kenji Koiso, a timid eleventh-grade math genius who is taken to Ueda by twelfth-grade student Natsuki Shinohara to celebrate her great-grandmother's 90th birthday.
However, he is falsely implicated in the hacking of a virtual world by a sadistic artificial intelligence named Love Machine. Kenji must repair the damage done to it and find a way to stop the rogue computer program from causing any further damage.(Wikipedia)
Summer Wars Homepage: s-wars.jp/
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Kazuma Ikezawa
Für die Fans von "Summer Wars"
For the Fans of "Summer Wars"
Summer Wars (jap. サマーウォーズ, Samā Wōzu, dt. „Sommerkriege“) ist ein Anime-Science-Fiction-Film aus dem Jahr 2009.
Der Film entstand unter der Regie von Mamoru Hosoda im japanischen Animationsstudio Madhouse. Im Mittelpunkt der Handlung steht der zurückhaltende Elftklässler Kenji Koiso, der aus Versehen einen Hack der virtuellen Welt OZ ermöglicht und sich zusammen mit der überaus großen Familie seiner Schulfreundin Natsuki Shinohara anschickt, den Zusammenbruch der virtuellen als auch der davon abhängig gewordenen realen Welt zu verhindern.
(Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Wars)
Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ Samā Wōzu?) is a 2009 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, animated by Madhouse and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film's voice cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, Sumiko Fuji and Ayumu Saitō.
The film tells the story of Kenji Koiso, a timid eleventh-grade math genius who is taken to Ueda by twelfth-grade student Natsuki Shinohara to celebrate her great-grandmother's 90th birthday.
However, he is falsely implicated in the hacking of a virtual world by a sadistic artificial intelligence named Love Machine. Kenji must repair the damage done to it and find a way to stop the rogue computer program from causing any further damage.(Wikipedia)
Summer Wars Homepage: s-wars.jp/
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
i've got the book about 20 years ago.
shiele somewhat looks like akutagawa ryunosuke (a famous japanese novelist).
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Đến với Quán trọ của Naguib Mahfouz, chúng ta sẽ có cơ hội được chứng kiến
một câu chuyện dưới bốn góc nhìn tương phản nhau, liên quan đến bốn người
đàn ông sống trong một ngôi nhà trọ và một phụ nữ đang trốn chạy khỏi một
đám cưới bị sắp đặt trước. Tất cả họ đều có chung một cảm giác đồng cảm với
cô; và người trẻ nhất trong số họ thì luôn khao khát có được cô, y đã khuấy
lên ngọn lửa ghen tuông và cuối cùng, một cái chết đã làm dấy lên trong họ
những sự nghi ngờ.
Tác phẩm vận dụng thủ pháp kể chuyện đa tuyến tính với nhiều góc nhìn khác
nhau, nhưng đã không đạt được thành công vang dội như tác phẩm “Trong rừng
trúc” của Ryunosuke Akutagawa (đã được phỏng theo trong bộ phim “Cổng đền
Rashomon” của đạo diễn Akira Kurosawa). Tuy nhiên, mỗi góc nhìn vẫn góp
phần tạo nên chiều sâu cho tác phẩm và giúp cho chân dung của các nhân vật
hiện lên một cách chân thực hơn trong thời kỳ hậu Cách mạng của đất nước Ai
Cập.
Zohra, nhân vật chính của tác phẩm là một phụ nữ khao khát được thoát khỏi
cuộc sống lệ thuộc và bị sắp đặt trước. Cô tìm kiếm cho mình một con đường
sống riêng bằng cách chăm chỉ học tập; những người đàn ông, tuy có sự cảm
thông với số phận của cô nhưng họ không thể thoát ra được những suy nghĩ
hạn chế của nền văn hóa thời bấy giờ. Dù vậy, giữa họ vẫn có những cái nhìn
của riêng mình. Hai người lớn tuổi nhất đều nhìn cô như thể đó là quá khứ
của mình, nơi họ đã trải qua thời trai trẻ và những khoảnh khắc vinh quang
nhất. Mặt khác, người đàn ông trẻ hơn tin rằng anh và cô sẽ có một tương
lai tươi sáng; họ mơ ước điều đó, dám mạo hiểm và lạc quan vì nó.
Quán trọ Miramar là nơi chứng kiến tất cả những sự kiện trên. Tác phẩm sẽ
cho chúng ta cái nhìn thoáng qua về xã hội Ai Cập thời bấy giờ. Đàn ông có
sự tranh đấu lẫn nhau, nhưng dường như tất cả họ vẫn còn lờ mờ, không biết
chính xác về cái mà họ đang tranh đấu. Tuy nhiên, Zohra vẫn sống sót. Như
John Fowles (nhà văn người Anh – người dịch) đã nhận xét: “Zohra là hiện
thân của người Ai Cập”. Đó cũng là hy vọng của tác giả về một đất nước tràn
đầy màu sắc và tình yêu.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
King Kazma und Kazuma Ikezawa
Für die Fans von "Summer Wars"
For the Fans of "Summer Wars"
Summer Wars (jap. サマーウォーズ, Samā Wōzu, dt. „Sommerkriege“) ist ein Anime-Science-Fiction-Film aus dem Jahr 2009.
Der Film entstand unter der Regie von Mamoru Hosoda im japanischen Animationsstudio Madhouse. Im Mittelpunkt der Handlung steht der zurückhaltende Elftklässler Kenji Koiso, der aus Versehen einen Hack der virtuellen Welt OZ ermöglicht und sich zusammen mit der überaus großen Familie seiner Schulfreundin Natsuki Shinohara anschickt, den Zusammenbruch der virtuellen als auch der davon abhängig gewordenen realen Welt zu verhindern.
(Wikipedia: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_Wars)
Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ Samā Wōzu?) is a 2009 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, animated by Madhouse and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
The film's voice cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Mitsuki Tanimura, Sumiko Fuji and Ayumu Saitō.
The film tells the story of Kenji Koiso, a timid eleventh-grade math genius who is taken to Ueda by twelfth-grade student Natsuki Shinohara to celebrate her great-grandmother's 90th birthday.
However, he is falsely implicated in the hacking of a virtual world by a sadistic artificial intelligence named Love Machine. Kenji must repair the damage done to it and find a way to stop the rogue computer program from causing any further damage.(Wikipedia)
Summer Wars Homepage: s-wars.jp/
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”
Ryunosuke Satoro
I have discovered that sometimes two heads are better than one.
I had the pleasure of working on this flower with my best friend, a fellow photography/photoshop enthusiast.
Having someone to share a passion with is a real treat and I consider myself very lucky to have her :)
Oh and her garden...she has more flowers than me!
Textures thanks to Ellenvd for tex no 51 and JoesSistah for SFR19 :)
Explored June 19th :)
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
Rashomon Blues
Synopsis : A Sword fighter and his wife are assaulted by a notorious criminal resulting in a rape and a murder. The testimonies presented at the trial are varied in accordance to each witness's point of view. Eventually, the fourth witness, who found the body ,reveals that he , in fact, saw the entire incident, and his version is also completely different from the others. Who is telling the truth? What is truth? Profound concern about humanity in a civilized society, and each person's perspective of the event. Set in contemporary Mumbai, Rashomon Blues is a modern day adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic 'Rashomon'.
A blues' y operatic avant garde presentation.
“To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.” - Miyamoto Musashi.
Looking out from my window seat as the rising sun peeked over the clouds, I had to marvel at my predicament. Here I was on the first flight to Oahu, having not slept, sheepishly heading for my impending doom. Imaginations of David and Goliath, and Daniel in the Lion's Den filled my mind as I gazed across the orange expanse.
The disparity was perhaps an oversight, most likely because of my age - 60. Nevertheless, event programs had been printed, brackets set, and match pairings were ready to go. A week prior I learned that I was not entered in the Seinenbu (kyu or no rank adult) Division as I had thought. Instead I was slated in the Masters Division of the 2018 Aiea Taiheiji Kendo Tournament.
My round-robin bracket had me fighting, in back-to-back matches, Garrett Matsumoto (age 50) - 5th dan head sensei of Kenshikan dojo, followed by Jon Shishido (age 50) - 6th dan head sensei of Meikyokan dojo. To say these are mismatches would be an understatement. Each of these renown yudansha have about 40 years of kendo experience, while I have 4. I'm overweight and not in the best shape. Both should easily defeat me 2-0.
Savoring the last sips of my in-flight coffee as the sunrise furthered its bloom, a paradoxical notion dawned over me. As the undisputed underdog I had absolutely nothing to lose, and with an odd clarity I felt completely free.
Before I knew it I was squared off in kamae with Matsumoto sensei. He scored twice in a New York minute. Quick work by the TEAM HAWAII qualifier who just returned from international competition at the 17th World Kendo Championships.
Moments later I was facing Shishido sensei. He kept a tight kamae posture, void of the parry tactics used by aggressive kenshi. He scored with a "kote" or wrist-strike early on. Shortly thereafter the still-photo shown here (in blue) was taken. Ippon was not awarded, however, a sharp capture of the bamboo bending kote.
video begins here www.flickr.com/photos/inter-island_helicopters/49961741701
From the ancient teachings of Sun Tzu - Art of War we learn that "All warfare is based on deception. If you are far from an enemy, make him believe you are near. Even though you are competent, appear to be incompetent... Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him.”
Mid-way into the match Shishido sensei must have realized that I wasn't in his league. He pressed forward with a newfound fervor, probing with his shinai. I noticed that he seemed to be neglecting his side and was potentially open for a "do" (body-strike). Like Rock-Paper-Scissors or Jan-Ken-Po(n), I knew precisely what I intended to throw...
Peering through his iron grill I recall vividly the white of his right eye. I tip-toed in retreat, and through my lying iris conveyed that I am weak spirit, walking dead, and wide open for a "men" strike to the head. As a last-ditch bait offering I dropped my hands a tad lower. On cue my opponent launched forward with a textbook "Men!".
The high-pitched clash of bamboo slats resounds clearly in the video clip, followed by an even louder thwack! My upward block and counter slash across his bogu armor felt perfect. Extending my follow through and kiai, I ran across the court. Turning back, I looked at the referee for confirmation of my home run blast.
In hindsight I knew better than to turn back around without covering my "men", and especially not to look first for a flag. No surprise that Shishido sensei was waiting to capitalize on the rookie mistake.
One of the perplexing things said about kendo tournaments is that a lot of seemingly picture perfect "do" strikes don't get scored. In the Master's Division final eventual champion Garrett Matsumoto hit Shishido sensei with a shattering gyaku-do (reverse-do) that wowed the crowd but left the judges unfazed. Likewise, my Spartacus moment might have been technically flawed, but it sure sounded good.
Afterwards Braxton Fukutomi, head sensei of Aiea Taiheiji dojo and kendo champion phenomenon extraordinaire, complimented my "men-kaeshi-do" strike with the widest of smiles. Priceless. Lose the battle, win the war.