Referee seminar Brussels 12/13 February 2000
Mr. Shunji Hasunuma has been so kind to translate the opening lecture of Kamei-sensei:
A Kendo Referee’s attitude and mental preparation
Competitors fight in earnest exhausting every ability they may have. The judge is to give the judgment and declaration of victory or defeat to the competitors, hence REFEREE.
A referee must, therefore, have a strict and fair attitude, a calm attitude not depending upon hierarchy present and pressure from
spectators. A referee also must wear correct dress, must have an energetic and well-regulated attitude, must decide and judge quickly based on his/her own rigid belief not
influenced by anything. Finally a referee must have a confident attitude with unquestioned authority.
Mental Preparation
1. To maintain a spirit of strict neutrality and a brave heart to make a quick decision.
2. To be careful not to violate fairness by favoring your preferred technique.
3. To be careful about your physical condition to maintain the concentration.
4. To understand the Regulations of Kendo Match and Referee very well.
5. To study deeply valid strikes and variety of techniques.
6. To understand the management of a tournament and the special rules for a tournament.
In summary, a Kendo referee must train enough to understand every techniques and the mental relationship between the competitors, he/she must become conscious of having the highest authority and responsibility for the match and must be able to explain the result (judgment) every time.
If someone loses authority, it is not only the referee’s personal dishonor but also interference to the promotion and the development
of Kendo itself.
The important points of referee technique
addressed in the Kendo Seminar in 1999
1. To enhance the relationship between the referee’s techniques and instruction technique and his/her understanding of the objects and important points and to promote correct Kendo matches.
2. To try to improve the referee’s technique and to enhance the referee’s authority and dignity.
3. To ensure that the referee watches strictly valid strikes.
4. To ensure that the referee watches strictly for fouls;
· Wrong tsuba-zeriai
· Right application of Wakare
· Wrong stop request