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Competition
In competitions there are two types of event: randori and enbu (kata). In randori players compete freely against each other according to the rules. In enbu players are marked according to the merits of their demonstration.
In addition, a mixed team event has a combination of both kata and randori. This allows everyone to experience the intensity and enjoyment of competition through the results of their normal practice irrespective of gender, age, experience, etc.
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Randori was an original idea of Tomiki Shihan from around 1960. As with judo, it was one against one with both participants unarmed. In contrast to judo, foot techniques were prohibited as was grabbing the jacket. The characteristic was grabbing the bare forearm and attempting atemi waza or kansetsu waza.
After this, empty handed against knife (tanto randori) was practised so there are now two events: toshu randori (empty handed) and tanto randori. Tanto randori is the only one that is adopted for competition matches but toshu randori remains an important practice for learning combinations of techniques and timing.
Enbu competition has two events: compulsory and free. In compulsory enbu participants compete by demonstrating a fixed set of techniques. In free enbu participants compete by demonstrating a completely free choice of techniques within the requirements for the event - whether weapons are allowed, more then one uke, etc. Enbu is not judged on one person's movements as a gymnastics competiton, it is judged objectively on the composite movements of tori and uke.
The mixed team event has a combination of randori and enbu. It is organised into matches of individual events that test skills extracted from the characteristics of Tomiki Shihan's practice system. The merits of each event are judged individually and the points accumulated determine the winning team. This allows two things: teaching about the composition of competitive aikido and, depending on the situation, allowing men and women to compete in a mixed event. |
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