Читать книгу Traditions. Essays on the Japanese Martial Arts and Ways онлайн

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It sounds odd, a contest with no winners. But here is the way a kachinuki-type shiai worked. Beginning at the shimoseki (literally, the “lower side”) of the tournament hall (which is called a shiaijo, by the way), the contestants would line up with the lowest ranks beginning at the left, all the way up to the black belts at the joseki (“upper side”). The matches began with the white belt at the farthest left—at the first of the line, in other words—facing the fellow on his right. Let’s call them A and B. Let’s say A won. B would sit back down, and the fellow on his right, C, would be next to face A. That’s right, A; the guy who just fought and is still winded. But he’s lucky; he wins against C too. What happens? C sits down and D jumps up to take on A. Now you’re beginning to get the idea of kachinuki shiai. You stay up and fight as long as you win. Beat five guys in a row and your reward is to face the sixth. No semifinals, no double eliminations; just fight and win or lose and sit down.