　先週の土曜日（6月29日）に千葉県柏市で開催された［岡部武央主催「第五回総合武道交流演武大会」］で、竹斬りの演武をさせて頂きました。

Last Saturday (June 29th), I had the honor of performing a bamboo cutting demonstration at “The 5th General Martial Arts Exchange Demonstration Tournament, sponsored by Takeo Okabe”, which was held in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture.

　如何せん、昨年末に心臓病が再発し、心拍は常に90以上。階段を上がるだけで150以上。腕立てをしたら200超え。呼吸法や自律訓練法で調整できるものではありません。常に心臓が電気ショックを受けて、雷が落ち続けているようなもの😳 なので、和道会の形やら組手を演武したらエライことになっちゃいます🫢 4度目の手術はできないと言われていますし…基本、激しい動きやらエピネフリンが分泌されるようなことは Dr. STOPで…なんぞと言っていても仕様が無い‼️

Unfortunately, my heart disease relapsed at the end of last year, and my heart rate is always over 90. Just going up the stairs makes it over 150. Doing push-ups makes it over 200. It is not something that can be adjusted through breathing techniques or autogenic training. It's like my heart is constantly being shocked and struck by lightning😳 So, if I were to perform the kata or kumite of Wado-kai Karate, my heart would explode🫢 I was told that I can't have a fourth surgery... and basically, I was told by the doctor to stop strenuous movements and things that cause epinephrine to be secreted... but there's no point in saying that, I'll just do what I have to do‼️

　じゃ、演武は如何するか。

So, what will I demonstrate “Enbu”?

　で、心臓に負担がないであろう「竹斬り」を、8年前にPolandの伝統空手道連盟の大会で披露して以来めっちゃ久しぶりだけれどやろうと決めました。

So I decided to try "bamboo cutting," which is probably less stressful on the heart, even though it had been a long time since I last performed it at a tournament held by the Polish Traditional Karate Federation eight years ago.

　ご存知の通り、竹は縦に筋が入っています。そこに水分が含まれます。だから風に靡き揺れて強い、折れない訳です。

As you know, bamboo has vertical stripes. It contains moisture. That's why it remains strong and will not break even when swayed by strong winds.

　それを、

That…

　一本目は「（本来は和紙に吊るすんですが、準備を忘れまして）トイレットペーパーに吊るした竹を木剣で斬る…ペーパーは破れず竹だけが斬り落とされる」

The 1’st one is "(It's supposed to be hung on washi paper, but I forgot to prepare it) I cut the bamboo hanging on the toilet paper with a wooden sword... the paper doesn't tear, only the bamboo is cut down."

　2本目は「手のひらに乗せた竹を杖で斬る…手のひらは衝撃を受けず竹だけが斬り落とされる」

The 2’nd technique involves "cutting a bamboo piece held in the palm of the hand with a stick...the palm of the hand does not receive any impact, and only the bamboo is cut down."

　3本目は「小指に乗せた竹を竹で斬る…小指は衝撃を受けず竹だけが斬り落とされる」

The 3’rd one is "cutting the bamboo placed on the pinky finger with the bamboo...the pinky finger does not receive the impact and only the bamboo is cut off."

　そうそう、4本目は手刀で…。

And, the 4’th one was a chop “Syutou”…

を実演。

These I demonstrated.

　「斬る、折る」為の一番の要素は剣も拳も手刀も共通して「抜力」（脱力ではありません）ですが、剣術や居合の剣を飛ばす、走らせるといった剣操法とは違い、肩甲骨と肘の抜きが重要になります。

The most important element in "slashing and breaking" is the same for sword, fist, and hand sword: "Batsuryoku = relax: not relying on muscle strength, letting go of tension, controlling muscle strength” (It’s not “Datsuryoku = It’s loss of strength: letting go of muscle strength”), but unlike sword techniques such as kenjutsu or iaido, it is important to release the shoulder blades and the elbow.

　身体も竹と同じでショックを吸収するように作られています。それを刃物ではなく、素手であったり、或いは傘が一本…それで、そう、頭蓋でも頸でも手首でも鎖骨でも……。

The body is like bamboo, and is made to absorb shock. But it can be broken not by a blade… can be by bare hands, or even with an umbrella... yes, by the skull, neck, wrist, or collarbone...

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