The 13th Toru Giga Prague Kendo Cup 2004 took place on 24th October 2004 and was preceded by a Kendo seminar on 22nd and 23rd October. About 120 european Kendo-kas took part in the seminar and about 90 competed in the tournament.

The seminar was led by Kamemoto-sensei (6th dan) from Austria, who was assisted by Kibe-sensei (6th dan - Hungary), Ishikubo-sensei (5th dan - Romania) and Kustosz-sensei (5th dan - Poland). In the seminar, Kamemoto-sensei concentrated on suburi and footwork. The main topic of the advanced excercises was nuki-waza (evasive move followed by counter attack) - there were several variationost of this technique practiced as well as Kendo kata no. 1, 2 and 7 with men nuki men, kote nuki kote and men nuki do. There was also a lot of time for ji geiko (free practice match) with senseis.

The tournament was held on Sunday 24th October. There were about 90 comptetitors from Austria, Czech Rep., Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden and Romania. Match proceeded well from pool qualifications to the main tournament. There were plenty of interesting matches. The semifinals and final were observed by H.E. Ambassador of Japan Mr. Koichi Takahashi.

The first semifinal was fought between Jan Cílek (CZE) and Filip Baumruk (CZE). The match between colleagues of the Czech national team was won by Baumruk, who scored single debana kote. In the second semifinal there was a duel between PKC title defender Wolfgang Mraz (AUT) and Marius Wial (POL). The match was again won by a single point, when Wial hit kote of his jodan-style opponent. Mraz tried hard to even the score, but with only seconds remaining to the time limit he had no chance.

Final fight between Baumruk and Wial had a thrilling tempo. Both competitors showed agility a speed. The both tried single kote and men strikes, but those were well controlled by good kamae (guard, posture) and distance adjustments. Slowly, it seemed, that Wial is gaining the upper hand and several of his attacks almost hit his rival. In about half of the time limit Wial tried again his quick kote, but Baumruk used the knowledge of the previous day's seminar well and instatntly reacted with a perfect nuki men. Men-ari for Baumruk. Wial seemed surprised, but charged and went for the equalizing point, but against well prepared Baumruk his effort was unawarded. When the time keeper whistled, Baumruk was declared a winner of this match as well as the whole 13th Toru Giga Prague Kendo Cup 2004.

see a video of the decisive ippon (AVI 2,12  MB)

After long 8 years the PKC was won by a domestic competitor. Filip Baumruk is the only Czech who was able to win the Cup and is the only contestant at all, who won twice (1996 and 2004).

RESULTS

1.: Filip Baumruk (CZE)
2.: Mariusz Wial (POL)
3.: Jan Cílek (CZE) and Wolfgang Mraz (AUT)

BFS: Mihaela Hell (ROM)

CREDITS

The Czech Kendo Federation wishes to thank all participants. We would like to express our gratitude to Kamemoto-sensei, who again led the Kendo seminar and supervised the tournament as well as the other senseis. A huge "thank you" goes also to the organinizing team from both Prague Kendo Clubs Katsubo Kenrikai and San Do Mon for their several months long hard work, which made this event possible. Finally, we wish to thank H.E. Mr. Koichi Takahashi, the Japanese ambassador, for taking this event under his patronage.