Ten important points for the competitive "Karuta"
Hitoshi Takano JUN/2015
[ Dai-roku-jo ] Kyogi karuta wa "sen-no-sen" nomi ni arazu "go-no-sen" o wasuru bekarazu."
(Article-6)กก กก You should recognize not only "Sen-no-Sen" but also "Go-no-Sen".
[Note]
In a game of the competitive "Karuta", "Sen-no-Sen" means nearly "First come, first served." of the proverb.
"Go-no-Sen" is tactics of the competitive "Karuta". It means nearly "The last one becomes the first" of the proverb.
"Keep in mind that the winning strategy of competitive Karuta in not only the offensive tactic of the faster the better or "Sen-ni-Sen" but also the reactive tactic known as "Go-no-Sen"."
I try to explain "dai-6-jo".
"sen-no-sen" : Term of the martial arts such as the karate or the kendo of Japan
"go-no-sen" : Term of the martial arts such as the karate or the kendo of Japan
This term is spoken as an ideal of the yokozunas by the sumo.
There is delicate difference in a meaning between these two terms by the kind of the competition.
Because it was profound words, translation was difficult and just used original term in Japanese.
That is why I referred "Note".
However, the note is quotation of a too easy proverb.
If even an atmosphere has it be understood, I am glad.
"wasuru bekarazu" : Don't forget!
I translated "you should recognize".
This is because it is important to have you understand a concept before saying, "don't forget".
We have a proverb "sakinzureba hito o seisu." in Japanese.
In English, "the early bird gets the worm."or "the first blow is half the battle."
Or, "take the initiative, and you will win".
This is right for "kyogi karuta".
"Sakinzu" is "sen o toru". "Sen o toru" is "a player takes "sen".
I try to think about the concept of "sen".
"Sen" : earlier; advance; first; (the lead)
"Sen" is very important for kyogi karuta. Because "sen" is "be earlier".
We try to study to "tori".
"Tori" has two way.
One way is "fuda choku".
"Fuda choku" is to touch "defuda" directly.
"Fuda choku" does not become "tori" other than "fuda choku".
It is necessary that you are earlier(faster) than an opponent.
Another way is "fuda oshi".
"Fuda oshi" is to push away "defuda" out of field("tekijin" or "jijin") earlier(faster) than an opponent.
It is necessary for both way to "be earlier than an opponent".
"Sen" is "be earlier". Therefore "sen" is important.
Perhaps, it will be easy for you to understand "sen-no-sen".
"Sen-no-sen" is "sen" of "sen".
It's neither more nor less than "be earlier".
However, "go" is an antonym of "sen".
"Go" : later; behind
What is "go-no-sen"?
Why is it "sen" though it is "go"?
"Go-no-sen" is "sen" of "go".
In "sen-no-SEN" and "go-no-SEN", it is important that both "SEN".
I simplify "go-no-sen" and try to explain it.
The first action is slower(later) than an opponent, but you take card earlier than an opponent.
It is "go-no-sen".
I introduce a necessary factor for "go-no-sen".
(1)It is a skill of "tame" that I explained by a previous email.
(2)It is a skill of "kikiwake".
A point of "kikiwake" is sound of "kimariji".
You have to determine whether you take, or you don't go as soon as you listen to "kimariji".
(3)It is a skill of recognizing differences of distance to "defuda" between you and your opponent.
We will think a case that "defuda" placed at your "jijin".
In "jijin", you are near to "defuda" and your opponent is far from "defuda".
It is important to this defference.
"Go-no-sen" is enabled if you regard speed of "haraite" and a difference of this distance.
"Dai-6-jo" is a tactics.
In a sense "sen-no-sen" is a just argument and natural way.
But "go-no-sen" gives an opponent sense of incongruity.
An opponent has one's doubts.
He think, "As for the first action, I am earlier. But my opponent get a card. Why?"
If your opponent thinks in this way, the tactics is success.
I wrote it in this way, but may want you to be careful about you.
The basics are "sen-no-sen".
At first you improve a skill of "sen-no-sen".
Practicing "go-no-sen" is second.
It is repeated, but I write an important point once again.
"SEN" is important to both "sen-no-SEN" and "go-no-SEN" together.
Please brush up skills(tame, kikiwake, harai, kanji, etc.) to realize "SEN".
By the way, "SEN" is a relative concept.
Don't forget this point.
The main theme of this article about "tori".
However, there is a secret theme one more.
I put a secret theme in this article.
It is "nagare" of game.
This "nagare" means an intermediate step as the game.
The "nagare" that we idealize is "senko nige kiri"(a precedent escape or one-sided game).
This is, so to speak, "sen-no-sen".
(For example, it is a game as my sample picture.)
But, there are not many games to go for according to the ideal.
The game to permit an opponent a lead happens quite often.
However, a come-from-behind win is possible even if we are disadvantage.
This is, so to speak, "go-no-sen".
The secret theme of this article is the admonition that we must not give up.
I supplement information, because it is hard to understand about "nagare".
Orginal mean of "Nagare" is "stream" or "flow".
In game of "kyogi karuta", "nagare" means nearly "a game development".
The best game of "nagare" is one side game.
The second best of "nagare" is a close battle.
The third best of "nagare" is the game that a reversal needs.
And we do following how to use about expression of "nagare".
"Nagare wo yomu."------>I predict "nagare".
"Nagare wo tsukamu."--->I get on "nagare".
"Nagare ni noru."------>I get on "nagare".
"Nagare wo kaeru."----->I change "nagare".
For example,,,,,
(1)My opponent made "otetsuki". Just "nagare" was changed. I got on
"nagare".
Therefore I got the opportunity to a come-from-behind win.
(2)When cards of "jijin" continued, as for the next, "karafuda" continued.
I predicted "nagare". I thought soon with cards of "tekijin".
Actually, cards of "tekijin" were read. I got on "nagare".
Therefore I was able to get advantage of this game.
The word "nagare" is used in various scenes.
IN JAPANESE
* Ten important points for "Kyogi Karuta""
* Top page of "SFC Karuta Kai"
* Top page of "Keio Karuta Kai"
* How to play the comoetitive "Karuta"
* What's "Ogura-Hyakunin-Issyu"
* "Certification" of "Dan-i" for the competitive "KARUTA"