[rikdpola]

Sato bangs his shinai on the ground on several occasions in the vid of him and Iwasa. He does it after tsuki and kote (or debana kote anyway). A japanese sensei I spoke to, said it was because it's easier to get the shinai out of the way for a counterattack from the opponent (e.g. harai), and still get it up in chudan-no-kamae again. He said it wasn't good kendo, but rather something developed by those having a 'sport kendo' view. The same as dodging.