The Concept and Purpose of Kendo

From the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF): The Concept of Kendo The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword). The Purpose of Practicing Kendo The purpose of practicing Kendo is: To mold the...

No Wankers in Kendo

A recent newcomer to our dojo is also a recent newcomer to our country. He’s from England, so it’s a pleasure hearing idioms and phrases that aren’t part of the Canadian lexicon. On a recent sojourn to another dojo, he was having a conversation with...

You Are Your Kendo

When I reflect on my kendo, I often remind myself that I alone am responsible for my kendo performance. Whether I have performed well or not, it’s my kendo. I see this in my students and other kendoka as well. Their kendo is often a recognizable reflection of...

Parrying in Kirikaeshi

Everyone who’s taken kendo for more than a month or so has some familiarity with the kirikaeshi drill. Like most things in kendo, there are many hidden elements in it. You can learn valuable lessons in kirikaeshi if you do it correctly, and you can also learn a...

The importance of Shinpan

Kendo is considered a martial art, not a sport. So why are there Kendo tournaments? I’m not going to get into that discussion here, save to say that from my perspective, Kendo tournaments are a good opportunity to get the Kendo community together and to test...