by Mark Kawabe | Feb 15, 2017 | Uncategorized
I came across a quote from 13th century Japanese Buddhist monk Nichiren Daishonin. “Iron, when heated in the flames and pounded, becomes a fine sword.” Nice. What’s that got to do with you and your kendo? Just a reminder that when you started your...
by Mark Kawabe | Feb 10, 2017 | Uncategorized
Every now and then, someone asks when they’ll be ready to grade, or when they’ll be ready to wear bogu. To date, I have tended to answer these questions with questions. “Do you think you’re ready?” Not a very satisfying answer, although...
by Mark Kawabe | Jan 31, 2017 | Uncategorized
There will be no kendo class this evening as I am ill. This is the 2nd time in the history of the club that I’ve cancelled class due to illness. Not bad 🙂 Classes will resume on Thursday unless you hear otherwise. Sensei Mark
by Mark Kawabe | Jan 30, 2017 | Uncategorized
I call it the R-word. Seriously. It seems like a dirty word or at least an impossible feat to achieve for some kendoka. “How can I relax when someone’s swinging a shinai at my head?” I don’t know how to make someone relax. I just know that if...
by Mark Kawabe | Jan 1, 2017 | Uncategorized
We wrapped up our 2nd Annual Toshikoshi Keiko around 1:30 a.m. ET. To my knowledge, we’ve held the first kendo practice in Canada two years in a row. Here’s hoping for a third 🙂 Highlights: Exploding Kittens (the card game). Food – lots of it –...
by Mark Kawabe | Dec 12, 2016 | Uncategorized
I remember growing up hearing this term. My rough translation of it is “to do something to the utmost of your ability”. What a wonderful phrase to apply to kendo, and to one’s life. Walking the path of issho-kenmei is not easy. It requires focus,...
