Waikato Kendo Club

If an employer tells you, "We're like a family here," you'd probably think, "Yeah... no thanks." Family isn't something people declare, it is something you feel. Why do I mention this? I will explain below. Backward to my very first day at Waikato Kendo Club happened to be a grading day. One senpai came over to introduce themselves, explained how grading worked, and patiently taught me a few kendo terms. During our conversation, they mentioned that kendo had changed their life, that they no longer felt as anxious or stressed as they used to. At the time, I remember wondering, How can swinging a bamboo sword around possibly do that? Four months later, I think I finally understand. My love for martial arts actually started with my love for Japanese culture. As a teenager, I practised Aikido and absolutely loved it. When I moved to New Zealand, though, I couldn't find a dojo that felt like the right fit. Aikido relies heavily on working with your par...

  Train the body. Cultivate the mind. Another regular Saturday afternoon at the dojo. No tournament, no grading, just everyone putting in the effort, side by side. At Waikato Kendo Club, we believe Kendo is more than just technique. It’s a path to becoming a better person. Today we saw it in action: Physical wellbeing - building posture, balance, and body awareness with each suburi. Mental wellbeing - finding focus, calm, and the confidence to try. Inner strength - persevering through the hard parts, learning that effort matters more than perfection. Teamwork & respect - listening, supporting each other, and training safely together. From our youngest members in their first bogu to our senior members, everyone was cultivating themselves. That is what Kendo is about. Thank you to all our members and families for your effort today. One keiko at a time. * Progress in Kendo is like stacking sheets of paper. A single sheet is too thin to notice, but as you continue to stack th...