Waikato Kendo Club

2018-06-06 Wednesday Keiko - Sutemi 捨身 is an important teaching in Kendo that we need to commit ourselves to the strike that we think it is the opportunity/moment to deliver. 80% is not a commitment.  In Kendo, we actually don’t accept “quite good” or “OK”. While none of us are perfect, we always do our best and have full commitment to that “one cut”. This is why Kendo can benefit our life. It is the attitude that we all have gradually developed through Kendo training and that is also the important attribute that makes us special. - Dare to dream big such as winning a medal or achieving a Dan grade is the first step to achieve your goals. Don’t be too shy to say NO to your own dream. - Sutemi leads Zanshin 殘心來自捨身。 - Thank you for the training tonight and thanks to Rex for the photos.

The 11th New Zealand Kendo Novice Championship 10-11 November 2018 Acknowledgment  We thank Nori Higashide Sensei (7th Dan) from Japan for his service as the  Shinpan-cho  (chief judge) and running the shinpan seminar in the Novice Champ. Huge thanks also go to  Alan Stephenson Sensei (6th Dan), Blake Bennett Sensei (6th Dan) and   Sam Tsai Sensei (6th Dan) for the assistance for the shinpan seminar and Naoko Stephenson, Rina Igarashi,  Walt Kim,   Kent Tanimukai, Leo Lin, Kai Yoshitani Luo Wen, Jordan Te Wharow and Awatea Yi-Williams for their service as a shinpan.  Nori sensei gives instruction during the shinpan seminar  This is the second Yon-Dan Division Shiai as a shiai demonstration for the novice Kendoka to learn from their high grade senpai but also providing an opportunity for these junior Kendo instructors to learn from each other in a shiai situation. We appreciate the efforts from all the participants:...

Yana - My Kendo Journey 24 December 2018 Beginning (general) Up until 2015 I was playing volleyball and lived through that sport. In January 2015 I got a really painful muscle spasm in my lower back. Then we found out I had scoliosis. I was 14 at that time, which is the latest age for fixing things like scoliosis, leaving me with little hope for playing sport in the future. This news meant I couldn't continue volleyball, as my spine simply couldn't support the pressure of jumping, landing and colliding. My mum forbade me from playing volleyball or doing any other type of sport from then on. This really made me despair, as a big chunk of my life was gone, and so is its social/physical benefits and the feeling of being alive. Sometime later I also got asthma (living in an old house), which made my physical exercise experiences even harder for me. Around the same time 2014-2016 I was reading a book series called " Young Samurai " which described a range of Jap...

My path to Kendo 15 December 2018 Kia ora my name is Valintine Thompson and this is my journey on the path to Kendo. I've always admired Japanese culture because it reminds me of my in own identity of who I am. That's why I joined up in 2017 learning the basics and enjoying it. In time I learnt to improve. I've seen the movie the Last Samurai and Star Wars and found them quite good. I knew a little bit what Kendo was about but since I joined up I've learned more. I am proud of both Sam and Marleen Sensei for their efforts in teaching us.  On Wednesday and Saturday I come in early open the doors turn on the lights warm up before training. On Saturday I come in before 1.30pm although I am 7th kyu grade that doesn't stop me from helping others and also reflecting on what I learned and improving.  I entered my first Novices Champs   and did well and got a medal for good fighting spirit. My family  have encourage me to always go to kendo and do m...

Summer Grading 26 January 2019 Waikato Kendo Association would like to congratulate the following members for their achievement in the Summer Grading 2019 held in Hamilton. Warming up Written Test Announcing the results ...  10th Kyu Ava Smith Seb Shaw 9th Kyu Monica Yuan Jorden Peng 8th Kyu Frankie Ratcliffe Jayden Peng 7th Kyu Elliot Payne Randika Sirimanne 6th Kyu Ryan Smith 5th Kyu Darren Park 4th Kyu Valintine Thompson Jennifer Kan Christopher Kan 3rd Kyu David Nguyen Chris Wallace 2nd Kyu Griffin Walford 1st Kyu James Haldane Carl Ann Liew Yana Twizell Shodan Jason Nguyen  Hard work pays off.  congratulations!  Grading Panel: Claire G., Kevin P., Clark L., Kai Y., Marleen C., Sam T. * Successful people are not gifted;  They just Work Hard, then Succeed on Purpose. (G. K. Nelson)  Relevant reading: Kendo Jo...

Ryan at the 2018 Kendo Beginner Class I have been waiting awhile to write about my Kendo experience and journey. As Sam Tsai Sensei has encouraged all of us to write about our time “following the sword road”,  I decided now was the right time. I developed an interest in Eastern Martial Arts from an early age. This is probably from watching Ninja movies in the 80’s and Chinese Kung Fu/Japanese Samurai films  in the 90’s. I briefly took up learning Tae kwon Do, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do and MMA. As an avid fan of the Star Wars franchise I loved how the Jedi and Darth Vader’s armour were based on Japanese Samurai. Other things that interest me about Japan and its culture are not limited to Kendo. Japanese architecture (especially castles), indie music, films, art, food, history, banzai trees/ botanics, religion, and language. Other Japanese martial arts that interest me are modern day Kenjutsu (剣術), Iaidō (居合道), and N aginata (なぎな). Before I moved to New Zealand ...