Townsville Kendo 2.24

Kendo is a martial art based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kendo means "Way of The Sword”. Kendo emphasises the identification and exploitation of opportunity in the competitive, combative environment of Japanese fencing.
Townsville Kendo Club (Nippon Seibukan) trains at the Upper Ross PCYC 43 Allambie Lane Rasmussen QLD 4815 on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7 to 9pm.

The concept of kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana. Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines martial arts practice and values with sport-like strenuous physical activity. This trilogy of benefit is important to kendo - the physical, the mental, and the philosophical. The martial arts background places emphasis on self-development over winning, and the competitive side places emphasis on testing personal development against a non-compliant adversary.

Sword techniques, perhaps obviously, engage the shoulders and arms, and perhaps less obvious is how much good technique engages the core muscles such as abdominals, glutes, pelvis and hips. Vigorous training activities develop these muscle areas and cardio vascular endurance.

The student is taught techniques and a set of rules to test those techniques. We aspire to test those techniques in shiai, or a match against an opponent. In the spirit of seeking the ‘perfect cut’ or ippon, strict conditions are applied to score a point in competition. Three experienced referees make a subjective, quick assessment of intent, posture and style for each competitors attack on specific target areas, with a specific part of the sword.

There are four scoring target areas: Men/helmet area, Kote/gauntlet, Do/abdomen, and Tsuki/thrust to throat. Why only four? Historically, these are four common target areas that did not require a school to reveal ‘secret’ techniques. More practically, it is easier to referee. Most important now though, is that having less options increases dilemma for the competitor, shifting emphasis back to the mental aspects of identifying and exploiting opportunity.

Techniques include those that a competitor initiates themselves, and those they execute as a reaction to a move by their opponent. Important to kendo, is this relationship between the competitors, as each try to take the advantage without setting the conditions for their opponent to get the advantage – it has been compared to 3D, full contact chess.
Training includes practise cutting, drills, competitions, and kata (a series of moves in a formal, set sequence). Kata use a wooden sword called the bokken or bokuto. An iaito or mogito (blunt swords) or katana may also be used for some training at advanced levels.

Kendo compliments and includes other Japanese sword arts such as iai and batto and defence against the sword with the jo/wooden staff. When practising kendo though, a student’s emphasis in on facing an opponent. From here we aspire to develop mental aspects such as decision making, confidence, calculating space and time, and dealing with success and failure appropriately.

Someone who trains in kendo will quickly notice an emphasis on philosophical aspects such as respect and humility. This has many benefits to the individual and to society in everyday life. In a very practical sense as well, respect for our opponents and training partners' safety and enthusiasm ensures they come back to train with us again.

Participants are formally examined for grades that denote the rank like other Japanese martial arts. No outward sign of the rank is normally worn.

Competitors use bamboo swords, known as 'shinai' to represent a Japanese sword in the style known as the 'katana'. They wear a kendogi (jacket), hakama (pleated, baggy trousers), and protective armour called kendogu. The kendogu includes the Men (head protector), Kote (wrist/hand protector), Tare (groin/waist/thigh protector) and Do (breast/abdomen protector).

Townsville Kendo train in kendo as defined by the All Japan Kendo Renmei (ZNKR), the International Kendo Federation (FIK), and subordinate Australian associations (AKR and QKR). This association of regulated bodies includes over 6 million competitors worldwide, over 1.6 million in Japan, over 1100 in Australia and over 110 in Queensland. Townsville Kendo is also affiliated with Nippon Seibukan Australia and, through them the All Japan Budo Federation (Soburen). Because kendo is the same around the world, we have many opportunities to travel around Queensland, Australia, to Japan (especially the Kansai/Kyoto area) and the world.
Townsville Kendo maintain close relationships with Cairns Kendo and Mackay Kendo. We are extremely fortunate to have our training guided one of the most senior, skilled and experienced kendo teachers in Australia who lives in Cairns - Katsumi Kuramochi Sensei is 7th Dan in kendo and currently training for 8th Dan, the highest grade in kendo.