An introduction to taking care of your wooden weapons An introduction to taking care of your wooden weapons A large part of being a modern Budoka is the ability to take care of your own equipment. This is especially true for wooden weapons. Proper upkeep is vital and can help Read More
On the night of July 8th, 1864, a stream of white and light blue haori jackets emblazoned with the kanji 誠 (Honesty) moved toward the Ikedaya Inn. It was situated just east of the famous Sanjo Bridge in the heart of Kyoto and these were the jackets of the famous Read More
These are MUST-VISIT places for Budoka Not only in kendo, but in any contest are decided not just on raw ability. “Luck” can also play an important part. There is a saying “do your best, and leave the rest to Providence.” In order to win, the basic idea is to Read More
I’m sure the Budo practitioners know how “maai” (gap or distance) is important in Budo. There is an appropriate maai between you and your opponent during the fight. Being too close or too far apart is no good. “Maai” is the correct distance between you and your opponent. People who Read More
Just like the katana, the naginata conjures up many images of feudal Japan: the dedicated footsoldier, the heroic onna-bushi and also the devout warrior-monk to name, but a few. Whilst grounded in truth, these perceptions have warped our image of the naginata and its use perhaps more so than any other traditional Japanese weapon. To many the naginata and its accompanying ryu-ha are “feminine” or the sole domain of the warrior-monks. This is far from the case!
Footwork is not just a kihon practice, but a skill that will develop alongside our seme throughout our shugyo.
Like all previous winners of this contest, I felt shock and surprise when Tozando informed me that I was selected as the winner to travel to Kyoto, Japan. And yes, I pinched myself when I saw the email! All I could think about was how to take this opportunity and make it an experience not only to benefit my kendo but also my life. After all, this trip was a once in a life experience.
This article by Tyler Duffield explores the interesting relationship between Japanese budo and the Olympics. The Olympics and Budo: a Questionable Mix With the coming inclusion of Karate in the 2020 Tokyo Games, it is timely to pause and think about the effect of Olympic inclusion on Judo, possible ramifications Read More
There are all kinds of sports in our world, but a big difference between kendo and other sports is its approach towards “manners”. Many people have the image that if you take up kendo you will learn good manners. Why is kendo so strict when it comes to enforcing etiquette? Read More
