Kelowna Kendo Club

About Kendo

Kendo or "way of the sword", is the martial art of Japanese fencing. Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sporting-like physical elements. Kendo embodies the essence of Japanese fighting arts.

The Purpose of practicing Kendo is:

    To mold the mind and body, To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
    And through correct and rigid training,
    To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo,
    To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,
    To associate with others with sincerity,
    And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.

This will make one be able:

    To love his/her country and society,
    To contribute to the development of culture
    And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.


Katas

In kendo there are two sets of kata which are performed with wooden swords (bokken/bokuto): "Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho"and "Nihon Kendo Kata".

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho is the first set of kata and consists of 9 waza using the bokken. The purpose of this kata is (1) to teach beginners and students of 2 Dan and below that the basis of kendo is to cut with a blade; (2) to show that the kihon kata can be applied to techniques; (3) to make it easier to learn kendo no kata.

There are 10 nihon kendo kata (Japanese kendo forms). These are performed with both bokken and bokuto, the kata include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking, and have useful practical application in general kendo.

Occasionally, real swords or swords with a blunt edge, called kata-yo or habiki, may be used for a display of kata.



Here is a guide covering kendo terminology.

Here is a detailed write-up on the 9 waza of Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho:
Nihon Kendo Kata:

Grades

Technical achievement in kendo is measured by advancement in grade, rank or level. The "kyu" and "dan" grading system is used to assess the level of one's skill in kendo.

The dan levels are from 1-dan (sho-dan) to 10-dan (ju-dan). There are usually 6 grades below 1-dan known as kyu. The kyu numbering is in reverse order with 1-kyu (ikkyu) being the grade immediately below 1-dan.

In the AJKF the grades of 9-dan (kyu-dan) and 10-dan (ju-dan) are no longer awarded. However, International Kendo Federation grading rules allow national kendo organisations to establish a special committee to consider the award of those grades.

There are no visible differences between kendo grades; beginners may dress the same as higher-ranking yudansha.

All candidates for examination face a panel of examiners. A larger, more qualified panel is usually assembled to assess the higher dan grades.

Kendo examinations typically consist of a demonstration of the applicants skill and for some dan grades, also a written exam. The 8-dan kendo exam is extremely difficult, with a reported pass rate of less than 1 percent.

News

2023 Practice Schedule
Jan. 5, 2023 - June 29, 2023
Sept. 7, 2023 - Dec. 21, 2023
Tuesday Nights: 7:00-8:30pm
Thursday Nights: 7:00-8:00pm

There will be no class Jan. 26, 2023

Location:
Rotary Center for the Arts
421 Cawston Ave.
Kelowna, BC

Contact

If you are interested in learning more about kendo to see if it is a good fit for you, please feel free to come out and watch one of our training sessions. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Victor Nishi
Instructor - Godan
Tel: 250.878.1363
Email: vtnishi@gmail.com

Kelowna Kendo Club
Rotary Center for the Arts
421 Cawston Ave.
Kelowna, BC

Greg Reschke
Sempai - Yondan
Tel: 250.863.2717
Email: smaug@hobbit.ca