It is Week 2 at the University of Sydney, beginner courses have started, and new people are still being accepted!
Those who are at training are finding out more and more about what Kendo is about. It is not possible for me to write here what Kendo is (there are SO many books out there) but what I would like to give you is what training might be like.
If you check out About Us section you can see what we believe in. Kendo is a martial art originating from Japan, deriving from the samurai traditions, and it continues today as a way of living to enhance our lives. We strongly focus on three aspects at the USYD Kendo Club:
- Education
“…but I already go to a high ranked university … why do I need to educate again?!”
We have tonnes of things that can (and need) to be learnt outside the classroom. Through Kendo we improve our lifestyles, attitudes and social skills – all important for life. We do this through etiquettes of Kendo, respect for one another, and cultural virtues.
All our current members value our club and can vouch for this!
礼式 (Reishiki) – we begin training together with full respect for each other!
Particular attention to respect and cultural virtues. We begin with respect, and finish with respect.
- Fighting Spirit
“….do you have competitions in Kendo?”
Yes! We compete at all levels – state, national and international (more on this during the competition season which is towards the end of the year). Part of Kendo is 試合 shiai – simply put – competitions. We train for the better and often put ourselves to the test. It’s not everything in Kendo but is one part of it. It is often said that to win in competitions you must first win against yourself (cliche? – yes, is it true? – absolutely). We aim to do this every training!
An action shot from last year’s competition season!
A lot of our members achieve a lot in external competitions. These guys all started Kendo during university, so even you can make it on the team!
- Art
On top of the above, Kendo is an art form. We try to bring everything mentioned above together – but in a beautiful way. Since it’s not just a sport, there is an artistic angle to Kendo – this involves Japanese idealism in art, history, physical posture and mental attitude. Those interested in Japanese culture can experience this first-hand in the club!
Credit: Tom Cao
Beginner classes on-going!
At every training we have a designated instructor who will teach you the three components above, in an interactive, modern and fun way. We will teach the technical aspects of training, but also give you the deeper context of where it all comes from, and why it can be of use in the 21st Century. Please contact us at any time if you want to know more about the club.
