Waikato Kendo Association

A Japanese YouTube video title recently caught my eye (link in the first comment). I know I’ve shared similar ideas before, but it’s always valuable to see another perspective. Shoutout to Gemini Notebook for removing the language barrier!

Here is a summary of the video, which encourages middle-aged and older adults—even those in their 50s and 60s—to take up Kendo and pursue rank (Dan) promotions:

* Age is Not a Barrier: You do not need the elite speed or explosive athleticism of professional tournament fighters. People in their 50s and 60s successfully start Kendo from scratch and thrive.

* Focus on Basics over Speed: For 1st and 2nd Dan, grading panels look for proper etiquette (Reihou), correct posture, and spirited vocalization (Kiai). Flashy or overly fast movements are not required and can actually work against you if basics are compromised.

* Prioritize Safe, Consistent Practice: Consistency is key—aiming for 1–2 steady sessions a week. Even on days when you feel fatigued, coming to the dojo for light suburi (practice swings) or visual observation (Mitori-geiko) keeps your momentum going. Pacing yourself prevents injury.

* Manageable Requirements: The required Nihon Kendo Kata is absorbed naturally through physical repetition over time. Plus, advancement is focused on personal technical progress—you don't need tournament victories to qualify for rank exams, just the required time in rank and dojo practice.

(Note: While the video mentions Japanese grading standards, in New Zealand, candidates perform 5 Kata sets for 1st Dan and 7 Kata sets for 2nd Dan.)

In Kendo, the Men strike is more than just a basic move; it is a fundamental pillar of practice that requires precision from both the person striking (Kakarite) and the person receiving (Motodachi). Proper form is not only about effectiveness but also about ensuring the safety of your partner.

Direct thanks to Orion for capturing and producing this teaching moment. Link is available at the first comment.

On a cold Wednesday like tonight, it means a lot to see the dojo so full.

Thank you very much to everyone who came to train, and to those who helped set up and pack down. Your effort and spirit keep our club strong.

Otsukaresama desh*ta! 💕

2026-08-01 Saturday Afternoon Kendo

“Strike through the mind, before you strike with the sword.” — Miyamoto Musashi

What an afternoon at the dojo!

We started from 1:30pm welcoming new beginners — always a great pleasure to see new faces. Thank you to Janet and Rex for coming to support the new class. 💕

Our Little Samurai then brought fantastic energy with plenty of suburi and fumikomi. Big thank you to our senpai for your support.

In our kata session, our kyu grades completed all 9 kihon-waza of Bokuto ni yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho, while our dan grades had a focused kata session. Physical form is only the first step — let's keep studying the theory and philosophy behind it together. 👏

We finished with a sharp kata refinement and an intense hour of jigeiko. Exhausting, but nothing beats pushing hard alongside great dojo mates!

Not everyone stays the whole afternoon from 1:30 to 6pm, but a special thank you to those members who did — you stayed the entire session to support every class. Your support means a lot and we really appreciate it.

Thank you to everyone for the strong spirit today. See you on the dojo floor next time!

Learning Kendo is like stacking paper. One keiko doesn't feel like much, but look at how tall we've grown together.

Proud of everyone who keeps showing up and adding their sheet.

#剣道

Recently, I invited our beginners to write a short reflection on their Kendo journey.

In just four months of training, the author beautifully describes her journey from joining because she thought "swords are cool" to discovering something far more meaningful: a place of encouragement, personal growth, and belonging.

One sentence particularly touched me:

"If Sensei provides the foundation, and the dojo is the roof, then everyone training there forms the walls that make it a house."

I couldn't have expressed it better myself.

With her permission, I'm delighted to share her reflection, "From Dojo to Second Home." The link is in the first comment.

I hope it resonates with anyone who has ever wondered what it's like to begin the lifelong journey of Kendo.

Another regular Saturday afternoon at the dojo.

No tournament, no grading, just everyone putting in the effort, side by side.

At Waikato Kendo Club, we believe Kendo is more than just technique. It’s a path to becoming a better person.

Today we saw it in action:

Physical wellbeing - building posture, balance, and body awareness with each suburi.

Mental wellbeing - finding focus, calm, and the confidence to try.

Inner strength - persevering through the hard parts, learning that effort matters more than perfection.

Teamwork & respect - listening, supporting each other, and training safely together.

From our youngest members in their first bogu to our senior members, everyone was cultivating themselves. That is what Kendo is about.

Thank you to all our members and families for your effort today. One keiko at a time.

Tonight’s Practice Reflection: ”Sanma no Kurai“ (三磨の位)

Tonight, we focused on this classic Yagyu Shinkage-ryu concept, which breaks Kendo growth into three connected steps:
🔹 Narai (習い): Learning standard instruction
🔹 Keiko (稽古): Repetitive physical practice
🔹 Kufu (工夫): Personal reflection and creative study

Growth in Kendo isn‘t just about repetition—it’s a spiral where technique, mind, and theory evolve together.

Great energy on the floor tonight! Thank you everyone for the hard work. See you at the next practice! 💕

Little Samurai Shiai Day!
Yesterday was Shiai Day for our Little Samurai class as well!

Same idea as our seniors - "learning by doing". For many of our young kendoka it was their first time experiencing shiai in a real setting: learning how to bow in, how to show good kiai and spirit, and how to be a good winner and loser.

We are so proud of all of them. Everyone showed great courage and tried their best until the end.
Thank you to all our helpers, referees, and parents for making the day run smoothly and supporting our kids.

Well done, Little Samurais!