Kendo Club destroys the enemy, finds peace :: Wessex Scene Online

Kendo Club destroys the enemy, finds peace

25th November 2005
Richard Clare

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Meaning ‘way of sword’, Kendo is the newest club to surface at the University and comes under both umbrella terms of sport and martial art. It carries with it the purpose of ‘destroying the enemy in battle and protecting oneself’, and can be seen as a more modern version of Japanese fencing. In a sport where ‘Kote’ means ‘pair of gloves’ and ‘Tare’ means ‘hip protector’, the sense of Japanese culture is inherent throughout. To many X-Factor fans ‘Shinai’ may evoke memories of a female singer that battered our ear-drums for weeks on the popular music show, yet in Kendo ‘Shinai’ refers to the bamboo swords that are used in duels and training.

It is a one-on-one sport where you try to out-manoeuvre your opponent and jump at opportunities to attack them with your sword. Not to be confused with a form of combat, due to the rules that Kendo contains, blows are restricted to specific areas. As well as being a great source of aerobic exercise, there is also a psychological aspect to Kendo. It is seen as a method of disciplining and refining the self. It is also highly-codified and is rarely used in self defence.

Rami Kallala, President of the new club, said, "the club was started on the grounds that there isn’t anything like it at the University or in Southampton as a whole. As such the club was started to cater for both students and non-students. Furthermore we run the club on a non-profit, massive debt basis, in order to make it as affordable as possible. In theory as a beginner you would not need to spend anything (as equipment is provided) other than the Ł10 fee per term, which goes back into buying more equipment.

"We really want the Kendo Club to be one that represents the University, both at uni and national level, with the support in senseis we have (including the GB national team coach) we feel this is a realistic goal to have."

The University Kendo club has good relations with the Portsmouth group and lessons are taught here by either a sensei or another instructor of a very high standard.

After attending one of these classes that are held on a Tuesday evening for two hours I was taught the basic footwork, striking, blocking and the basics of a good sparring technique. Beginners need only wear something that is loose and does not restrict movement too much, and simply show up to one of the training sessions to see if it appeals to you. Rami Kallala went on to say that "present attendance per lesson is around the 15-20 student level. However, I think it’ll be at least a month before any of them, myself inculded, will be moving on from the basic cuts and parries."

Kendo is a modern sport and is possibly now one of the biggest in the Land of the Rising Sun. It was in the beginning of the nineteenth century that Japan felt the need to modernise. Kendo thrived as it was seen as a way of preserving such qualities as courage, loyalty and discipline long-prized by the Japanese. By 1871, Kendo had become compulsory in all of Japan’s public and private schools. Such popularity has now begun to travel westwards, and many western countries including Great Britain are able to boast a national Kendo side. With the sport ever-increasing in popularity, many may be discovering Kendo for the first time and may want to get involved. Training sessions are held on a Tuesday night between 8pm and 10pm. See the website at www.sukendo.co.uk.