By Dayat Ahmad
Kendo (剣道) is the Japanese martial art of sword-fighting. ‘Ken’ (剣) means sword while ‘dō’ (道) means ‘way’; Kendo teaches the ‘Way of the Sword’ based on the traditional Japanese swordsmanship (kenjetsu, 剣術) which originated from the samurai of feudal Japan. PTEK Kendo Club started 4 years ago in 2008 while Kendo in Brunei official started in 2003, so Kendo is a relatively new martial arts in Brunei.
PTEK Kendo Club video for Cohort 2 CCA session
Kendo is both strong physical and mental challenging and incorporates strong martial arts values and discipline among practitioners. The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) published the concept and purpose of Kendo in 1975.
Concept
Kendo is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana (Japanese sword)
Purpose
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.
Thus will one be able:
To love one's country and society;
To contribute to the development of culture;
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.
Kendo techniques compromise of both thrusts and strikes. Strikes are only made to
the head, wrists and abdomen while the thrusts are made to the chest and
throat. Of course, Kendo practitioners (Kendoka) use protection armour called bōgu
(防具).
The sword used in Kendo is called the shinai (竹刀)
and is made of 4 bamboo slats fitted together.
Hard wooden swords called bokutō
(木刀) are
also used when practicing Kata.
A Kendo match highlight during the 47th All Japan Kendo Championship
Demonstration of Kendo kata
We don't normally carry swords around everywhere we go so why practice Kendo? There are many reasons why people still practice Kendo. It may be due to interest in the Japanese culture and tradition, for disciplining one self and become physically fit, or maybe just to experience what a weapons martial art is like. Kendo takes years to develop, often a life-time. In Japan, elderly men of age 60 and above still actively practice Kendo.
PTEK Kendo Club practices on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM but this schedule is to be changed to accommodate the members' schedules. For more information about PTEK Kendo Club, you can send an email to: dayat_2412@yahoo.com.
We also practice on Sundays from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Badminton court of the Scout Building (5th floor) in Gadong. It is open to public and is practiced by Kendokas all over Brunei. The fees is $3 per session. Join this Facebook group for more info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/156149637792085/
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