DESPITE a late introduction to the sport, the Cebu Kendo Club won the women’s Fighting Spirit Category and finished third in both the women’s and men’s team events in the 3rd Philippine National Kendo Tournament at the Racquet Zone Sports Center in Cebu City last Oct. 27-28.
Formed in 2015, Cebu was only one of six clubs that joined with Manila Kendo Club in dominating the women’s and men’s team events, men’s individual event, and winning the men’s Fighting Spirit Award.
Isagani Batayola, head of Cebu Kendo Club, said the sport’s origin can be traced to the arrival of Japanese expats in the late 70s in Manila.
“Kendo was derived from the (Japanese) samurai warriors, they fought a lot during the olden times. Their style of fighting evolved into a form of discipline,” Batayola said.
From using katanas, the practitioners of the sport use a bamboo sword called Shinai.
“Even though we use a bamboo sword, the concept and principle are the same. But there is a difference between the two (kendo and sword-fighting) regarding the objectives because before it was purely for survival and fighting, while Kendo is focused on the development of the person,” said Batayola.
Jan Angelique Dalisay, a member of CKC, said that other than her wanting to lose weight in a non-repetitive and non-conventional exercise, she appreciates the learning process in Kendo.
According to Batayola, who is no stranger to various types of martial arts, Kendo’s objective is for continuous self improvement.
“It’s more like discipline; training the mind, developing self-confidence, overcoming obstacles during training and perseverance. You have to persevere in the training, and have an awareness of oneself,” he said.
Batayola said that because the sport is of significant Japanese descent, dojos are appointed a sensei. He said that in the sport, teachers and senior students stress the importance of courtesy or Reiho, the manner or attitude you adopt when you practice Kendo. This is shown by bowing, listening to your teachers and showing respect for the Shinai.
Batayola said that though there are competitions in Kendo, it’s still the principle behind the training that’s important, such as losing and winning with grace and awareness of self-improvement. Batayola also said that anyone at any age can start, be it seven years old or 48.
With dojos mushrooming around the country, the sport is growing slowly. In the last tournament, the participating clubs were from Iloilo, IGA Kendo Club, Davao Kendo Club, Bago Kendo Club and the Dumaguate Kendo Club.
Angeline Mercade of IGA won the women’s individual event, Bryan Benigay of Bacolod won the Newcomer Award for men, while Christine Trumata of Dumaguete won the women’s award.
Batayola also said the United Philippine Kendo Federation is working on being affiliated with the International Kendo Federation. They are preparing for the Asean Kendo Tournament in Indonesia next year. He is also hoping that Cebuanos Paul Minoza, Steven Canete, Karl Kesner and Mike Logarta will make the national team.
Batayola is inviting Cebuanos to join them in their training every Wednesday and weekend.
“I can see the potential of Kendo to develop the psyche of an individual,” he said.