INFORMATION

WHAT IS KENDO?

Kendo means "way of the sword" and is the traditional martial art of Japanese fencing. Kendo players fence with flexible bamboo practise swords(shinai) using both the edge and point of the sword to hit targetson their opponent's armour.
The four main targets are the top of the head, the throat, the abdomen and the wrist.Kendo means "way of the sword" and is the traditional martial art of Japanese fencing. Kendo players fence with flexible bamboo practise swords (shinai) using both the edge and point of the sword to hit targets on their opponent's armour. The four main targets are the top of
the head, the throat, the abdomen and the wrist.

Kendo also is the sword art of the samurai or bushi. Kendo has been a part of Japanese culture for a large part of its history and continues today as a sport in Japan and throughout the world. The story of kendo is the story of the Japanese sword, its technical development and its cultural meaning in a sport that continues to use it as a means for character development.

In budo, Japanese martial arts, "do" refers to a path or way to self-improvement through martial
training. Kendo teaches not only physical fencing techniques but also a
philosophy which is inherent to budo. Kendo develops strong spirit, positive attitude and respect for others.





PRACTICE LOCATION:

Esporta at Tampa Palms, Friday 6:30pm-8:30pm




5225 Cypress Preserve Dr.


Tampa, FL 33647

(813) 337-0966


PRACTICE TIME: Friday. 6:30pm~8:30pm


*** IMPORTANT TO VISITORS: YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW WHEN YOU WANT TO COME AS I HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM LA FITNESS

NEW STUDENT !!
We only accept new student once a month, first week of each month.

MONTHLY TUITION:
Membership fee to join Esporta Fitness. Other fees may apply.

Also you need to pay to SEUSKF and AUSKF membership fee by beginning of each year.

Adult(18year or older): $70/year, which may change year to year
Children(younger than 18years): $50/year, which subject to be changed year to year

This fee will help our federation to buy liability insurance and help us to organize events. Please keep in mind that only paid members are allowed to take shinsa(test).

For your membership info for SEUSKF and AUSKF, you can check their website. http://www.seuskf.org/html/members.html

CONTACT: Sungmin Ro, tampakendoclub @ gmail.com

AFFILIATE DOJO

Summerlin Kendo Dojo
Summerlin Academy
1500 South Jackson Street
Bartow, FL 33830

Every Wednesday
5:00pm-7:30pm

*****IMPORTANT BEGINNERS ****
Download AND REVIEW New Student Beginner's guide



New Student Application Form:

Download New Student Application Form(Need PDF): Please print and sign this form when you come to practice


We are also affiliate of AUSKF and SEUSKF





ABOUT SHINOBU MAEDA SENSEI

Shinobu Maeda Sensei held the rank of 7th dan, kyohi, and is the Head Instructor of Bartow High School Kendo Club, Bartow, FL. From 1995 to 1999, and 2001-present, he has been a member of the boards for the Southeastern US Kendo Federation.. Maeda Sensei participated in the All U.S. Kendo Championships five times, and was elected to the board of the All United States Kendo Federation during 2006-Present. Bartow High School Kendo Club → Summerlin Academy Kendo ClubSoutheastern US. Kendo Federation (President : 2003-2004, 2012-2013) (Vice-president : 1995-1999, 2001-2002, 2005-Present) All United States Kendo Federation (Board of Directors 2006 - Present). He also shinpan(referee) at 16th World Kendo Championship, 2015



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS..


ABOUT TAMPA KENDO DOJO

Tampa Kendo Dojo is a non-profit organization. We are the only official Kendo Club in Tampa Bay Area. The instructors (Sensei’s) are all volunteers. This means that we rely on dues, fundraisers and membership & family member volunteers. We also rent a space so paying membership due on timely manner is highly appreciated.

We are also an affiliate of AUSFK and SEUSKF.


DO YOU HAVE AGE AND HEALTH RESTRICTIONS?



If you are in good health, you can learn and practice kendo at any age. However, we recommend that children wait until they are 6 or 7 years old before starting. This is due to the inability of younger children to concentrate for extended periods of time. If you have any health problems or concerns (i.e. asthma, heart condition, high blood pressure, etc.), as with any exercise program, please consult a doctor prior to starting Kendo. Currently our students range in age from 6 to 64.


I am Very Interested in Kendo Because I just saw..(select movie)..Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill or The Last Samurai. When will we be working on fancy sword work like that? Will Kendo be just as exciting as the movie?

Tampa Kendo Club is a traditional Kendo Dojo strictly focusing on the fundamentals of Kendo. As a beginner, you will be performing the same fundamental drills to learn etiquette, footwork, and how to correctly swing the shinai and bokuto. Please be advised that you will not be wearing bogu (armor) for at least 4-6 months. Please note that YOU WILL NOT BE practicing in a field or practicing forms against a sunset background. Additionally, THERE WILL NOT BE flashy sword work such as spinning the sword, two sword techniques or flying kicks taught. We do not teach that type of swordmanship that you see on the movie screen. It is entertaining and we enjoy those movies too, but that type of swordsmanship is based on cinematic stunt choreography and has little to do with the actual practice and lifelong study in the art of Kendo.




AS A BEGINNER, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO PRACTICE ?

We suggest you wear comfortable loose fitting clothing such as shorts and a t-shirt.


WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO I NEED ?

A beginning kendoist will need to purchase a shinai. You may purchase your shinai directly from www.e-bogu.com. We may be able to lend you a shinai in first couple of classes but you will need to purchase your own. For beginner, you will need to buy a "complete kendo shinai with leather parts."





SHINAI SIZE REGULATION

Adult male: Size 39


Adult female: Size 38

Ages & Recommended Shinai Size
4-6 years old: Size 32
7-9 years old: Size 34
10-12 years old: Size 36
13-15 years old: Size 37

HOWEVER, THIS SHINAI SIZE MAY DIFFER DEPENDS ON YOUR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT. PLEASE CONSULT WITH SENSEI OR SEMPAI BEFORE YOU PURCHASE SHINAI

Shinai Price: Approx. $30~100, including shipping


WEHN SHOULD I PURCHASE AND WEAR UNIFORM (KEIKOGI AND HAKAMA) ?

During the beginner phase, we suggest wearing shorts. This is to avoid any extra investment by the student should they wish to discontinue studying kendo soon after they enroll due to work schedules, relocation, change of heart, etc.

Recommended Uniform:
Summer GI and #8800 Hamaka Set

Kendo Stores
www.ebogu.com: Located in LA, More choice
www.alljapanbudogu.com: Located in Japan, recommend to order Bogu. Good fit
Uniform Price: Approx. $70~$300

WHEN CAN I WEAR ON THE BOGU? WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO GET INTO BOGU(ARMOR)?
Our Head Instructor or sempai will make the determination on when a new student will move into the advanced class, and when they shall put on bogu. The fundamentals of Kendo must first be learned and the muscles used in Kendo must be developed and become strong enough to withstand the rigors of practice.



Bogu Costs
Beginner: $350~$600
Advanced: $700~$2000

Most beginners buy beginners bogu set and upgrade to higher quality as they advanced. Please consult with sensei before you purchase bogu. Even beginners bogu set should last 5-10 years. Kote is the most common parts that worn out.

Memo to Parents and Guardians of students under the age of 15:

Members under the age of 15 are required to have a parent or guardian at the practice location during practice times.

The instructors at Tampa Kendo Dojo endeavor to apply our years of practice to teaching your children. We accept that we will need to teach them the types of etiquette that is expected in the dojo and will do this with patience and tactfulness. The one thing we ask of the parents is that you remind your child before practice to pay attention and treat the instructors with respect.

WHAT IS COMMON INJURIES ?

Even though Kendo is full contact sports, Kendo probably has a lower rate of injury than most martial arts. Kendoka rarely incur injuries worse than a bruise, although there are exceptions of course

Most common are blistered/torn feet and bruised forearms and ribs. Bruised heel is probably the most common injury that prevents practice, after that plantar fascitis.

Torn achilles tendon is the most serious common injury, only seen one of those thank god. I've personally had all sorts of bruises including the heel, tendinitis in the rotator cuff, bruised tendon sheath or possibly tendinitis in the wrist and taken the odd thump to the windpipe back when I had the bad habit of coming in with my chin up. Nothing serious so far, thank goodness, and that's in nearly 6 years of practice.

A correct shinai blow which lands on target, ie on the armor, should't hurt. A heavy handed cut driven by too much muscle, a typical beginner's stroke, can hurt a bit, more so if the armor is old and soft. The shinai itself is designed to flex and absorb the blow. A cut which misses the armor causes no worse than a bruise, although it certainly can hurt at the time.

Also, make sure to cut your toe nails as long nails can not only hurt yourself but others too.

Kendo foot blisters
A common injury for many beginners are foot blisters. Blisters are a result of tender skin being in contact with and subjected to tremendous friction with the floor. Pay careful attention to the condition of your feet before each practice.


For more information of common injuries, please take your time to read this website:

http://www.bestkendo.com/kendo-injuries.html


2009년 8월 13일 목요일

Kendo Promotional Exam Study Guide - From AUSKF website













This study guide is from AUSKF website

http://www.auskf.info/docs/studyguide.htm



KATA


The failure of most candidates kata at lower dan is the lack of practice, the mechanics should be just rote memory. It is very obvious which candidates have neglected kata for long periods of time, hurriedly preparing by practicing only a few times before their test. Logically one would expect that if kata is 50% of the test the candidate would put more effort in to the practice and the learning of kata.

The uchidachi must demonstrate a strong leading of the shitachi, while the shitachi must be able to read the uchidachiís intention. A kodansha performing kata must express a strong and true spirit, reasonable mind and balanced zanshin. The performance shows stroke with drive and spirit, ri-ai, ma-ai, and understands the rhythm of each of the 10 forms.

Starting at 1st-Kyu where just the basic mechanics are needed to Sandan where all the mechanics and the basic fundamentals previously discussed are required, the kata of the candidate should improve at each dan level. At Yondan the kata must demonstrate a better understanding of the hei-ho of Kendo, the rhythm, seme and zanshin. All these things must steadily improve at each succeeding level.

Points that are observed when grading by the examiners:

-Manner before and after the tachi-ai.
-Does the candidate understand all five kamae in 1 through 7 and han-mi and iri-mi in the kodachi kata?
-Does the candidate demonstrate an understanding of me-tsuke and breath control matching with the partner?
-Does the candidate demonstrate an attitude of reality and dignity for the rank requested?
-Does the candidate demonstrate the relationship between uchidachi and shitachi in movement and rhythm?
-Is the timing of the strikes correct, is the shitachi receiving correctly?
Is the ma-ai correct?
-Is the strike with mono-uchi?
-Are the basic mechanics of the strikes correct? Not too big or too small.
-Is the footwork sliding or just walking? Are the heels touching the ground, flatfooted?
-Does the shitachi demonstrate ki-gurai and does the uchidachi respond to the shitachi's zanshin?


Expectations of Rank

6th-kyu through 2nd-kyu can be awarded at the dojo level depending on the regional federation. Other federations formally test for these grades and some have age restrictions for children. 1st-kyu and above are done through the formal examination process. While it is normal to have both adults and children testing for the same level of kyu there can be a great deal of difference in the basic skills between the adults and children. Most often the children have been doing Kendo much longer and have much better basics than the adults. However when the mental maturity of the adults is factored in this should not be a problem. An experienced examiner will understand this kind of situation and grade accordingly. (see attachments for skill guidelines used by some regionals)

1st-kyu requirements: enter and leave the court properly, strike with ki-ken-tai-ichi, good energy and 1 or 2 yuko-datotsu.

Shodan: same as above with nidan waza included.

Nidan: demonstrate the use of shikake waza, harai waza, debana waza, hiki waza, and oji (oh-ji) waza. Obviously the occasion may not arise to use most of the mentioned waza, but the candidate should show better basics than the Shodan level and be able to use more advanced technique as above. The Kenshi at this level should not be obsessed with the use of waza but start to master the opportunity of attack. Cuts should have good vertical motion with the use of both hands and te-no-uchi.

Sandan: Use seme and ken-sen to initiate attacks and have sharp waza. Particularly the use of oji type of waza should be incorporated in the candidates Kendo.

Yondan: should display very solid Kendo and kamae, display mastery of a variety of techniques, yuko-datotsu, excellent footwork and posture. An attacking kamae full of spiritual energy should be displayed rather than a waiting kamae that reacts to the opponent.

Godan: starting with the Godan examination the candidate must truly exhibit the use of seme and ken-sen to create the moment of attack. Often failure is caused by the candidate doing shiai style of keiko and trying to win points. One must demonstrate the control of the center, the opponents spirit, and mastery of the footwork and shinai. The Kendo must be logical without unnecessary strikes and actions. The strike is followed by zanshin that is true mental alertness.

Rokudan: the same as Godan, but even more, the ri-ai must be demonstrated. Strong control of the center, efficient use of waza and footwork, mental control of the opponent and situation.

Nanadan: all aspects of the previous ranks must be present and an essence of dignity that speaks to quality Kendo. This dignity shows both on and off the court in the persons life.

Kodansha Kendo is not only just winning a strong shiai, strong keiko or beating an opponent in the shinsa. You must express your Kendo with the correct kamae, strong ken-sen, reasonable ma-ai, smooth flowing footwork, body movement and a strong, smooth stroke in your strikes. This must be performed in one rhythm with sharp te-no-uchi.



Check following AUSKF website for the Written Exam
http://www.auskf.info/docs/studyguide.htm

Kirikaeshi

3 Different Ma-ai

Metsuke or enzan-no-metsuke

Ki-ken-tai-itchi

Zanshin

Seme

Mittsu-no-sen or the three attacks. According to Miyamoto Musashi there are three sen:

Kill the sword or ken-o-korosu

All these methods lead to the four sicknesses;

footwork. Ashi-sabaki or footwork is broken down into four types:

Waza

2009년 8월 10일 월요일

Maeda sensei vs Hyun sensei, 2007 Atlanta

I found an old video from youtube.

SEUSKF Championships in Atlanta, 2007. Senior Division finals: Maeda sensei vs Hyun sensei.

Children Kendo



We try to provide a fun, friendly and safe environment in which children can develop social and personal skills.

Kendo can help children with:

1. Basic motor function, balance, and co-ordination.
2. Listening and attentive skills.
3. Focus and concentration.
4. Teamwork and social interaction.
5. Self confidence.
6. Diligence in all undertaken tasks.
7. Respect for all people and things.

These lessons are critical to long term practice of kendo but more importantly these skills are more applicable to a childs personal development at home or in school.

Lessons thought to prepare them for entry into Kendo as a martial art. We try to help children become self reflective and thoughtful. We do not teach kids how to fight only how to act, think and behave. We will help them by providing postive feedback on area's they are good at and not critising area's they are not.

We encourage parents to stay and watch, but be mindful and respectful of the environment and dojo

About Maeda Shinobu sensei



Shinobu Maeda Sensei held the rank of 7th dan, kyohi, and is the Head Instructor of Bartow High School Kendo Club, Bartow, FL. From 1995 to 1999, and 2001-present, he has been a member of the boards for the Southeastern US Kendo Federation.. Maeda Sensei participated in the All U.S. Kendo Championships five times, and was elected to the board of the All United States Kendo Federation during 2006-2014.

Bartow High School Kendo Club  → Summerlin Academy Kendo Club

Southeastern US. Kendo Federation 
      (President :  2003-2004, 2012-2013)
      (Vice-president : 1995-1999, 2001-2002, 2005-2014)
                                           
 All United States Kendo Federation        
       (Board of Directors 2006 - 2014) 

News Article about Maeda Sensei


About Sungmin Ro



Sungmin Ro started Kendo 6 years ago in San Jose Kendo dojo. He has been lucky enough to practice at dojos in different countries including, Chile, Sydney, Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong and many other location in USA. For him, Kendo is not only about learning martial arts but also about the respect between your fellows and elders.

Sungmin has got sandan in 2009 and still focussing on improving his basic skills.

Visit Orlando dojo

Maeda sensei, Don, James and myself visited Orlando dojo.

Kendo Seminar & Testing

Kendo seminar and testing was held at Bartow Highschool. It was organized by Maeda sensei.

Kakari geiko at USF Rec center

Working on men

2009년 8월 9일 일요일

Visiting Orlando dojo

Visited Orlando Kendo dojo. Keiko with Maeda sensei & Jay sensei(Orlando dojo, 4th dan)

Calendar