Story by Will Phillips
Feature Photo by Will Phillips
MTSU hosted the 33rd Southeastern United States Kendo Championship Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 5th.
For those unfamiliar with the martial arts, kendo is the modern evolution of ancient Samurai sword fighting. The concept of kendo can be described as the discipline of one’s character through the way of the sword. As a practitioner of kendo, one masters both their physical and mental state according to the All Japan Kendo Federation.
Kendo is a sport of respect, honor, and dignity. Even in competitive matches great importance is placed upon upholding proper etiquette. Points will be taken away for a momentary lapse in focus.
In terms of the physical aspect, participants are coated in amor akin to that of the Samurai. The armor consists of the helmet (men), the body protector (do), the gloves (kote), and the groin protector (tare). The armor is worn atop the uniform (dogi) which consists of a coat-like top (Keikogi) and skirt-like trousers (Hakama).
Combatants wield oak wood swords (bokken) and attack specific targets on the opponent’s armor while shouting the name of their target. Three referees will determine if the attack was successful and vote on whether it was up to the criteria to score a point.
The mission of the Southern United States Kendo Federation is to promote, improve, and extend the art of kendo, as well as its teachings and principles throughout the region according to the organization’s website.
A total of 25 teams from across the south met to put their skills to the test in the highly anticipated 33rd SEUSKF Tournament. The clubs ranged from as close as Nashville and as far as Orlando, Florida.
The Nashville Kendo club specifically looks towards a bright future as it celebrates its 20th anniversary. The club is entering a new era, led by its first female head instructor, Kawamura Sensei.
Kawamura Sensei brings her long and established kendo career in Japan to Nashville as she looks to take the club to the next level.
Saturday morning as the sun rose the doors opened to reveal the battlefield for the teams, the MTSU campus rec center. The campus was dead silent, the only sound being the sharp crack of two bamboo sticks.
The tournament began at 8:30 but not before the singing of the both the United States and Japan national anthems. Teams gathered around SEUSKF President Mose Bacerra and Nashville Kendo Club president Walter White as they announced the beginning of the 33rd SEUSKF Kendo Championship.
The stage was set, and the teams were ready to commence.
No two opponents had the same height, physique, or face. Despite the many differences you could feel the sense of community as athletes embraced one another and showed respect for one another.
Ironically a sport about violence brings people from across the world in a positive way. Anyone from any background can participate if they train hard enough.
“I lived in Japan 7 years ago, 2016, I made the decision I was going to do traditional Japanese Martial arts, and I had the choice between aikido and kendo,” Rinaldo Stephens of Sedokan Kendo in West Palm Beach Florida said. “My friend that was also living in Japan was also doing kendo so that’s how I ended up getting started.”
The atmosphere was truly one of a kind, athletes completely dialed in, teammates supporting from the sidelines and a crowd roaring at every strike landed. Discipline and precision could be seen in every movement. Each strike, footstep, and twitch were made with a purpose.
“To prepare for the club (I train) twice a week,” Andrey Pyslaruk of the Georgia Kendo Association said.
The matches would wind down and the closing ceremony commenced at 5:00 p.m.
Following the ceremony the teams gathered for a Banquet at WAKO Japanese Cuisine.
Despite being in battle all day people joined together around a table and shared a meal in peace and bonded over the memories created at a successful 2024 SEUSKF tournament. With 33 years down, the annual SEUSKF appears to be here to stay.
Will Phillips is a contributing writer for MTSU Sidelines
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