My name is Yako and I’m from Japan.
I have 3 dan in Kendo. Do you know kendo? I’ve been doing Kendo for 12 years. Kendo is a traditional sports in Japan. We use a bamboo sword and we wear a faceguard, a chest protector and padded mittens. Kendo looks like fencing, but the protectors are very heavy. In addition, kendokas have a Samurai soul , so courtesy is a very important thing for us.
Kendo begins and ends with bowing. Therefore I learned a lot of things such as we have to respect our elders and try to get better. We have a grateful heart for teachers, parents, and opponents.
Kendo is more world famous than before. However, it is not an Olympic games discipline yet. I think kendo is a very interesting sport because we can do that at any age. Actually my Kendo teacher was 90 years old. So I want to teach Kendo for a lot of people in Australia, and I hope that kendo will become an Olympic game.
Yako, Intermediate Class
Hi, Yako. I read your article with pleasure. I wanted to try kendo again after reading it.
Actually, my father used to learn kendo when I was young so I had a chance to experience it.
You said that you had a grateful heart for teachers, parents, and opponents, and I agree with you.
We can learn not only physical but also mental strength.