CLUB MEMBERS COMPETE IN KENDO BEGINNER’S TOURNAMENT AS 2017 ENDS

Before University of Glasgow students departed for the Christmas holidays, senior members of GUKC organized the annual Beginner’s Tournament for juniors to showcase what they’ve learned throughout the first semester.

While the beginners have gained experience in performing strikes alongside their mentors, the majority of them felt anxious to engage each other in actual matches.

Maryam A., a 1st Year Geography and History student, was one of the optimistic beginners amongst her peers and claimed that the training sessions throughout the semester had laid a ‘solid foundation’ in basic strikes and etiquette while building stamina.

In Kendo, two participants wield bamboo swords, or Shinai, and target specific parts of the body in order to gain points.

Potential targets are protected by armor and gear which took the beginners a while to grow accustomed to after putting them on for the first time.

Once the matches commenced, other members observing the matches cheered for their fellow Kendoka, or practitioners of Kendo, their shouts of encouragement relieving the tension in the air.

After each match, the beginners took opportunities to reflect on their performance and consider different tactics and improvements to their current techniques to prepare for the next one.

In particular, Vishesh C. G., a Masters of Science student, learned that while his training had helped him prepare his techniques, it was his responsibility to keep his body in check and prevent from overexerting himself during a match.

He also stated that he discovered his lack of coordination that almost costed him a few points and found that 3 minutes, the duration of a match, ‘seemed like a very long time’ if a combatant was unable to muster the willpower to endure.

When the event was over and the winners were announced, Vishesh earned 3rd place alongside another member and a Tenugui, a head cloth.

Maryam, who has been a part of the GUKC community since September, won 2nd place and obtained a bokken, a wooden sword shaped like a traditional Japanese katana.

As the new year has begun and the UK University Taikai 2018 event approaches, both students were asked what they believed to be next in store for them in GUKC.

For the Master's student, Vishesh stated that he is looking forward to participating in more competitions in the future but he hopes to learn what it means to be a Kendoka in body, mind and spirit.