ABOUT THE RIVONIA KENDO CLUB (RKC)

 
 
 
 

The Rivonia Kendo Club (RKC) was founded in 2015 by Warren HO (5th Dan) and Andrew WHITTAKER(3rd Dan), with the intentions of bringing their combined knowledge and unique aspirations to the greater Kendo community.

As past students of the original San Kawa Kendo Dojo (SKKD) that was then headed up by the original founder of SKKD, Tony Hughes sensei (6th Dan, Renshi), it was both Warren and Andrew’s intention to use much of their SKKD experiences in the formation of the RKC.

To pay homage to this history and tradition, Tony Hughes Sensei was elected as the lifetime honorary head sensei of the RKC.

Both Warren and Andrew had also been members of the South African National Kendo Team, and had represented their country at several European Kendo Championships (EKC) and World Kendo Championships (WKC). Both have earned their National Sports Colours in Kendo.

Furthermore, between the 2 of them, they have over 20 years of experience working at a national level, as they have both served as executive committee members of the South African Kendo Federation (SAKF), the national governing body of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo in South Africa.

Lastly, both Warren and Andrew had completed their Martial Arts South Africa (MASA) Coaching Certification (NQF3), as well as both having had attended the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) Foreign Leaders’ Kendo Training Camp in Kitamoto, Japan. Warren had also attended the European Kendo Federation’s Shimpan/Referee Seminar twice to further his knowledge of Kendo and Kendo refereeing.

To reflect the aspirations of its founders, the RKC set forth to accomplish three major objectives, namely to:
1) ...FOCUS on helping ALL their members develop good Kendo...
2) ...Whilst still having FUN during their time of training and socializing together...
3) ...Resulting in lifelong relationships that make them feel a part of the Kendo-FAMILY.

The RKC has adopted the Kendo proverb of "Kō Ken Chi Ai" (交剣知愛) , “the desire to achieve mutual understanding and betterment of humanity through sword training”, to help guide its members on their lifelong persuit of Kendo.

UPDATE:
As from January 2020, the RKC had ceased to be a non-profit entity, and had opted to become a professional martial arts institution.

Furthermore, "Iaido", the art of drawing and cutting with a sword, was added as an additional Japanese swords-based martial art that is offered at the RKC.  Cedric JACQUES (5th Dan Kendo), who had also joined the RKC, has been appointed as the head instructor for Iaido.     

The RKC is a professional martial arts institution that offers world-class training in traditional Japanese martial arts of KENDO ("The Art of the Sword"), IAIDO ("The art of Drawing the Sword"), and JODO ("The art of the Short Staff").

The RKC is a member of the South African Kendo Federation (SAKF), Martial Arts South Africa (MASA), the European Kendo Federation (EKF) and the International Kendo Federation (FIK).

For more info on the Rivonia Kendo Club, please visit out website at www.rivoniakendo.co.za.

We are also active on social media:

INSTAGRAM: @rivonia_kendo_club

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RivoniaKendo

19 May 2007 Individual Shiai

The 19th of May saw the first Individual Kendo Shiai of the SAKF for 2007 at the Japanese School. Unfortunately the turnout was not too good as only 11 competitors pitched up for the event- 6 for the Kyu grade shiai and 5 for the Dan grade shiai.

Nevertheless, the excitement amongst the competitors was evident from the first few fights in the Kyu grade shiai!

The Kyu grade competitors comprised of Desley, Sebastian and Ebrahem from the Fodushin Dojo, Smith(?) from KenYuKai and Magen and Andrew from the San Kawa Dojo.

The Kyu fights were spirited and eventually Andrew and Magen had a face-off in the 1st semi final. Andrew won with 2 mens to proceed to the finals. The second semi final was between Smith and Ebrahem with Ebrahem proceeding to the finals.

The Kyu final between Andrew and Ebrahem took place before the Dan grade Final. Andrew won the Kyu grade division with a men strike.

In the Dan competition, there were 2 pools. The first pool comprised of Mitchell, Craig and myself. The 2nd pool comprised of Ivor and Francis.

In the first pool, Mitch and I fought with Mitch taking an early do. I countered with a debane kote, but Mitch eventually won with a do cut.

The 2nd match between Mitch and Craig ended with Mitch losing by a kote.

The 3rd match was between Craig and myself. I took my first point for the day with a single- handed tsuki thrust! I thought it was pretty good as I hit the target spot on, with the foot-stomp and kiai (That is what the picture is of, by the way)! Anyway, Craig came back with a do strike. I eventually won with a men strike.

Since there was a draw in the 1st pool as each competitor won one and lost one, we had to have a rematch round-robin, but only with one-point match:

1st round again was Mitch and myself. I took his men and won that fight.

2nd round was Craig and myself. I lost as Craig took my kote.

3rd fight was Craig and Mitch, with Mitch losing to Craig with a men strike.

So, as it stood, Craig and myself would proceed to the semi-finals.

The second pool of Ivor and Francis only had the one fight with Francis being victorious with 2 men strikes. They both proceeded to the semi finals.

The first semi-final was between Francis and myself. Francis took the match with a men and kote strike to proceed into the finals.

The 2nd semi-final was between Craig and Ivor. Craig won with 2 do strikes.

The final between Francis and Craig was long as it went past the 3 minute mark and into extra time. Craig eventually took men to win the shiai.

All in all, considering the number of competitors, the shiai wend well and I think we all learnt a thing or two for next time.

My Keiko opponent....myself...[6 May 2007]

The goal of kendo is "the development of self thought the application of the sword".

I had a rather nasty experience in my Kendo practise session on Thursday at the KenYuKai dojo that pushed me along this path, or so I think.

It was with one of that dojo's club members that I had an argument with. Actually, it was more of a one sided argument as he was the one hurling most of the abuse.

During a keiko match with him, he went for my men (head) target and followed  though past me. As he turned around to face me, I was ready to repay the strike with a men strike of my own. As I did it, I was told by him that I was wrong and should I ever do that to him again, I would be "£$%- up! Naturally, I was shocked by his comments as the strike is normal in keiko practise, and is used to take advantage of those who don't not block or get out of the way after a strike attempt!  I tried to explain the strike was a legitimate attempt, but saw my words were falling on deaf ears. We continued with the keiko match. However, I could feel his anger oozing from his armour (as well as see some whispered profanities from his mouth) which made it all that much easier to avoid his strike attempts and allow me to strike his targets...men..kote..men..men..kote...kote...men. Wasn't too much of a challenge as by now, his anger had reached such a height, I think l could swing a mallet over his head, crack his skull open, and he still would not feel anything (amazing what anger can make you do)! Anyway, I decided to stop the match as it would be pointless trying to continue.

Ray sensei, who was sitting on the sidelines but unfortunately did not see the incident,came over and asked why we had stopped. I explained what happened and he agreed with me that my strike was legit.He tried to explain this to my opponent, but again, nothing was getting through.

Anyway,to cut the story short, at the end of practise , Ray sensei asked Buster Sensei for his opinion on the matter,and again, Buster Sensei acknowledged my strike was legit. He called my opponent and I over to explain the situation. My opponent did the talking, saying things like I have no respect, didn't know keiko etiquette, etc, etc. I felt he was getting really personal at times! Buster Sensei listened and eventfully said that I was right as in keiko, it should be full-blooded attacks all the time if there is no major difference in rank. This, he continued, is how it is done here, in Japan, and everywhere else in the world where Kendo is practised.If you don't defend yourself as you turn to face your opponent, you deserve to be killed!

(This next bit is the best..) My opponent then shouted back saying that this should not be allowed and must be changed! Come on, bud! Kendo has been practised like this for decades and now YOU want to change it??!! Get real!

Well, he stormed out the dojo and Buster and Ray Sensei assured me there was nothing wrong with my keiko.

I spoke to my main sensei, Tony,  the next day about it, and he told me again that I had done nothing wrong and my keiko was good.

However, even with the approval of all my sensei's, the whole incident left a very bitter taste in my mouth and left me with plenty of questions - Was I too instinctive in my counter-attack by reacting like that? Was I too cocky or arrogant during our keiko or when he reprimanded me? Was I getting too personal in my keiko that he attacked me personally afterwards?

In my attempt to answer those question, I came up with the following answers:

1. Instinct is for animals. As a conscientious species, humans should control their instinct and use that in conjunction with logic and strategy in a combat situation. So, for me, I must fight back the instinctive reactions and try and blend instinct,logic and strategy into my kendo.

2. By trying to win in keiko, I am already projecting a certain amount of forcefulness that can be perceived to be arrogant or cocky. My goal in this aspect is to remain humble yet assertive at all times. Winning is not everything. I have a long way to go on this one.

3. Never get personal in a fight. It clouds judgement and makes you lose the most important thing you will need to survive: common sense. For this, I need to cultivate a rock for a heart, but a spirit that is indomitable.

I'm not sure if these are the right answers, but they are my answers nevertheless. Am I on the right path, or have I lost my direction along the way?

If it is the former, then I guess I have to say thanks to my opponent for forcibly pushing me along that path. If it is the latter, then someone please beat the crap out of me in the next keiko!

Ishimaru sensei (7th Dan Kendo)

Last night was the last training session with Ishimaru sensei (7th Dan Kendo), at the Ken Yuri Kai Dojo in Braamfontein, before he returns to Japan on Friday.

The one nice thing about Ishimaru sensei's explanation of Kendo is that he always relates it to how a real real sword would be used! Awesome stuff!

I managed to have another round of keiko (sparring) with him tonight, and as usual, I could not even touch him! At 60 years old, he's lightning fast and has this zanshin (fighting spirit) that freezes me in my place and causes my movements to be sluggish! This is the 4th time during this week that I managed to have keiko with Ishimaru sensei. I managed a reasonable kote strike on my first attempt that he acknowledged. Subsequently, he proceeded to knock me senseless!

However, believe it or not, he is actually a very nice person! Ishimaru Sensei came by our dojo, the San Kawa Kendo Dojo, on Tuesday night. Later on, we went for dinner with him and Buster sensei. There we got to know him a bit better and learn about the long history of the South African kendo Federation (SAKF) and everything they have been through. Turns out that about 10 years (if not more?) ago in Japan, Ishimaru sensei accident mentioned to a group of fellow Kendoka that he would be sent to South Africa for 3 years on a work assignment. One senior sensei, Omasa Sensei (8th Dan), heard him and TOLD him to teach the people in South Africa kendo! It wasn't a request, just a simple instruction. Anyway, he came here to South Africa and taught the likes of Buster Sensei, Tony Sensei and Ray Sensei, who are all now accomplished 5th Dan, 5th Dan and 4th Dan Kendoka, respectively. He was made the lifetime chairman of the SAKF and has comes through to South Africa every year for the past 7 years on his own expense to conduct the seminar.

The weekend seminar with him was great. Beside helping us refine our basic kendo techniques and kata, we were also briefly exposed to how to referee in a shiai (competition). It was fun!

This is only the second seminar that I have been on with him. My first was where I had a very memorable, if not embarrassing experience, as described in one of my earlier blog postings.

Anyway, Ishimaru sensei's instruction was invaluable and increased my knowledge and understanding of Kendo greatly! For that, I will always be grateful.

Kendo...

The South African Kendo Federation (SAKF) will be hosting their Annual Kendo Workshop this weekend (28-29 April) at the Japanese School in Emerentia, JHB, South Africa. Ishimaru sensei, 7th Dan, will once again be the main sensei to host the seminar. It's a pretty intensive workshop that involves 2 days of gruelling Kendo training!

The last time I went to this workshop was in in 2005, the first time ever for me! I remember getting ready to do some some keiko (sparring) with someone and Ishimaru sensei watching on from the side. Then, on my initial attack, screaming as loudly as I possibly could, my foot got stuck in my hakama (Japanese skirt like apparel) and I went first flying into the air, then tumbling down into the hard wooden floor! When I got up, I say Ishimaru sensei laughing away! So much for first impressions! Up until that point, I think I was pretty credible and looked pretty good in my Kendo gear, however, doing my version of Goth-gone-crazy head-bang, and seeing the sensei all slit-eyed from laughter, made me realise that, hey, we're all human still and one must never forget that humbleness is the root of all good!

So, I'm looking forward to this year's seminar. This time, I'm going to make sure that my hakama is pulled up beyond my knees so as to expose my sexy, hairy calf muscles and ensure I don't do my impersonation of that Goth ever again.