Kendo Camp

When you strip away everything from the martial art kendo, what you’re left with is how to swing a stick in a very precise way. If you have never practiced kendo, you could be forgiven for considering that this is both easy and somewhat silly.

On the other hand, if you were to think that you would also be ignoring centuries of tradition that have gone into making this martial art a beacon of discipline and effort. You might also risk getting killed by a practitioner of kendo, more for thinking it’s easy than because it’s silly. I used to practice kendo for a few years before moving out of range of any kendo dojos, and just started up perhaps five or six months ago. Maybe. Still, I remembered loving the kendo practices despite how strenuous they were and despite the fact that when I still lived in Michigan my Sunday routine was very simple—wake up, practice kendo, go back to apartment, sleep for the rest of the day.

Kendo on Sundays now is pretty similar, albeit now when I finish with the practice I have an hour’s drive back to my apartment. I’m not sure if this is an advantage over practicing kendo in Michigan or not. Still, I wanted to dive in to practicing kendo with both feet, which is why I signed up for kendo camp.

Kendo camp is held at a college, this time at the University of Wisconsin. You practice with other kendo practitioners (kendoka) from all over the Midwest, under the tutelage of two 8^th-dan senseis. These two senseis are so high-ranking that in Japan I wouldn’t be able to practice with them. I might be able to train with their students, but not a chance at seeing them. So this camp was something of an opportunity.

If I could sum up the camp in one word, it would be intense. I can safely say I have never practiced so hard for so long over so many days. I pushed myself to my physical limits, and I have to say I also had to fight against some mental barriers too. Still, at the end of it all, after my body was so sore on Sunday that I fell asleep shortly after I got home, I loved it.

One of the things I learned is that kendoka practice kendo to become better human beings. Granted, I learned a ton about kendo technique as well, but what really sunk into my psyche was the spirit of practicing martial arts, philosophies such as always seeking to concentrate and improve your performance, or the simple act of the mental and physical fortitude required to get through the final three hour practice on Sunday. It has really stayed with me, and I think more than anything that this is why I practice kendo—there is a lot to consider that, when applied to almost any area outside kendo, will help you to live a better life.

Another thing I learned is that it’s good to make friendships in kendo. It’s not just that you have a common hobby, but at kendo camp pretty much everyone can relate to the effort you’re putting in. I had some great conversations with people there, especially my roommate Jim, who had some great things to say about kendo philosophy. I should also give a shout-out to Yuki, Jim’s friend, who was fun to talk with and who also may be tougher than anyone else in the “shodan and under” category.  Then there was Majic, George, Phil, and several other people who I would be more than happy to see again.

Finally, I learned that kendo senseis are superhuman. They require less sleep than anyone else I know, they train as hard as their students do, and I suspect they can drink your standard fratboy under the table.  Just a hint for any would-be muggers out there—if you want to rob someone and you realize you have picked a sensei as your target, start running. Who knows, they might even give you a head start.