For Freshmen

1. The

basics

Kendo is certainly not something you can see on the street like football or basketball, so maybe you have some doubts about it. Congrats! You're in the right place

2. some

facts

Also don't forget to check out Demystifying Kendo for an even better overview and hands-on trial of the sport!

WHAT DO PEOPLE DO IN KENDO?

In a Kendo match, people gather points by hitting one of four designated areas (Men [面] the head; Kote: the forearm; Do: the torso; and Tsuki: the throat) in proper technique. Each hit is worth 1 point. The individual with more points win

WHAT IS PROPER TECHNIQUE?

By proper technique, we mean ki-ken-tai no ichi: your body, your sword, and your spirit has to be aligned. We display this spirit through shouting - kiai - which gives a kendo match a sense of combat that is very unique

WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR KENDO?

The equipment for Kendo is quite elaborate. We have our Shinai [竹刀] (bamboo sword)” ; Bogu [防具](armor) - and our gi and hakama [着-袴](uniform). For tryouts, you can use our equipment, and then buy a set of your own if you wish to continue training

1

2

Kendo is pretty noisy

A kendo match isn't complete without Kiai [気合い]- the combat shout. Often we shout the name of our attack, or sometimes just "yaa" to express the "ki" - spirit. Without the ki, an attack wouldn't be complete, and would lose points

Kendo has strict etiquette

Like most martial arts, we put a great focus on manners and honor. For example, we do a small meditation before training, bow to our opponents before and after combat. You'll learn more about these numerous etiquettes when starting the sport!

3

Kendo matches have 3 referees

In Kendo, a strike must be validated by two of the three referees to be counted as a point. The referee will raise his flag - which is either red or white - to signify that the red or the white side has scored.

3. Grading

Kendo doesn't have the colored belt system like some martial arts - instead, we have the kyu and dan system. One starts from the 7th or 8th kyu, and advanced through grading until the 1st kyu. After that, one goes from the 1st dan (which is equivalent to some sports' black belt) to 8th dan. Singapore Kendo Club holds gradings twice a year - one in December and one in June, typically.

Frequently asked questions

I'm a student in SMU. How can I join SMU Kendo Club?

We take in a new batch only once each year during Term 1 of the academic calendar.
The next intake of beginners will commence in August 2020, so keep an eye out for that!

For Kendokas with prior experience, please contact us.

How often does SMUKC train? Can I handle schoolwork and training at the same time?

SMUKC trains twice a week, for two hours a session. Many of our club members handle training and school perfectly fine. If your classes clash with these timings, let us know so we can help you out!

Tuesdays: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Saturdays: 11.00am - 1.00pm

Why do you scream so much in Kendo?

Our screams are a technique known as Kiai (気合).Kiai has a multitude of purposes, including intimidating your opponent, relaxing your own muscles, and kickstarting your own fighting spirit. Many martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Kobudo, Aikido, and even Taekwondo use Kiai in some way. Kiai is a display of willpower, and no attack in Kendo is complete without Kiai.

Are there any costs involved for joining SMU Kendo Club?

There are no course fees for SMUKC training sessions. For the beginner classes, all equipment will be provided. You simply have to dress in comfortable sports attire (no shoes required). Towards the middle of beginner classes, you will need to purchase a personal shinai (bamboo sword), gi and hakama (attire). Senior classes will require the additional purchase of bogu (armour). You will only need to purchase this if you wish to join SMUKC officially as a member. The overall cost per session is very low compared to many sports.

Will it be very physically intensive?

Like any sport, you will be pushed to a certain degree so you can improve. Most SMUKC members who never had any sports background handle training perfectly fine.

Will I be able to use Kendo in a street fight?

It will be rather hard to use the skill in the street fight , and we actually don't allow using it for this purpose. However, Kendo do train your mind and body to be more alert and flexible so that you can defend yourself effectively should you get into the situation

Does getting struck hurt?

With the right training, receiving an attack at the proper targets won't hurt at all. The Shinai and Bogu are designed in such a way that serious injury is relatively low compared to other sports.

I'm not from SMU. Can I still join the beginner classes, or train with SMU Kendo Club?

As we are a university club, our training is for students, faculty and staff of SMU only. Students who are on an exchange programme to SMU can join our classes if their exchange period coincides with the start of beginner classes.

If you are a member of the public, you may wish to direct your interest to the Singapore Kendo Club, which conducts classes for the public in English