SPORT KENDO AND HOSTING A WORLD KENDO CHAMPIONSHIP

By Dr. Ken Lorimer

To many kendoists the study and practice of kendo goes beyond the idea of a sport. They view kendo as a traditional Japanese martial art discipline that aims to train the mind and body and cultivate good human character through the application of the principles of the katana (sword). In pursuing this approach they study “Bushido” as an ethical system; kinesiology in relation to the structure and working of human muscles in the training and application of certain kendo wazas; the way of the sword and the correct form to execute a kendo cut or strike, and etiquette. Let us call this view, the traditional approach.

While acknowledging the importance of the traditional approach to kendo, many kendoists have a more liberal approach to the art of kendo. They see kendo as a sport where success can be achieved through sustained practice of wazas (kendo techniques) that will enable them to strike an opponent faster at a predetermined spot: men, kote, do, tsuki, and any combination thereof with a shinai, a bamboo, or synthetic material that models a sword. This liberal approach views kendo as a sport, or game that provides pleasure and competition between individuals and teams at a kendo taikai.

Students at colleges and universities in Japan, namely University of Tokyo, Wasada University, Kieo University, Kokusai Budo University, and others, have long promoted the notion of kendo as a sport. After the Second World War, the Japanese Ministry of Culture accepted kendo as a sport. Whereas, in the United States of America, Japanese immigrants were engaged in kendo as a sport prior to the war between Japan and the United States of America. And, after the war, goodwill kendo matches between university students and kendoists in the USA took place in California, and likewise kendoists from the United States of America visited Japan on goodwill tours including a group led by Taro Mori sensei.

Sport kendo is popular in Japan among students at the secondary and post secondary levels of the education system. It also is popular at police academies, professional organizations, and community organizations. There are over five million people practicing kendo in Japan. The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) was established October 14, 1952 and one of its major functions is to hold the All Japan Kendo Championships and other national tournaments. And since the establishment of the International Kendo Federation (IKF) in 1970, kendo has spread to forty-four countries that are affiliated to the IKF. The IKF is a non-political organization whose purpose is to develop kendo, iaido and judo internationally and among other things, foster mutual trust and friendship among affiliates.

Hosting the World Kendo Championship

The first World Kendo Championship was held in Japan in 1970, and since then the hosting of the World Kendo Championship has moved from one continent to another and brings with it more participating organizations from different countries. In the last 11th World Kendo Championship that took place at Santa Clara, California, USA where I was a member of the organizing committee, some thirty-six countries participated. And from recent IKF data more countries are going to participate in the 12th World Kendo Championship at Glasgow, UK in July 2003.

To some, the world kendo championship is like the Olympic games, but that is an exaggeration. For the modern Olympic games have more events, and require major investments in social community improvements including housing and transportation. The size of the investments can be in the order of one billion US dollars or more. Against which are considerations of economic benefits, direct and indirect, short-term and long-term economic impacts, and a desire to show case the host nation through global promotion exposure. None of these considerations are present when hosting the World Kendo Championship.

Now that we dispose of any illusion of comparing the World Kendo Championship with the Olympic games, there are still some misunderstandings about hosting a World Kendo Championship.

Some Guidelines for Hosting the World Kendo Championship.

First, let me state that this article should in no way cast doubts about the capability of the organizing committee of the British Kendo Association that is now the current host. Many of their members are well educated, and I expect a successful tournament. The intent of this article is to provide some simple advice and cautions that a prospective host of a World kendo Championship may find useful. The cautionary advice can be viewed as a feedback in order to govern this type of event successfully. A failure to heed a caution can cause problems for an organizer. .

A common mistake that some kendo organizers make is the belief that hosting the World Kendo Championship is similar to hosting a national or regional kendo championship, but on a larger scale with a big party at the end. And hopefully, everyone will have a good time. What they often overlook is when the party ends and the guests leave, the host is left to fix problems and oversee the clean up. In addition, the host should assess the impact of hosting the World Kendo Championship and mistakes made so that they can improve their skills for the future.

Here is a list of some guidelines that a prospective host should consider:

· A prospective host should develop a meta-view about the purpose for hosting the World Kendo Championship. The host should define their goals, not withstanding, a need to educate its members in the participation of international kendo taikai, or to improve the qualities of body and mind, and gain experience in international kendo development.

· The host organizing committee should know the size of its local kendo community. They should not base their expectations on what they saw after attending a similar tournament in Japan. Remember that Japan has over five million kendoists with an interested audience of several millions more than the active kendoists. . This is relevant particularly when deciding the number of people expected to attend the taikai and in determining the size of the site. A realistic estimate must be determined.

· The organizing committee must be able to explain why hosting the World Kendo Championship is good for kendo development in the host region as a whole. .

· Volunteers should be trained and have some passion for kendo. Volunteers are needed to help maintain the venue, supervise the event, and provide assistance in hospitality and logistics.

· Make sure that you keep on top of prior arrangements and make contingency for sudden changes by hotels in their arrangements to lodge the athletes or competitors, their entourage, officials, and guests.

· Pay special attention to transportation and be prepared to have a contingency plan to solve transportation problem.

· Make sure that you have multi-lingual aides to assist people with language requirements.

· Engage the service of a solicitor (or attorney) with knowledge of immigration laws to help solve any problems that may bar a nation’s athletes from competing in the championship.

· Organize and provide facility and services for medical emergency.

· Provide adequate security for the participants and the events.

· And, lastly but not the least, work closely with the plans of the IKF secretary General Jun Takeuchi sensei and his staff. They are very knowledgeable about kendo championships management. Their skills are admirable.

· By following these guidelines and commonsense, the games management can be successful and the purpose for hosting the World Kendo Championship can be achieved.

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