Protected: Club Interview – Kendo

I practiced Karate before coming to here and was always interested in martial arts. When I found out the school had a Kendo club, I tried it out and enjoyed it so much that I decided to continue.

The challenge. Kendo is a new sport for me, so every practice session is a learning opportunity. During matches, you have to quickly think about your opponent’s movements and react, which makes it very exciting.

Since I’m not from Japan, the language barrier is the biggest challenge. Kendo has many specialized terms, and some of them don’t translate well into English. It’s hard to remember them, but I’m learning little by little.

I manage my schedule carefully. At the start of each month, I make plans for both club activities and studying so I can keep a good balance. My school work focuses mainly on Japanese studies, so I make sure to set aside time for Kendo practice on weekends. I separate my Japanese studies and Kendo practice, tackling each in a planned way.

Yes, it has helped a lot. Everyone speaks Japanese in the club, so I have many chances to use it not only during practice but also afterward. I still make mistakes sometimes, but my teammates teach me the correct expressions, and I feel like I’m improving more and more.