Tsurugi Bashi Kendo Kai

Gasshuku 2007

Samurai swordmanship in the Lakes

Platinum Sponsor: Awards for All
Gold Sponsors: Toshiba, University of Cambridge Societies Syndicate

A University of Cambridge martial arts group is to hold a summer training camp in the Lake District for the first time thanks to a National Lottery grant and sponsorship.

Kendo, literally "the way of the sword", is the martial art of Japanese swordsmanship.

The University of Cambridge has a society, run by and for students, devoted to the practice of this art and to the understanding of its cultural roots.

The annual summer training camp, known as a gasshuku, will give the participants (kendoka) a rigorous schedule of 5 hours of training a day, split into two sessions. They will eat, sleep and live together in a youth hostel to foster team spirit.

Three high-ranking sensei (masters) will be flying in from Japan for the week, Morikawa-sensei kyoshi 7-dan, Naganuma-sensei kyoshi 7-dan and Shirakata-sensei renshi 6-dan.

Kendo is not yet widely known in this country, with only several thousand registered practitioners, but it is very widespread in its native Japan, where all schoolchildren practice either kendo or judo in their physical education classes.

It is practised with a bamboo sword and a lightweight armour that allow safe full-contact sparring. It is the modern martial art with the strongest links to the noble and uncompromising spirit of the samurai.

"The concept of kendo", say the Japanese, "is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana."

"Kendo is at the same time very simple and very difficult", explains dojo leader Frank Stajano, who started kendo in Japan under Naganuma-sensei and is both a senior lecturer in the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory and a licensed kendo regional coach. "There are only four cuts but it takes years just to do the first one well.

"Kendo requires perseverance, extreme dedication and great humility. Every year, in October, I get about 40 beginners, (almost 100 the year that "The Last Samurai" came out); by January, half of them have given up; by the summer, we are lucky if a dozen of those beginners are still coming. Those who attend our summer camp are the ones who really take kendo seriously."

Daisy Chen, a Cambridge undergraduate and one of the organizers of this year's gasshuku, speaks enthusiastically about her experience last year: "As the beginner I was at that time, I just found it an exhilarating experience: the blisters we all got, the shoulder pains we all suffered, the encouraging words we exchanged at the breaks and the laughs we shared at the pub after training... all of these forged strong bonds among the Cambridge kendoka.

"When I look back at my short kendo history so far, no doubt this kendo friendship is one of the reasons why I am enjoying kendo so much. My first gasshuku provided a rare opportunity to learn from senior Japanese sensei that kendo is more than a physical combat: it is a game of body and mind, played with sophisticated techniques and a vigorous spirit. I caught a glimpse of real kendo through them and this has ignited my passion within.

Daisy recently passed the exam of first kyu, the last step before moving on to the "dan" scale that corresponds to black belt in martial arts that use belts.

Frank has been in charge of the Cambridge dojo since 2002. He is very proud of his kendo students: "You really see them grow as people, gaining confidence and good manners and taking on responsibilities to help the progress of their juniors. The way of the sword brings out their chivalry and the mst noble traits of their character. And several of them even take a healthy interest in Japanese culture.

"My master Naganuma-sensei was very happy to witness the sincere dedication of my Cambridge kendoka in previous years. I am glad he can visit us again this year, cross swords with them and witness their progress."

The Kendo Society of the University of Cambridge is a non-profit self-funded student body with a limited budget; as such, it is extremely grateful to the generous sponsors who have made it possible to hold the 2007 training camp in the Lake District, as opposed to the three previous ones that were all held in Cambridge.

Funding is in the form of a 10,000GBP grant from the National Lottery through Awards for All, and a 1,000GBP sponsorship package from Toshiba, long-time supporter of the activities of the Society.

"Holding the gasshuku in the Lakes instead of in Cambridge will make a big difference not only because of the inspiring scenic beauty of the surroundings but especially because all the participants will live, eat and sleep together for the whole week instead of going back home after each practice. For the first time they will fully experience the true live-in spirit of the gasshuku."

The group of 22 kendoka will stay in a youth hostel in Grasmere and will practise mornings and afternoons at The Lakes School, Troutbeck Bridge, Windermere. Spectators are welcome from 3 to 4 pm every day from Sunday 29 July to Thursday 2 August.

Those finding this activity inspiring and wishing to take up kendo for themselves may visit the web site of the British Kendo Association via the link above right to find a convenient dojo they might join.

Those in Cambridge, whether students or not, should visit the University of Cambridge Kendo Society's web site linked above right and should aim to join in October, at the start of the academic year.

For further information, please contact the University of Cambridge Office of Communications on 01223 332300.

University of Cambridge, News & Events - 24 July 2007