Aran joined Metroken in 2019 during our beginners recruitment and has moved to our intermediate class in 2020. He continues to practice his Kendo at the comforts of his home. Read more about Aran's Kendo journey. Aran during the Yamanishi Cup in 2019 I first started Kendo back in June 2019. I initially started because I was trying to explore ways to stay fit and active that was more engaging than just running or lifting weights. My experience with Metroken has evolved more th

Yumi Sasaki was part of our January batch in 2018. A young and talented kendoka who is consistent with practicing in our club's classes. Yumi attended our kids class and is now moving forward with her intermediate classes. Read more about Yumi below. Yumi during a Saturday kids class at Gatorade Hoops Center in 2018 I was invited by my uncle to attend the trial training to see if it is something that I'm interested in. At first I thought it wouldn't last but I ended up conti

Lambert Antonio joined Metroken in 2010 and an active supporter and participant in our activities. As our club's artist and head 'craftsman', Lambert contributed to many events and promotions of our club. Read more about him, his Kendo and his crafts. Lambert during our regular practice in Gatorade in 2014 Honestly, my reason for taking Kendo was a bit childish. I saw it on television and I thought that it would be cool to wear one of those, armor (bogu). I had no idea what

Chichay Sison is part of our 2020 beginner's batch. She continues to attend our E-suburi + HIIT program as often as she can as she juggles it with her work. Read more about her journey with us so far! Chichay participating in our E-suburi + Hiit in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. My journey with Kendo is quite a roller coaster so far. Aside from juggling it with work, personal life and the pandemic, I also have to prove to everyone that I belong here and that it is wo

Tet Grajo joined Metro Kendo Club in 2013 and have been actively participating and helping the club ever since. She now resides in Singapore but continuously provides support to her fellow Metroken members from afar. Read her journey so far! Tet is practicing Kata during Aoki sensei and Aritoshi sensei's visit in Metro Kendo Club. I started playing #kendo in 2013, and at that time, I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. Looking back, I'm glad I did it just t

Elvira Inoue "Tita Elvie" joined Metroken in 2009 and participates in all Metro Kendo Club activities. She is an avid supporter in events including our online activities. She is definitely one of our members that portrays that age and height does not matter. Read more about her below. Elvie during her match in the 2nd Philippine National Kendo Tournament in 2017 I was in my mid 40's when I started Kendo in 2009. At first it was just for physical activity, but realized it was

Kathleen Tan Jadie is a mother of three kendokas practicing in Metroken with her husband. She practices together with the family in and out of the dojo and they are a regular in our E-suburi + HIIT program. Read how she started and her journey with us! (Kathleen (Left) during her Kyu evaluation) It started when our son Yuri introduced and convinced us to Metro Kendo Club, which is based at the Gatorade Hoops Center, last January 2019. Then the senpais and senseis, asked for

Emerson Ingco joined Metro Kendo Club in 2008 and was a passionate supporter of Metroken's activities and ensured to catch up with the members despite his hectic work. Read more about his Kendo journey with us. Emerson Ingco during Metroken's visit in UST in 2016. A kendoka is often portrayed as someone who vigorously participates in physically demanding competitions, examinations and fellowships, but Emerson, whom we dearly refer to as "Ingco" in the club, is a proof that yo

Philip Payuyo began his Kendo journey in Metro Kendo Club in August 2015. He trains and participates regularly in Metroken events and activities. Read more about his Kendo journey. Philip during Kata seminar in 2016 I've started training in August of 2015. Fairly a beginner with Kendo and taking these small steps has encouraged me to go further; in learning both the science and the art. From prepping the training gear to the dojo etiquette, everything has a certain way that t

Robbi Sanchez joined Metro Kendo Club in January 2012 and has been an avid supporter of the club over the years. Read more of what he loves about Kendo. Robbi assisting during Yamanishi 2016' s match. Why kendo? I remember Osuga sensei asking us this on our very first day of training. My answer was: Bushido. Maybe it was all that exposure of knights and samurais from when I was a kid that inspired this and from what little I read and understood of Bushido, It was always almos

Wally Chamsay joined Metro Kendo Club in 2001 and practices regularly in both our locations. He teaches the Beginners and Intermediate class from time to time, in rotation with the other seniors and participates in various activities our club is involved in. Read more. Wally during Yamanishi Cup 2016. Those of you who grew up with me know that I've always done martial arts. I started Kendo in my mid 40's when my old Aikido dojo was getting torn down to make way for a new con

Darrelle Matienzo joined Metroken in 2019. He actively participates and supports our events. He is also dedicated kendoka despite the sudden hit of the pandemic. Read how he started and his journey with us so far! (Darrelle with his first and new set of kendo-gi and hakama) I'll never get tired of telling people that my first Kendo uniform is made by Mama (photo on left). We couldn't afford something brand new, but somehow managed to start from scratch. The fabric for the up

Mark San Felipe is part of our 2020 January beginner's batch. He is a dedicated kendoka despite the sudden hit of the pandemic. He practices with his batchmates from time to time to keep the kendo spirit going. Read how he started and his journey with us so far! I started Kendo around January of 2020 along with my friends. The reason why I joined Kendo is that I have always been fascinated with weapons of martial arts (especially with The Art of the Sword ). It has been my pa

Claren Alquitran is part of our 2020 January beginner's batch. She is a dedicated kendoka despite the sudden hit of the pandemic. She participates in our E-suburi + HIIT program to continue her practice at the comforts of her home. Read how she started and her journey with us! (Ren doing suburi in our E-suburi 2020 session) There was once an advertisement that repeatedly passed on my feed way back about this trial class for a martial art that got mentioned in one of my favori

Kyrios Renn Zipagan is part of our 2020 January beginner's batch. He is a dedicated kendoka despite the sudden hit of the pandemic. He continues to practice at home. Read how he started and his journey with us so far! (Kyrios practicing during the pandemic) I started doing Kendo last January 2020 but my liking to Kendo started around the summer of 2019. Why? It was because during that summer my liking to swords, smiting, and sword fighting peaked. It was either episodes of

Satoshi Fuji sensei joined Metroken in 2018 and have been practicing with us regularly. He provides meticulous feedbacks that helps our members improve on their progress. Read how he started and his journey with us so far! (Fuji sensei during the 5 Men team event in the 4th Philippine National Kendo Tournament) When I was eight, my friend in the neighborhood was practicing Kendo. He looked cool when going to the Dojo and that was 40 years ago. 'Bunbu Ryodo’ has been my favo

I know that there are a good amount of people who find devoting themselves to Kendo challenging. Even I experience that difficulty once in a while. I could quit and never come back like in Karate, but I don’t! How do I deal with it? Let me share my four quadrants framework. This is how I succeed in having what I would call “full devotion”. In Metro Kendo Club, there are multiple intermediate-level classes you can attend, with Saturday as the main class. I make all efforts to

In the Philippines, there’s this “inside joke” about how Pinoy moms would blame everything on using a computer: “ kaka-kompyuter mo ‘yan !”, which indirectly translates to “it’s because you’re using the computer too much!” – that’s why you’re feeling bad right now, be it a fever, headache, toothache, or whatever. As an introverted girl with a 8-hour job as a web designer and developer with a hobby of playing video games, I wasn’t excused from a mother’s common phrase of anger

“ Bakit ka nagkendo? Sa dinamidami ng martial arts, bakit yan pa ?” (“Why kendo? Of all the martial arts, why that one?”) I’d say instinct or impulse. I wanted to find a physical activity that will balance my work- home pattern. I had a list, but in the end, I chose kendo. Metro Kendo Club Philippines batch January 2018 beginner, Patricia Talavera I think one of the reasons is that I am your typical anime fan (disclaimer: not a cosplayer just a simple anime/ manga fan). But b

Pierce Sotelo started in Metro Kendo Club in mid 2018. Read about his journey here. Pierce Sotelo (3rd from the right) in the Metro Kendo Club beginners’ class. Kendo. A couple of months back, I still remember what it felt like to step inside Gatorade Hoops Center not to play ball, but to join the Metro Kendo Club. In all honesty, I was a bit stunned seeing practitioners bowing their heads every time they stepped in and out of the “dojo” and more of the not-so-usual routine