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

A beautiful men strike done with sutemi from optimal distance. It showcases a fully extended leg, sufficient anterior pelvic tilt and...

2018 is definitely a year for the books. There were many medals won, dear friends moving away, new friends made and many Metro Kendo Club members stepping up! Metro Kendo Club representatives in Hong Kong The 18th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships on March kicked off the momentum for the club with all members passing their Shodan and Sandan exams. It was also the first time in a long time that an all-Filipino team was able to reach the quarterfinals in the 3-member Men

Another year, another Yamanishi Cup and year end party! This year, it was held at the usual venue, Treston College on Dec 8,2018. Congratulations to all the winners! Watch the whole event here ! FIGHTING SPIRIT AWARDS : Mudansha: Victoria Liao Yudansha: Ralph Lee MUDANSHA : 3rd Place: Patricia Talavera 2nd Place: Vince Esguerra Champion: Hashimoto YUDANSHA : 3rd Place: Trey Dela Cruz 2nd Place: Matthew Arce Champion: Ronald Villaroya Yudansha Winners: (L to R; Ralph Lee, Tr

“ 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

Now in its 3rd Year, the Philippine National Kendo Tournament, aims once again to bring the Cebu , Davao , IGA , Iloilo , Dumaguete , UISCA , Tanglin and Manila Kendo clubs together for a weekend of learning, camaraderie, fun, and friendly competition. Held at Racquet Zone, Cebu City, October 27-28, 2018. This event was hosted by the Cebu Kendo Club and the United Kendo Federation of the Philippines , and sponsored by the Cebu City Government. Participants from all clubs in

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

United Kendo Federation of the Philippines organized an event open to all kendoka in Metro Manila for another round of Kachinuki shiai. Separated in Women's and Men's division, everyone battled it out for the winning team this year! Congratulations to all the winners! Watch the whole event here ! Men's Division winners Women's Division winners

“In all forms of strategy, it is necessary to maintain the combat stance in everyday life and to make your everyday stance your combat stance.” ~ Miyamoto Musashi Life really gets in the way of kendo . It’s that surprise overtime you have to clock in or not being able to sneak out an hour earlier to make it to practice because, well… #adulting. And when the planets do align for you and kendo to finally enjoy a sweaty embrace, the clouds arrive and dump a deluge on everything

I’ve been doing martial arts since I was a kid. I first started off with Taekwondo which I did until college. Unfortunately, I got a bad injury from a sparring that bruised and dislocated my knee. I was forced to quit. After college, being a very active person that I am, I tried doing other martial arts such as Aikido, Capoeira, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Judo but I didn’t really pushed through any given that they are also contact sports similar to Taekwondo. Apparentl

“Practice makes perfect”. Or you could more accurately describe it with “Practice makes permanent”. The importance of practice is universally acknowledged within most disciplines particularly with the martial. Kendo , as it falls into that category, is no different — if you suck at something your sensei will usually give you the default reply “More practice!”. But what then is “practice”? Whenever we talk about practice we usually refer to a kendo class. More specifically w

I am only 9 months old with Metro Kendo Club Philippines, and just starting Kendo at age 50: the question is why Kendo for me is a serious question? I don’t think anyone at my age bracket would mention Anime or Star Wars as reasons for joining. The simple answer is health, struggling with diabetes that as a young man I thought would be easy to beat when it comes: I find myself in need of being active physically in an organized and regular way, even if my job requires me to go

Metro Kendo Club invites you to the 2018 Kendo Summer Program starting April 3 at the Ateneo de Manila University! This summer, learn this traditional Japanese martial art which originated from samurai swordsmanship during Japan’s feudal warring era. Today, it is a sport with numerous tournaments held around the world! Popularized by anime and samurai movies, kendo, literally translated as “the way of the sword”, puts emphasis in training both the body and the mind. Deeply ro

The Parent Community Association (PCA) hosted International Night last Saturday, March 17th at the International School Manila (ICM), Philippines, which showcased the different cultures of countries around the world. The Japanese Association at ISM invited the Metro Kendo Club to demonstrate kendo as one of the Japanese traditional arts, along with Karate and Nichibu dance. Ralph Lee and Elvin Villarama, with the support of Tomo Akita sensei, represented the Metro Kendo Club

What a weekend that was! Last March 2-4, 2018, the Hong Kong Kendo Association (HKKA) held the 18th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships in Tin Shui Wai, HK. The Metro Kendo Club sent its members for the 1-Dan and 3-Dan examinations, as well as the men’s 3-members and 5-members team event and boy, did they make history for the Philippines! For months, the Metro Kendo Club had practiced for the Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships . Sunday practices had been reserved e

Metroken representatives Morishima Sensei, Ralph Lee, Shu Inoue and Elvie Inoue visits Iloilo Kendo Club.

Our year end tournament and Christmas Party was held on December 2, 2017. Congratulations to the winners! FIGHTING SPIRIT AWARDS: Mudansha: Melduen Castillon Yudansha: Shu Inoue YUDANSHA: 3rd Place: Emerson Sy & Valens Dalupang 2nd Place: Ralph Lee Champion: Ronald Villaroya MUDANSHA: 3rd Place: Andre Puertollano 2nd Place: Melduen Castillon Champion: Hashimoto

This year the 2nd Philippine National Kendo Tournament is hosted by Davao Kendo Club at the Rancho Palos Verdes Sports & County Club on Oct 28-29,2017. The results are: NAOKO MORISHIMA SPECIAL AWARDEES : Ralph Figueroa (Iloilo Kendo Club) Odessa Acedillo (Iloilo Kendo Club) MEN'S INDIVIDUALS DIVISION : Fighting Spirit Award : Ronald Villaroya (Metro Kendo Club) Lawrence Duka (Metro Kendo Club) Robert Dela Cruz (Metro Kendo Club) Steven Cañete (Cebu Kendo Club) 3rd Placers : M

The 2 Day Kendo Seminar by Aoki Hisayoshi (7th Dan) and Aritoshi Shima (7th Dan) was held on July 1-2, 2017 at Treston International College. The Seminar consists of Kata seminar and Shimpan seminar which were quite informative and helped a lot in broadening and giving us a deeper understanding of Kendo.

After last month's club visit, we visited Cebu Kendo Club on June 10, 2017.