Everyone na nagtuturo sa akin…gusto kong ipakita sa kanila na eto ako, dahil sa inyo.”īusto says she has learned important life lessons from her training. “Feeling ko, belong ako sa isang family,” Angeles says. Their reasons for staying and sticking with Kendo are a bit more profound.
Why would women take up Kendo? For the younger members of the team, the reason was either to get into a different kind of sport or because of the influence of Japanese pop culture, especially anime and manga. It is from this pool of talent that the four women representatives for the Hong Kong Open were drawn. A local example is the IGA-Kendo Club in Quezon City, where over one-third of the 50+ regular students are women.
It may seem strange that women would want to participate in this physically demanding activity that is traditionally dominated by men, but women’s kendo has been slowly but steadily increasing in appeal. Between these two extremes, there are regional competitions that pit teams from neighboring countries against each other, such as the Hong Kong Open. To showcase the art’s international appeal, the World Kendo Championships is held every three years, rotating among the various member countries of the International Kendo Federation.
Tournaments of all levels (primary, high school, collegiate, amateur, semi-professional, and police/military) are held frequently in Japan. Kendo has a heavy emphasis on competition. This sport has many ties with traditional Japanese culture, specifically that of the samurai warriors of feudal Japan. Kendo is a Japanese martial art, essentially, the Japanese version of fencing, where two opponents engage in combat using bamboo swords and armor. Lex Busto – Current president of the UP kendo club.ĭardsie Abriol-Santos – Mining geologist, and former president of the UP Kendo Club. Loida Estanilla-Inting – IT consultant, with over eight years of kendo experience and taisho (team captain).Įjay Angeles – Full-time practicing nurse The women of the Philippine team: (L to R) Ejay Angeles, Lex Busto, Loida Estanilla-Inting and Dardsie Abriol-Santos. There will be four representatives, three main competitors and one alternate. Team members face-off against their counterparts from the opposing team, and the winning team is the one with the most number of individual victories.The Philippines has been sending representatives to both men’s events for a number of years now, but this year will mark the first entry of a women’s team. There are three events, a junior men’s event, a women’s open event, and a men’s open event, all of which use the team format, with three representatives for the junior men’s and women’s open and five persons for the men’s open. The Open is an annual event that invites kendo clubs and national delegations from all over the Asia-Pacific region. Though the country has previously sent representatives to this event, this will be the first time that the Philippines will send a women’s delegation.This year the Hong Kong Asian Open will be held at the Tin Shui Wai Sports Center in Hong Kong. The Philippines will be sending a women’s kendo team to compete in the 13th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships, this March 8-10, 2013. “You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.” – Wayne Gretzky Then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.” – Michael Jordan “My attitude is that if you push me towards “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”― Babe Ruth Each one of you is already a winner for taking part in the 13 th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships!!!! Congratulations and don’t forget to have lots of fun! Your Club back in the Philippines will be cheering you on! Go Team! Taisho – Rikki Daniel Reyes Women’s Open Event:Īlternate – Dardsie Abriol-Santos Competition Team line-up, MARCH 10, SUNDAY Men’s Open Event:ĮVENT Organizer: Hong Kong Kendo Associationįor more details: ~~~~~~~~ We are so proud of all of you, not just for competing, but also for showing your Club what it means to strive to be better, to be the best you can be. Nakagane Ryosuke Competition Team line-up, MARCH 9, SATURDAY 3-Dan and Under Men’s Event: Neil Andrew Bascos Sandan (3-dan) Candidates: ~~~~~~~~~~ Dan exams, MARCH 8, FRIDAY Shodan (1-dan) Candidates: WHERE: Tin Shui Wai Sports Centre, New Territoriesĩth March, Women’s group match (3persons) and Men’s group match (3persons, under 3Dan) WHAT: 13th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships GOOD LUCK, IGA KEN delegation to the 13th Hong Kong Asian Open Kendo Championships! We are so proud of you!