THE United Kendo Federation of the Philippines (UKFP) will hold its first official promotional examinations (shinsa) since becoming a member of the International Kendo Federation (FIK) in 2020.
The examinations are set this Sunday from 6 p.m. at the Upper Deck Sports Center in Pasig City. They are open to all kendoka (kendo practitioners) based in the Philippines.
The event will gather 105 participants from all over the country, 77 of whom are aiming to earn kyu (colored belts in other martial arts) ranks and 28 will be aiming for dan (black belt degrees in other martial arts) ranks.
Kendo is a Japanese martial art that teaches sword fighting and can be considered Japan’s equivalent to western-style fencing.
Kendoka spar with one another with bamboo swords (shinai) and wear protective clothing and armor (dogi and bogu) for safety.
By holding the examinations in the Philippines, the UKFP aims to alleviate the obstacles that prevented many of its members from taking the promotional event.
Represented in the event are clubs from Cebu, Davao, Davao Kenyukai, Dumaguete, GA (Makati City and Quezon City), Manila, Mission Hills and RSR. Eighteen sensei (teachers)—including Japanese and Singaporeans—make up the panel of judges.
Matsuda Shigehiro, director of the Japan Information and Culture Center of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, will observe the event and give a keynote speech.
This is the first national event that the UKFP is staging since the pandemic in March 2020. The group also aims to resume its national tournament and second edition of the shinsa next year.