Yentl Krugel (Mushin Dojo) and Panno Paris (Ken Yu Kai) clash at SA Kendo Open Trials in Emmarentia, Johannesburg.

National kendo team chosen to take on Europe

Twenty eight kendoka from across the country battled through stiff competition with but a single goal in mind - to cement their place on the South African national kendo team.

Kendo is the Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on the traditions and styles of the Samurai of old. Steeped in tradition, modern Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging sport practised by millions across the world. The South African Kendo Federation's (SAKF) open trials, held on 23 January at the Japanese School, Emmarentia, Johannesburg, offered both kendoka and spectators a chance to witness strong kendo in action. The focus of the day was to choose the national team that will represent the country at the 23^rd European Kendo Federation (EKF) Championships in Debrecen, Hungary from April 9 - 11.

Though the casual spectator might be alarmed at the ferociousness of the players, whose war cries echoed through the hall, to actually score a point in kendo is quite a difficult feat. There are only a handful of legal strike points, namely the men (head), kote (wrist), do (side) and tsuki (throat). And simply striking your opponent will not do. To score in kendo, one must attack the target area with ki-ken-tai-itchi, combining sword, body and spirit and true zanshin (awareness). The first competitor to score two points in the allotted time-frame wins.

It was this strict criteria that saw some kendoka fail to acquire the much desired referee's flag, while others moved through the early pool rounds, ready for the challenge of the knock-out round. Taking to the shaia-jo (court) were members from Rainbow Warriors Dojo (Witbank), Maties Kendo Club in Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch), San Kawa Kendo Dojo (Johannesburg), Ken Yu Kai Dojo (Johannesburg) and Mushin Dojo (Pretoria).

Carlé Joubert (2^nd dan) of Maties Kendo Club was the only female kendoka to make it through to the semi-finals, having beating Merrick Kyle (1^st kyu) in the quarter-finals. However, a strong attack from Lawrence Marshall (1^st dan), levelling two straight, powerful men (head) cuts saw the young kendoka bow out as her opponent went on to fight in the finals.

Marshall, who was a member of last year's team that fought in the World Kendo Championships in Brazil, who had proven himself a strong competitor, having beaten fellow national team member Craig Stuart (2^nd dan) in the quarter-finals. He was raring for a fight by the time his final opponent, Mitchell Kyle (3^rd dan) stepped into the shaia-jo.

Kyle had a hard road to get to the finals, having to beat Patrice Courtielle (3^rd dan) and former national team member Warren Ho (3^rd dan). A previous national team member himself, Kyle beat Courtielle and Ho with two well placed men cuts each, though Ho did level the playing field at one stage with a well-timed kote (wrist) cut.

Kyle was then forced to fight his way past Cedric Jacques (4^th dan), in one of the longest matches of the day. Several fierce strikes did not match the strict criteria needed for a point to be scored. Just when the match seemed it would go on for infinity, Kyle was able to land a kote (wrist) strike to send him through to the finals.

The hall was buzzing with excitement by the time the finals got underway. In the first minute of the match, Marshall drew first blood with a fierce men (head) cut. But the experienced Kyle simply dug in and fought harder, seemingly invigorated by the strike and returning to score his own quick men (head) point, levelling the playing field once more. The crowd was on the edge of its seat as Kyle forced the taller Marshall out of the shaia-jo, giving Marshal his first penalty point. A final men (head) cut by Kyle, shortly before the end of the match, saw the 3^rd dan walk away with victory.

Buster Sefor (6^th Dan), President of the SAKF was impressed with the level of competition, saying, "This was the best attended trial with the highest standard of competition in the history of the SAKF."

The members of the national team chosen to represent South Africa at the EKF championships are:

Men's Team

-   Delegation leader Tony Hughes (5^th dan)

-   Cedric Jacques (4^th dan) of Ken Yu Kai dojo in Bryanston, Johannesburg

-   Mitchell Kyle (3^rd dan) of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank, Johannesburg

-   Warren Ho (3^rd dan) of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank, Johannesburg

-   Lawrence Marshal (1^st dan) of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank, Johannesburg

-   Brendan Dateling (1^st dan) of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank, Johannesburg

Ladies Team

-          Carlé Joubert (2^nd dan) of Maties Kendo Club in Stellenbosch

-          Joret Olivier (1^st dan) of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Johannesburg

For the first time in the SAKF's history, female kendoka will be taking part in competitions. The men will compete in the individual and team championships whilst the ladies will compete in the individual championships.