Kendo challenges you to achieve a oneness of Ki-Ken-Tai or "mind/spirit-sword-body". Hence one develops a fit, fast body with stylish skill and a spirited, assertive presence. It is practiced with a two-handed flexing bamboo sword and armour constructed from thick layered cotton, leather, plastic/bamboo and metal. Hits are only allowed to defined targets zones on the armour, so although Kendo is 'full contact', it is quite safe. Within this restricted set of rules, much more emphasis can be placed on the spirit or mind aspect of Kendo. When facing off an opponent, any fears, doubts, hesitation or confusion can lead to defeat and thus must be overcome in your own mind before you can successfully attack your opponent. At the highest levels of Kendo, most of the effort is spent in trying to defeat your opponent's spirit to enable a cut to be made.

Following from the elements above, in tournaments only a decisive and dominant strike, not just a fluked contact on the opponent, will convince the three referees. Contests are awarded for the first to two such points, or the leader after five minutes (else sudden death extra-time, if the scores are equal). There is also achievement through the dual path of gradings; progressing through the Kyu beginners' grades (represented by coloured belts in many martial arts) to shodan (first of the Dan [grades] or "black belts"), and on as far as the challenge to be your best takes you.

Kendo is a very popular traditional sport in Japan and Korea, where children may begin learning at age six! Unlike many other martial arts, there's the potential to remain active even beyond sixty - using the control and anticipation accrued through experience to overcome any disadvantage in speed. Also because kendo requires strategic timing and fighting spirit not brute strength, women and men compete on equal terms. Not surprisingly, it's now spread all over the world, and there are hundreds of kendõ-ka in Australia.

It is fifteen years since the Adelaide Uni. Kendo Club was established by two students returning from a years exchange in Japan, with support by the Adelaide City Council through the loan of armour (presented to them by our Japanese Sister-City, Himeji). In that time an enthusiastic group of beginners and exchange students have kept the Club going, and also spawned another at Flinders (1997) and now at UniSA (2004). There have been many superb accomplishments as Clubs and also individually, especially in Kendo Intervarsities/the Australian UniGames (AUG) - as we've hosted in 1994 and in 2002. Of course, there is a good co-operative rivalry esp. between the Adelaide and Flinders Uni. Clubs, both of whom have won the AUG Team Championship.

Membership of the Australian Kendo Renmei (and so of the International Kendo Federation) provides us not only with the opportunity to grade but potentially to represent South Australia. (Three of our outstanding alumni have actually earned places in the Australian Squad at the 1997, 2000 and/or 2003 World Kendo Championships, and are working hard towards 2006 in Taipei!) Plus thanks to our affiliations we have loan of a number of sets of armour, so you too can experience the challenges of this sport/martial art for absolutely minimal outlay. Seize the opening!! "It is your destiny.." ;).