There are approximately 20,000 kendo practitioners in Europe, and the Kendo Federation has 42 member countries. Kendo is gaining popularity year by year, attracting Europeans. In this article, we interviewed young European kendo practitioners we met during our kendo experience in the Netherlands, and have compiled the results to find out why they chose kendo.

table of contents

1. To train the mind and body and develop oneself

2. I do kendo simply because it's fun

3. For the sake of sword-fighting, knowledge, and love

4. To become a representative player for each country and compete in the World Championships

5. To become a leader and spread the word about Kendo

6. To live a better life

The Netherlands is a country of immigrants. There are 180 different races in Amsterdam.

The Netherlands actively welcomes immigrants, and its capital, Amsterdam, is home to people of 180 different races.

Neighboring countries like Germany, France, and Belgium are only a three-hour drive away, so kendo practitioners from many different countries gather at kendo dojos to practice. In February, a large-scale tournament called the Iijima Cup was held in Amsterdam, with kendo practitioners from 24 countries competing.

The number of kendo practitioners in Europe is approximately 20,000, and there are currently 43 EKF member countries. Of these, 35 are FIK member countries. Kendo is gaining popularity year by year, attracting Europeans. In this article, I interviewed young European kendo practitioners I met during my kendo life in the Netherlands and summarized their reasons for taking up kendo.

1. To train the mind and body and develop oneself

Many Europeans start kendo as adults, and for this reason, many start out with an interest in Zen or Japanese culture .

Natalie (31 years old) from Russia started kendo at the age of 20. Her main goal in kendo is self-improvement . By fighting her own weaknesses, she aims to become a better person.

She also values ​​having time to forget everything and immerse herself in kendo. When she practices kendo, she is able to feel strong emotions and a fighting spirit that she cannot experience in her daily life, and this also seems to be a big attraction for her.

Luis (34), a Portuguese man who started kendo at the age of 18, also practices kendo as a form of spiritual training. He continues to practice kendo to strengthen his mind and body through rigorous training, and to explore his own spiritual world. For Luis, kendo is very important in helping him to have self-confidence, remember to respect others, and remain humble.

2. I do kendo simply because it's fun

Some people do kendo for no particular reason, simply because it's fun.

Dutchman Roelof started kendo at the age of 21 and is now 30. "Work makes my mind and body tired, but doing kendo clears my head and helps me relieve stress." He says that even though his body is tired, it feels completely different when he does kendo than when he doesn't.

Gideon Hamburger, a Dutch Jew, is also immersed in kendo and enjoys it wholeheartedly. He says that the appeal of kendo is not only the fun of the matches, but also the interaction with the friends he practices with at the dojo.

3. For the sake of sword-fighting, knowledge, and love

Mariëlla, a 27-year-old Dutch woman, started kendo with the desire to seriously study martial arts. She is now one of the Dutch national team athletes.

He quickly became close with his fellow dojo members like family after starting kendo, and is proud to be a part of it. He says that sharing the good times and the bad has made his life richer.

Furthermore, her strong desire to " understand kendo more deeply " is what drives her to immerse herself in the sport. She is constantly exploring what kind of impact kendo has on her mentally and physically, and what a higher level of kendo is.

Olga (24 years old) from Ukraine started kendo at the age of 14. She had been thinking, "I want to play a sport, preferably something related to the sword," when she happened to come across kendo. She now lives in the Netherlands and is involved with a project called KENDOFAM, which takes photographs of kendo practitioners, together with her husband, Alex.

Olga's goal in practicing kendo is to share the sword and learn love . Kendo has given her confidence and physical and mental strength, and it has given her the opportunity to make many wonderful friends. "Kendo is not a sport, it is a martial art . Its value is beyond words," says Olga.

4. To represent my country and compete in the World Championships

Some young people are passionate about practicing kendo, with the desire to become a national team player and compete in the World Championships. Fabio Bussi, an 18-year-old Italian, practices kendo with the goal of being selected as a member of the Italian national team and competing in the 2018 World Championships .

5. To become a leader and spread the word about Kendo

Jonathan de Croon, a Dutchman who started kendo at the age of 20, is now 26. He started kendo after being invited by a friend.

Jonathon has two goals for practicing kendo. One is to be selected as a member of the Dutch national team . The other is to become a coach, spread the word about kendo, and train many kendo practitioners in the Netherlands .

In the Netherlands, he belongs to a dojo called Wakokan , where he teaches not only adults but also children. From April 2018, he will study abroad at the International Budo University, aiming to further improve his kendo skills.

Foreground: Ivo van Roij, founder of Wa-Kinkan

Wife: Yonaton

The founder of Wakokorokan, Ivo van Roij (26 years old), also studied abroad at International Budo University. Ivo practices kendo to train his body, learn about Japanese culture, and for personal growth. Training at Wakokorokan follows the same training methods as those used at International Budo University.

The dojo's name, Wakokokan, reflects the hope of the teachers at International Budo University that it be a place where people can improve themselves every day in the spirit of "wa" (harmony) that values ​​connections with others.

6. To live a better life

In the spring of 2018, seven foreign students studied kendo at International Budo University. Pepijn Boomgaard, who began kendo at age 15, is now 24 years old and is planning to compete in the world championships as a member of the Dutch national team. His goal in kendo is to train his mind and body, and to improve his life .

Pim Willems from Aruba, a Dutch national, who is also studying abroad at International Budo University, says that kendo has given him motivation for his work and studies, and has had a positive impact on his daily life.

He decided to study martial arts abroad after being recommended by a respected dojo teacher in his home country.

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It is difficult to come into contact with overseas kendo when you are in Japan. However, traditional Japanese culture is loved in places we are unaware of , and there is a desire to explore and spread it .

I hope that this article will help you understand the true faces of overseas swordsmen, their enjoyment of kendo, and their love for Japan.

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Mariko Sato

Hello, my name is Mariko Sato and I work as a website builder and writer in the Netherlands. After working in digital marketing at a website production company, an advertising agency and Rakuten, I went freelance (sole proprietor) in 2015.

Having travelled around the world as a student, he has a strong desire to go abroad, and in 2017 he moved to the Netherlands, started a business and obtained a freelance visa. In the Netherlands, he sells kendo equipment and works as a translation company under the name of the international version of BUSHIZO.