The level of candidates was estimated by the certification commission in the structure of two senseis: Godai Hiroki ( KKF President) and Murai Shinichi (the Second Secretary of Embassy of Japan in  Ukraine, the chairman of technical committee on KKF, iaido and jodo in Ukraine).

30 counterparts form different regions of Ukraine (Kiev, Mukachevo, Lutsk, Lvov, Simferopol) took exam.

The general result: 18 kendokas ranked 6th kyu, 3 ranked 5th kyu, one kendoka managed to raise skills and ranked 4th kyu, 3 counterparts ranked 3rd kyu, and 1 kendoka ranked 2nd kyu.

After the exam Takashi Kuroki, who holds  the rank of 5th dan in Toho Iai (the President of  Nishio Budo YUFUKAN in Ukraine, the chairman of Technical committee on iaido and jodo in the Ukrainian Federation of kendo, iaido and jodo) carried out a seminar on studying iaido basics.

By this seminar Kuroki sensei initiated a series of seminars on iaido and jodo that will take place already in the near future.

Simultaneously, newcomers studied basics of kendo etiquette and the Japanese language in the other hall.

Upon completion took place a friendly tournament between the teams: 1) Kiev-East, 2) Kiev-West, 3) National team of the western region of the Kachinuki Sen scheme, in which all participants were able to test their strength and skills.

Such assistance is provided for many countries by AJKF in order to promote Kendo in the world. It is worth saying that Moldovans have already received the equipment for the second time, which speaks about high Japanese hopes in them.

Japan’s cultural attache in Ukraine Shinichi Murai was authorized to present the equipment. The ceremony was held in the Kishinev Institute of Physical Education building, which was attended by Moldovan Deputy Minister of Sports, Director of the Institute of Physical Education, and representatives of the Kiev Kendo Federation, including its president Godai Hiroki, and vice president Falyeyev Roman.

After the ceremony, Moldavian kendokas performed a short demonstration, and showed the basic techniques and free match – jigeiko. Then a demonstrative mini-team bout was held between Moldova and Ukraine and a half-hour jigeiko.

After the official part, the Japanese, Moldovan and Ukrainian went to the cafe, where at a light lunch they could discuss various issues related to kendo, Moldavian life and national cuisine.

The day before, Moldovans and Ukrainians hold a joint training. One should underline some differences between our training programs, for example Kishinev paid more attention to the basics, including suburi. And one day per week they practice kendo-kata.

KKF is thankful to the representatives of the Republic of Moldova for the warm welcome and assistance. During intercourse both Ukrainian and Moldovan side expressed willingness to cooperate in the future and conduct joint activities. We hope that this friendship will be fruitful and helpful for the development of kendo in Ukraine and Moldova.

The visit was started with ticker-tape reception by Mayor of Kirovograd Volodymyr Puzakov, who visited presentation too. For demonstration was furnished the equipped gymnasium where martial arts were practiced for many years. Makiwaras, punching bag, different training equipment and burnished floor, all of this bring pleasant ambience of old, power-saturated dojo.

During performance KKF members demonstrated Kendo basic elements. They have presented classic and recent-developed kata, basic broad and advanced quick techniques, jodan-no kamae techiques and demonstrated some shiai – fights referees. After the demonstration and short break there was training together with kendoists from Cherkasy who also arrived to Kirovograd.

Among visitors, who came to see demonstration were instructor of sport clubs and sportsmen, what indicates the increase of the interest to Japanese culture and particularly Kendo among people.

Sincere greetings for Kiev kendoists were said in speech of honored guests of the presentation – Director of the Kirovograd Region State Administration Department for Physical Culture and Sports Serhiy Kolodyazhny and Chairman of the Department of Ukrainian National Olympic Committee in Kirovograd Region, Honored veteran of  Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine Volodymyr Kovalyov.

Kiev Kendo Federation sincerely thanks initiators and sponsors of the event for welcome and their interest and we expect that this meeting will initiate further productive cooperation.

Mr. Palmer practices Nenriki Dojo, who has 35-year experience in training and who has reached 4th kendo dan, took part in the training with The Kiev Kendo Federation members. He pleasantly agreed to be a judge in shiai.
After the Shiai Mr. Palmer appreciated the KKF for hospitability, mentioning that he got a lot of positive emotions and experience.

The KKF is thankful to Mr. Palmer and wishes him every success.

Dear Mr. Palmer, we are very grateful for your visit. We sincerely wish you good luck in your future business and hope to train with you again.

His expressions are given in his blog.

The KKF members are grateful for the favorable reviews. We are so proud, that our training got appreciation.
The Kiev Kendo Federation is opened for collaboration and is ready to home guests, who is interested to engage oneself to it and to share one’s own experience.

Participants were divided into three groups: the level of KYU, the first-second dans, the third and above. Each set of training traditionally was begining from kata (1 hour), the next is trainings on the various kind of  wadza, dzigeyko, and finally kakarigeyko. Hiroshi Ozawa has noted repeatedly not only  correctly execution of various techniques, as part of preparation, but  and also the necessity for 100% dedication to each stroke and every movement, not independing  from, if you are striking blow or you accept it. Both opponent must show genuine courage and provide constant pressure to each other, expressed in the struggle for the “center”, and the psychological position before, during and after the impact, (It is Kiai). Another approach would be disrespectful to the opponent, friends, sensei, that already unacceptable in fact! Also sensei gave his attention to etiquette and rules of behaviour being in dodzyo a lot of time, and also as regards participants’ appearance, and their posture. In my opinion, it was a major problem, taking into consideration that, many quantity of times Hiroshi Ozawa was straightening stooped backs, was making fulfil position in Seidza correctly, smoothing the folds on hakama, was making to short men-himo, marking down a correct rei to opponent, judges, Sensei, and working off under sunko. All this had regarded not only to beginners, but also in relation to owners of dans.

The tournament on Toru Giga cup was as finishing day of the seminar, which provided according to European Kendo Federation’s order, and namely: bouts in the pools with taking part of three persons (3 minutes continuing), from which 2 persons shoud go out. In case of equality of victories ippons were taken in the calculation, but in case of ippons’ equality, it was spending an additional rounds untill one of the fighters will earn one ippon (Shobu Ippon). The next, tournaments on exclusion were for five minutes and encho, if the winner wasn’t  identified in certain time. According to results of tournament,  Hungarian kendoist Gasparini won. I would like to notice his aggressive style of battle, the constant pressure, focusing only on attack and protection, in generally only by a counterattack.

It may not say that I heard something new during the period of the seminar, we have heard it all from our sensei repeatedly and because we have everything to achieve a result, and we need only discipline, attention, dedication and victory in the tournament will be the law, but I hope that is not by end in itself.

Denis Fedchuk.