Being a member of IGA Ken has got to be my best experience in kendo. Here, I get to learn both swordsmanship and discipline, while pushing my self as hard as I could. It’s also here that I met my first kendo family (the second being Malaysia Kendo Club batchmates), who has taught me that while kendo is a great sport for personal and team development, second dojo beats any way of closing a day.
- Red Canoza
He’s always game to keiko, though, whenever he has the chance. Case in point: while overseas, he even trained in Malaysia Kendo Club. Talk about his Kendo journey being literally a journey!
Red started Kendo because of his love of Japanese culture and sword-related pop culture. His musha shugyo (warrior’s journey) made him even more serious about Kendo and the club. Despite not having enough preparation, he was valiant enough to compete for the club during the Kendo Nationals in 2019. He also managed to earn his shodan rank in Hong Kong, even through his usual scheduling issues.
More than willing to lend a helping hand (even if only remotely) in various club activities, this semiconductor reliability engineer and family man currently misses the dojo. He hopes to come back once circumstances allow it, so that he can make even more memories with us, which will, hopefully, include his son. In the meantime, let’s check some of his best memories with the club!
Participating in gasshukus made me look forward to training and fighting in a way that is not possible in a regular dojo practice. Two days straight of doing kendo makes you filter out your “regular” world and help you immerse yourself in the sport.
Getting yourself photographed for a magazine and a (Japanese) newspaper is not something everyone can say they experienced.
Earning a dan in a martial art has always been a dream of mine since I was a kid. Earning one in kendo feels like I done something that merits recognition.
No one forgets their first foray in international competition. And while the 2016 HK Taikai did not go as well as I wanted, it was a great experience that went better than what I expected.