I started Kendo training with my whole family and some of my friends when I was 7 years old. It was fun and challenging sessions.

Just this June, Rikki, 2-dan, marked 11 years since he began training his childhood dream sport – Kendo. When he was a kid, his interest in the sport was cultivated by frequently watching TV shows that showcased Japanese culture. As he grew up, he continued to become an enthusiast of both swords and the Japanese pop culture.

How do you demonstrate Kendo to those who don't have a clue about the Way of The Sword? The easiest and quickest way is to have a partner to show the basic moves to potential beginners. When starting as a kendo study group, Maia was her dad's partner in showing the fundamentals quickly like strikes and footwork. At 9 years old she taught all about it as "playing with swords".