OUR HISTORY

2015.

Before establishing Cebu Kendo Club (CKC), its founding members were regular practitioners of Hyoho Niten Ichiryū Kenjutsu, a classical form of Japanese swordsmanship that focuses on two-sword techniques. But since their instructor Colin Hyakutake-Watkin was also a 5th dan kendoka, there has always been an interest among the members to try kendo, but they never got started until a visit from a Davao Kendo Club member for kenjutsu practice in 2015 introduced their group to Philippine kendo. This tour encouraged them to conduct alternate practices between the two budo. Another visit, this time from Manila Kendo Club, would push the group to formally establish CKC in Cebu City by the end of that year.

In 2017, the late Isagani Batayola, club president and head sensei, who was also a faculty member of the University of San Carlos, introduced kendo as a physical education subject. CKC also hosted the 3rd Philippine National Kendo Tournament in 2018.


OUR LOGO

 Initially, at the club's conception in 2015, the symbol that represented the club was the personal emblem and Kamon (家紋) of founding member and dojo head, the late Isagani Batayola-sensei. 

As the club grew, a new mon was put forward as a symbol for the club itself. In 2018, the current "Nami" (wave) mon was adopted as the official symbol of the Cebu Kendo Club. The mon is two mirrored crashing waves flanking still water in the center. 

Water represents life, grace, adaptability stillness, and reflection. Yet, water in motion can also be swift, powerful, and unstoppable. With the city's close proximity to and love for the sea, the symbol was a natural choice for the club.

"Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong." - Lao Tzu

Logo/ Kamon Design and Conceptualization by:

- Kathryn Layno [Art Desinger/ Cebu Kendo Club Senior Member]