OUR HISTORY

Davao Yushinkai brings heavy emphasis on the saying “Learn love by crossing swords,” which advocates the importance of bonds we made as we study the way of the sword. The very foundation of the group is this bond that we share with our fellow dojomates as we strive to be better both in life and in Kendo.

Davao Yushinkai promotes the art of Kendo by teaching its members different aspects of Samurai swordsmanship. We aim not only to teach Kendo as a discipline but also to inspire a deeper connection to the rich history and culture of the Samurai. While these schools, or Ryuha, all teach a drastically different system of swordsmanship from Kendo, they are unironically intertwined with Samurai culture of self-cultivation. Studying these different Ryuhas has a unique effect on one's Kendo, allowing them to understand that beneath all the grades and medals lies a genuinely profound way of living, the essence of what it means to be a Kenshi in the modern day. As the late Inuoe-sensei (9th Dan, Hanshi) had put it, “By learning the techniques of death, you’ll come to know the value of life.”