Kendo Club at University of Michigan

Our Club

Mission and History (The Short Version)

The Kendo Club at the University of Michigan was established in the Fall of 2002. Our continuing purpose is to provide an opportunity for University of Michigan students and associated community to learn and practice Kendo.

Our club was originally started by University of Michigan students training at Eastern Michigan University's kendo club, the Eastern Kendo Club. Eastern has been training Kenshi in this area for over six years. Our shared history helps us maintain a continuing friendly partnership as we both seek to advance and promote the practice of Kendo. Many of our instructors and members train at both locations.

Our club is classified as a student organization through the Michigan Student Assembly, the student government of the University of Michigan. The Kendo Club at the University of Michigan is also part of the Midwest Kendo Federation (MWKF) which is the regional chapter under the All United States Kendo Federation, the national governing body of Kendo in this country. The MWKF is responsible for all Kendo clubs and Dojos in the Midwest area.

Club Motto

Our club motto reads "Shin Gi Ittai", which translates approximately to "The Spirit and Skill are One Body" or "The Heart and Technique are Together". This motto was one of several proposed by Masaki Hori in the fall of 2004, and was chosen by our club officers and coaches to best represent the ideals we strive for in our club. The motto was brushed by Cheng Xin Liu (b. 1943) for our club.

This motto is on our club tennugui, which is traditionally given to club members before their first competition as a sign of mutual support and encouragement.

Club Consitution

As required by the University of Michigan and the SOAR (Student Organization and Recognition) Initiative, a copy of our club consitution can be found here.

Club Practice Rules

In order to make our practices more efficient, have more time to cover material, build our stamina, and become better kendoka, we have implimented the following 9 rules for our practices:

1. Before practice begins, the first student with an M-card should get the floor mop from the equipment room on the second floor and begin mopping the floor. Mopping the floor is a shared responsibility, so people should trade off mopping parts of the floor so everyone has time to get ready.

No one should be doing suburi, warming up, or doing any kendo before the place that we practice is ready. This includes stacking all of the mats, moving the table to the waiting room area, and insuring we have the most space to practice.

2. Everyone who is in bogu must bring a minimum of 2 shinai everytime to practice. Write your name on the handle and be prepared to loan one shinai out to a beginner, as instructing beginners is all of our responsibility. This is also to ensure that there is little or no delay if a shinai is broken during practice.

3. If you are late and warm up has already begun, warm up and stretch completely on your own including suburi. You may not join a warm up already in progress. Be prepared to join us from seiretsu.

4. All warm up exercises are to start precisely at 8:30 AM and are to be finished by 8:55 AM, regardless of who is leading.

5. During seiretsu, if you find that you are unable to put your men on by the time the senior most instructor has his men on and is standing and ready, you may not practice with men on that week. Step out of the line and set your men down out of the way. Step back into the line with your kote on ready to go.

6. During any double line exercise including uchikomi, kakarigeiko, and gigeiko, only individuals with a rank of shodan and above can make verbal comments, corrections, or explanations after the final rei either as a result of finishing an exercise or because the anchor has called "yame". Otherwise show by example. Save questions for after practice.

7. The command "rotate" will no longer be used in practice. Once you finish your final rei either as a result of finishing an exercise or because the anchor has called "yame", rotate on your own. Look to the anchor to adjust your distance automatically.

8. If there is a gap or hole in the line because someone has exited the line, be aware of your surroundings and adjust automatically.

9. Shorten the time between exercises by running to form all lines, including seiretsu. In addition, geikeiko partner selection is determined by rotation and is not free choice.

Club Policy on Water Breaks and Dehydration

Having a safe practice is a goal of our club and is a sigificant concern. If you are feeling ill, dizzy, or lightheaded during practice, please stop and sit on the side of the room. Usually a senior student or an instructor will check to make sure that you are okay. Please tell someone if you are leaving the room to go to get water or to the bathroom as it is our responsibility to keep tabs on everyone. Another option is to keep a water bottle on the side and to drink from it while you are in the "out spot" during rotations.

However, understand that this safety policy is not a "blank check". As our practices get more advanced and rigorous, there will be times where you will be placed under stress and will feel uncomfortable. This is a significant part of kendo training, both to get you used to functioning under a highly stressful environment, and also to push your limits and develop your stamina.

It is everyone's responsibility as senior and junior students to understand the difference between "pushing your limits" and becoming ill.

of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club - University of Michigan Kendo Club