Category: Kendo
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#2 One Step Closer: Standing Tall.
On new years eve 2024, I committed to preparing for my 7 dan exam in 2025. My pre-preparation had started a year earlier but I was still a national team coach preparing for the 19th World Kendo Championships. I am a one-track person, meaning I can only really focus on one kendo goal at a…
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Guest Essay: ‘Doing Seme Work in Kendo and Daily Life in Preparation for the 6 Dan Exam’ by Kaori Dimovski (Australia).
Women’s voices and achievements are under-represented across kendo-related media and literary channels. Guest essays published on this website share personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections on kendo that are written by women. Guest Essay: Doing Seme Work in Kendo and Daily Life in Preparation for the 6 Dan Exam by Kaori Dimovski (Australia). Kaori Dimovski (née…
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Raising Your Voice: About the Open de France, and Beyond it. By Johanna Nowak (France).
Foreword by Kate Sylvester Brave. Is the word that comes to mind when I first read Johanna Nowak’s FaceBook posts questioning women’s exclusion from the high status 7 dan category of the Open de France (France Kendo Open). Bewildered. Is the word that discribes how I felt hearing that no category would be created despite…
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Is it Morally Right to Participate?: Kendo and the 2023 World Combat Games in Saudi Arabia.
The 3rd World Combat Games will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (KSA) October 21-30, 2023. The games were founded by Sport Accord (now known as GAISF – Global Association of International Sport Federations). Kendo has participated since the 1st games were held in 2010 in China and the 2nd, held in 2013 in Russia. The…
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Call for Kendo Essay Contributions.
Women’s voices and achievements are underrepresented across kendo-related media and literary channels. I am interested in publishing essays on this website that share personal experiences, perspectives, and reflections on kendo that are written by women. Topic suggestions for your kendo essay: -Philosophical aspect –Technical analysis -Kendo knowledge –Memorable experience -Personal achievement –Women kendoka you appreciate…
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Women and Refereeing at the WKC.
This article post discusses the exclusion of women referees at the World Kendo Championships. It also includes the article The History of Women’s Participation at the World Kendo Championships Part 2 which was first published in Fine Ladies Kendo Worldwide Magazine Vol. 02 /2021 prior to the 18th WKC that was cancelled due to the…
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Women’s Official Participation at the WKC from 1970.
Team Sweden’s Solveig Malmkvist’s fighting spirt drew local media attention and cheers from the stands at the 1970 World Kendo Championships (WKC) in Japan. Malmkvist was 28-years-old and 3rd kyu when she fought alongside men against the Japanese team who were all men graded between 5th to 8th dan. Malmkvist was not the only woman…
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Is Chi (Ki) Gendered in Kendo?
This post reflects on the deeper issues surrounding the recent dialogue on social media that problematised the exclusion of 7 dan women in the 7 dan (male) category and refusal to introduce a women’s 7 dan division at a prominent international kendo competition taking place in Western Europe next month. At this particular competition, the…
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eBook Release.
I am excited to announce that Women and Martial Art in Japan is now available in eBook and Hardback.
Kate Sylvester Perspectives 