Dublin Kendo Kobukai

Dublin Kendo Kobukai or ダブリン剣道鼓舞会 is one of the oldest and most successful Kendo club in Ireland and the oldest in Kendo club Dublin, established in 1999. Dublin Kendo Kobukai is a member of the Irish Kendo Federation, the governing body for all Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo activities in Ireland. There are over 15 registered Yudansha or instructors with black belts. Dublin Kendo Club has today over 20 years of experience in teaching both adults and children in Kendo.

Kendo
(剣道)

Two kendoka in tsuba zeriai
Focus	Weaponry
Hardness	Semi-contact
Country of origin	Japan
Olympic sport	No
Official website	http://www.dublinkendo.com/

Club Origin

Dublin Kendo Kobkukai was founded in the 1999 by Shunji Hasunuma 5-dan Kendoka who moved to Dublin from London and found that there was no Kendo club operating in the city. Hasunuma-Sensei first started the new Kendo club in Ballyfermot in south west Dublin. During the first two years the club grew steadily. Then in 2002, Hasunuma-Sensei had to return to Japan and it was decided by the members to relocate to club to Dublin City University, DCU. The reason for this was that the majority of the members at this time were students at DCU. In order to be recognized by the student board, the members gathered in August 2002 to formally create Dublin Kendo Kobukai. Visiting Instructors from France, UK and Belgium helped to develop and grow the club’s skills and knowledge during the next few years. In 2006, the club moved from DCU to Saint David's CBS in Artane. Then in 2007 due to sale of the gym hall and pitch to the Dublin GAA football team, Dublin Kendo Kobukai relocated to Marino Institute of Education on Griffin Avenue. Today Dublin Kendo Kobukai holds regular beginner's classes for both adults and children to promote Kendo in Dublin. They also regularly organise Kendo seminars and competitions such as the Dublin International Open and welcomes visitors from other Kendo clubs around the world.

Mission statement

The mission for Dublin Kendo Kobukai is to spread the Japanese martial art of Kendo to Dublin by following the concept of kendo as defined by the All Japan Kendo Federation: The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana.

Club Symbol

Dublin Kendo Kobukai Logotype

The symbol for Dublin Kendo Kobukai is the Celtic symbol of Awen, which means inspiration and can be translated into Japanese as Kobu which also means inspiration with the sense of encouragement. This was chosen to remind club members to find inspiration and encouragement to study and improve their kendo by always train harder.

Club Locations

Dublin Kendo Kobukai has two dojos located Marino Institute of Education (Dublin North) and St. Colmcilles Ballyboden (Dublin South).

Dublin International Open

The Dublin International Open is a two day Kendo event that includes a welcome Gikeiko, individual competition in several classes, a Dan grade class, a Kyu grade class and Ladies class and a 5-Man team event. This is the followed by a one day kendo seminar under the guidance of high grade Sensei's and gradings up to 3rd Dan.

Club League

Dublin kendo league is an internal individual tournament for all Dublin Kendo Kobukai's members. The league includes several different classes, kata, children, ladies, dan and kyu grade classes to give all members experience and a challenge.

The first edition of the Dublin Kendo league was held in 2008. There is a monthly championships on the last Sunday every month, culminate in the annual championships head at the last training in December of each year.

See also

• Sport in Ireland Irish Kendo
• All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF; ZNKR or Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei)
• Budo Senmon Gakko
• Gendai budō modern Japanese martial arts
• Iaidō Sword drawing
• Jōdō A martial art using a short wooden staff, or stick
• Kendo around the world
• Kenjutsu Classical Japanese sword art
• Kirikaeshi A special exercise in kendo training
• Koryū Old style (Japanese) martial arts
• Kyūdō Japanese archery
• Naginata A martial art using a halberd like weapon
• Naginatajutsu Old style naginata
• Seitei Iaido
• Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido

External links

• Dublin Kendo Kobukai (DKK) website (English) (Japanese)
• Kendo Na h-Eireann (English)
• All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) (Japanese)
• International Kendo Federation (FIK) (English)