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I started kendo in the first grade of elementary school at a kenyuukai at the police station. When I moved to Okayama for my parents' work, I learned kendo at a local dojo, and when I moved again in the 6th grade, a teacher at a dojo in Okayama Prefecture recommended that I go to this dojo if I was going to Kanagawa. I joined Shikukai because of this recommendation.<\/p>\n
The main focus of the Shikukai was on Kirikaeshi or rather, 90% of the total practice was Kirikaeshi. Basics! Correct stance! Correct and bold striking with the face! These were Iwanami Sensei's teachings.
\nIn the 6th grade and junior high school years, I practiced \"correct Kirikaeshi thoroughly at the Shikukai and I often received compliments from my instructors on my \"good stance\" and \"straight, clean kendo\" in matches. In high school, I was able to become a national athlete in Kanagawa Prefecture, which was my biggest goal at the time.<\/p>\n
Although we practiced only Kirikaeshi, Iwanami-sensei taught me many important things for living as a human being, such as \"be right with yourself,\" \"don't run away,\" \"don't cheat,\" \"think about others,\" \"never give up,\" and so on.
\nI was also taught the importance of teamwork and the importance of feeling as one in team competitions, etc. What I was able to embody most was the third place finish in a major national tournament in which I participated as a member of the Shikukai.
\nI still remember the sense of unity and joy among the members at that time. Even Mr. Iwanami, who rarely praised us, praised us at that time. (\u2190That may have been the happiest thing for the members.<\/p>\n
Now that I am an adult, I realize once again the importance of what my sensei taught me when I was a student, not only the technical aspects of kendo, but also the important things he taught me about how to be a human being. There are also things that I have come to understand only now, and there are still things that I don't understand even now.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/shikukai.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/IMG_2665-150x150.jpg\")
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When I grew up and became even more fascinated with kendo, a happy thing happened to me.
\nThat is, my son (1st grade) started kendo. When he was a nursery school child, I used to bring him to the dojo from time to time, but it was just for fun. When he became an elementary school student, I asked him if he wanted to do kendo, and he said, \"I do. I want to be strong. I asked him if he wanted to do kendo when he was in elementary school, and he said, \"I do. I hope that through kendo, he will grow both mentally and physically. Of course, I am still a novice both as a kendoka and as a person, so I would like to grow together with my son.<\/p>\n
My goal for the future is \"to play a match with my son and lose,\" with the hope that he will become stronger than me. Of course, I plan to grow up a lot more, so I do not intend to lose easily. So, I think it will take a lot of time, decades, for my son to become stronger, but I hope that he will continue kendo with me for that long.<\/p>\n
Masataka Sawada, Renshi 6-dan (August 2020)<\/p>\n
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