●About us
・History
We, Mikuni Kendo Federation, started on April 1st, 1970 with eight members. Now, 52 years later, it has developed into a group of kendo artist consisting of people from various backgrounds, from children to adults.
・Practice day
◇For Elementary school student
Monday（19:00～20:30）Mikuni Gym Budo-Jo
Wednesday（19:00-20:00）Mikuni Gym Budo-Jo
Thursday（19:00～20:30）Mikuni Gym 2nd Arena
◇For Adult
Monday（20:30～21:30）Mikuni Gym Budo-Jo
Tuesday (19:30～21:00) Mikuni Gym Budo-Jo
Wednesday（20:00-21:00）Mikuni Gym Budo-Jo
Thursday（20:30～21:30）Mikuni Gym 2nd Arena
・Member Recruitment
We are always looking for members. If you become a member, you can rent out practice tools (Uchikomi-Dai made of tire) for free. Generally, Uchikomi-Dai costs about 30,000 yen, but thanks to the vendors who understand us, we have realized such a rental service. Now, let's become a member and practice every day.
Contact information takuya.iwamoto@gmail.com
●About Mikuni-cho
・History
Mikuni-cho is located at the mouth of the Kuzuryu River, the largest river in Fukui Prefecture. Mikuni-cho is a town with a history that has prospered for over a thousand years. During the Edo period, it became a port of call for Kitamaebune ships, and Mikuni-cho developed significantly as a major logistics center. From Edo to the Meiji era, Mikuni-cho was economically prosperous due to the trade of Kitamaebune. After the Meiji Restoration, Western culture rapidly permeated with the financial resources of wealthy merchants such as the owners of the Kitamaebune. It had a great influence on the development of Mikuni Port Town. The representative cultural assets are the Mikuni Pier and Ryusho Elementary School, where the Dutch engineer "G.A. Essel" was involved.
●About Kendo
Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art. We put on armor and aim to strike four parts with a bamboo sword: The head, wrist, torso and throat. The most distinctive feature is that the purpose of Kendo is learning the Samurai philosophy through Kendo training and use it for self-discipline. It’s not just sports. We train not only the body but also the spirit. Kendo has been recognized for the behavior towards others, self-discipline, diligence and concentration and in recent years has been spreading all over the world.
・Spirit of Kendo
◇The Concept of Kendo
The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword).
◇The Purpose of Practicing Kendo
The purpose of practicing Kendo is:
To mold the mind and body,
To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
And through correct and rigid training,
To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo,
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,
To associate with others with sincerity,
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
This will make one be able:
To love his/her country and society,
To contribute to the development of culture,
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.
◇Kouken-Chiai, Ken-wo-Majiete-Oshimu-wo-Shiru
It is a word that preaches the feeling of wanting to practice or play a match with that person again, and the teaching to play a practice or match that makes you feel that way. It is also a word that teaches us to understand each other through kendo and improve our humanity and life.
How to do a good competition, not win or lose. That way, you'll be invited to more competitions and you'll be better as a person.
◇Zanshin
Zanshin is a heart that naturally remains when hit with 100% power without leaving a heart.
For example, by throwing away the water in the cup at once, a drop of water that remains naturally is the true zanshin.
If you try to hit with 70% or 80% of your mind and body and take the remaining 20% or 30% of your zanshin, your mind will be caught and a gap will be created.
Instead, it naturally leaves a lasting impression because it strikes with all 100% of its power.
This is the true zanshin.
In other words, true zanshin is born from full-scale hitting, unintentional, and not judged by others.
Generally, when teaching boys, they are taught to turn to the other person after hitting and prepare for the middle stage, both physically and mentally.
However, there are other cases as well.
◇Kenzen-ichinyo（剣禅一如）
ZEN was first introduced in the West at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair by Soen Shaku, the head priest of Engakuji Temple in Kamakura, as one of the representatives of Japan.
After that, Daisetsu Suzuki spread it all over the world.
The founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, is famous for being devoted to ZEN, you know?
His famous speech at the commencement ceremony of Stanford University in the United States, "Stay hungry, Stay foolish," is said to be his own translation of the Zen saying, "Like a fool
ZEN and Kendo have a very high affinity, and in the Edo period, Takuan and Yagyu Tajima no Kami created the idea of Kenzen Ichinyo.
It means that the ultimate state of Kendo is the same as the state of ZEN.
What is the ultimate state? It means to become a mind without attachment, a mindlessness.
It is said that the important thing in Kendo is to get rid of the bad parts of the heart.
The bad parts of the heart means that the mind stays here and there.
If your mind stays, you won't be able to freely perform techniques when you have a chance to strike.
Shunkan-Zensho（瞬間善処）, it is said that important thing is being in a state of no-mind without keeping your mind anywhere in order to be able to perform appropriate
techniques freely at all times.
Fukui Prefecture is home to Eiheiji Temple, the head temple of the Soto sect of Buddhism.
We would like to incorporate the spirit of ZEN into our kendo training.
●Others
What is good kendo armor?
Even those who have experience in kendo have trouble selecting it.
If you are a beginner who wants to start kendo from now on, the trouble is even more so.
But if you have never done kendo, the trouble is meaningless.
Let's start kendo with one bamboo sword (Shinai).
Also, if you want to choose a kendo armor, we will consult and choose a kendo armor together.