Event

Mumeishi 3's International Kendo Clubs Championship
Mumeishi Kendo Club's Holt Sensei talks about the history of kendo in the UK and the recent clubs championship
Kendo in the UK has a long history and has influenced the strengthening of the relationship between Japan and the UK. It has been demonstrated here since the 1880s. One of our senior Sensei, Mr Paul Budden, is currently researching the history of kendo in Great Britain and has found records of a big Japanese community living and performing in an area around Harrods in Knightsbridge, London. They had their own little village exhibiting Japanese culture and performing shows, including kendo, every day. Some even performed in front of Queen Victoria and travelled around the country.

The recorded history of kendo being practiced in the UK goes back to an army officer, Mr Norman, who went to Japan in the 1890s to teach the Japanese about British military systems. He took up the art of Japanese fencing - kendo - and became proficient. On his return to London he started to teach others the art of kendo at the Budokwai (the first dojo in London) in early 1900 and it continued to grow in popularity along with judo.

Kendo was controlled then by the Anglo Japanese Judo Association, and in 1937 a demonstration of kendo was put on at the Hurlingham Sport Club, in Fulham, for His Imperial Highness Prince Chichibu. Taking part in this event was Mr R.A. Lidstone, founder of the British Kendo Association, and also author of the first book ever written in English on kendo. The book contained information on its history and instructions on how to practise the art of kendo. Mr Lidstone was introduced to kendo as child in Australia when his father was a guest on board a Japanese Naval ship that was visiting in Sydney harbour in 1922. The crew of the ship put on a show of kendo for all the guests.

When Mr Lidstone later returned to  England he took up kendo and practised until 1939. After retiring from the sport for some years, he later took it up again in the early 1960s, and with the help of other kendo students, he founded the British Kendo Association, which still oversees kendo activities in the UK today.

With other European groups, the European Kendo Federation was founded in 1968, whereupon the All Japan Kendo Federation realised that the popularity of kendo was growing around the world. The International Kendo Federation was then founded by the European Kendo Federation and groups from the USA, and the first World Kendo Championship was held in Tokyo in 1970. Kendo is now practised in most countries around the world, and British kendoka played a big part in making that happen.


The Mumeishi Kendo Club was founded in West London in 1968, with most of its members being former judo students. In 1973 I went to the 2nd World Kendo Championship in Los Angeles as a competitor, and on my return the Mumeishi members decided that they wanted to hold their own championship. They came up with the idea of a competition consisting of three-member teams, where one member was a beginner. This idea had never been seen before, and it was dubbed the "Mumeishi 3's". Though it started from humble beginnings, the competition grew each year. However, one problem was that female kendoka never got the chance to fight other females, so in 1975 we started the first Ladies Championship ever held in Europe. Children too had no championship of their own, so in 1985 we included the Children's Championship. Now all three competitions make up the Mumeishi 3's International Kendo Clubs Championship, which is a great success each year.


Sumi Sensei (8 Dan Hanshi from Fukuoka), Miss Pauline Stolarz (St Etienne France), First Secretary Mr Eiji Watanabe (Embassy of Japan)


This year's winning team Mumeishi with some of the distinguished guests

Over the years the Mumeishi 3's International Kendo Clubs Championship has had competitors from around the world. We have also had many distinguished guests attend the event, including His Imperial Highness Prince Naruhito in 1984. The Mumeishi 3's is called the friendly championship, and we always try to end it with a social event! This year we held our 40th Mumeishi 3's Championship at Cranford Community College in West London on 17 November 2012. As many as 74 teams, 52 Ladies and more than 60 children took part this year.

Kendo is a wonderful activity to take up - whether you are young or old, there is a place for you. It is not just a sport but a way of life that can keep you physically and mentally fit and well.


We look forward to seeing many of you at a dojo soon. For more information, visit www.mumeishi.co.uk or www.kendo.org.uk



 

 

Terry Holt
Mumeishi Kendo Club

 

 

 
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