25 S. Quaker Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703.339.3191   As part of the Capital Area Budokai, we at the Northern Virginia Kendokai practice Kendo as a sublime form of physical, philosophical and psychological discipline which both strengthens and ennobles its students. Kendo is the Japanese form of fencing. It rises from the sword arts of ancient Japan, and is the modern incarnation of a centuries long evolution. Kendo is more than just learning to fence. It is also about discipline, and honing a right spirit. Please see New Student Enrollment for important information.
To mold the mind and body, Kendo is practiced around the world under the International Kendo Federation (IKF), and in the United States under the All US Kendo Federation (AUSKF). The Capital Area Budokai teaches the art of Kendo as prescribed by the All Japan Kendo Federation, and we are members of both the AUSKF as well as the Southeastern U.S. Kendo Federation (SEUSKF).
 Class in 2006 The Northern Virginia Budokai is the name of the Kendo practice group of the Capitol Area Budokai, representing the foundational practice of our organization. We strongly encourage the growth and sharing of kendo in the Greater Metropolitan Washington DC area as well as Maryland and Virginia. As a member of the Capital Area Budokai, each member also has the opportunity to practice at Annapolis Kendo Club and Koryo Kendo Dojo (Richmond VA). Our head instructor is club sensei Ernie Lissabet, Ni-Dan, and our guest practice leader is Hiroshi Nishino, San-Dan. During history, in the Warring States period in Japan (late 16th C.), warriors honed their skills on the battlefield. Techniques were tested under a harsh and brutal system and those that passed were those that survived. In the many schools that taught the warriors of this age, wooden swords, or bokuto, were used lessen the danger the students faced. The Battle of Sekigahara (1600 CE) finally brought an end to the constant fighting, and with the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate, peace came to Japan. This peace allowed the arts to flourish, and fighting was discouraged, although not entirely wiped out. In order to continue to give students a sense of real combat without endangering their safety, more and more schools took up the use of the 'shinai' as a training tool. Designed, it is said, by the 16th century swordsman Kamiizumi Ise-no-kami Fujiwara no Nobutsuna (originally Hidetsuna) [ca. 1520-1577], student of Matsumoto Bizen-no-kami, and founder of Shinkage-ryu, the original shinai was made up of many slats of bamboo in a silk or leather bag, which could be used to actually hit an opponent without causing the grievous injuries of steel or wood. Body protection was developed to protect the head, wrists, and body. These are loosely modeled after the armor of the samurai, but much lighter--no doubt because most fighting would now take place in civilian clothes.
 Kendo Equipment During the Meiji Restoration, an effort was begun to wipe out all traces of the samurai, including the martial arts. Sword arts declined, but were not forgotten. In 1895, they were revived under the Butokukai. Then, in 1911, kendo was first introduced into the curriculum of schools. In 1912, the Kendo kata were added, to remind students what the shinai was supposed to represent. After WWII, and the brief ban on all martial activities from 1945 to 1947, kendo was redesigned as a more peaceful pursuit. Although it still maintains the attitude of the ancient warrior, the kendoka devotes himself to the concept of the life giving sword (katsujinken). We cordially invite you to join us. For more information, please contact Ernie Lissabet at . For more Kendo in the Washington area we encourage students to practice with other clubs, which you can usually find on the 'Kendo' page in our 'Links' section. If you would like to practice with the Columbia MD Kendo Club (Dvorine sensei) they meet on Thurs 7-9 pm and Sat 12-2 pm at the Columbia Athletic Club, 5435 Beaverkill Road, Columbia, MD, 410.730.6744. |