双鶴鈴心館六三四会剣道場　Reishinkan Musashi Kai Kendo, Brisbane Australia

12/06/2026

百戦錬磨と百錬自得 ― 剣道において大切なものは何か
先日、「百戦錬磨」という言葉を目にしたとき、私は剣道家として少し考えさせられた。
「百戦錬磨」は一般的には「多くの経験を積み、鍛えられた人物」を意味する。しかし、私の心に浮かんだのは「百錬自得」という考え方であった。
剣道において成長をもたらすのは、本当に数多くの試合や勝利なのだろうか。
もちろん試合は大切である。試合によって自分の課題が明確になり、精神力も鍛えられる。しかし、試合そのものが人を成長させるのではない。日々の稽古、反省、そして継続的な自己鍛錬こそが人を育てるのである。
剣道の理念は勝利至上主義ではない。勝敗は稽古の成果を確認する一つの機会に過ぎず、目的そのものではない。もし勝つことだけが目的となれば、剣道は単なる競技となってしまう。
全日本剣道連盟が示す剣道の目的の一つは「人間形成」である。相手に勝つことよりも、自分の弱さに打ち勝つこと。相手を倒すことよりも、自分自身を磨き続けること。その積み重ねの先に、本当の強さがあるのではないだろうか。
だからこそ私は、「百戦」よりも「百錬」という言葉に心を惹かれる。数多く戦った経験よりも、数多く自分を鍛えた経験に価値を見いだしたい。
剣道とは、相手との勝負を通して、最終的には自分自身と向き合う道である。その本質を忘れずに稽古を続けていきたいと思う　。　　　　　　　　Hyakusen Renma and Hyakuren Jitoku — What Is Truly Important in Kendo?

When I encountered the expression "Hyakusen Renma" (Tempered Through a Hundred Battles), it made me pause and reflect as a kendoka.
In general, Hyakusen Renma refers to a person who has been hardened and refined through extensive experience. However, the phrase that came to my mind was "Hyakuren Jitoku" — attaining understanding and mastery through repeated refinement.
What is it that truly leads to growth in kendo? Is it really the number of matches fought or victories achieved?
Competition is certainly important. Through matches, we discover our weaknesses, test our spirit, and gain valuable experience. Yet it is not the matches themselves that develop a person. Rather, it is daily practice, honest self-reflection, and continuous self-discipline that shape one's character and ability.
The philosophy of kendo is not based on the supremacy of winning and losing. Victory and defeat are merely opportunities to assess the results of our training; they are not the ultimate purpose. When winning becomes the sole objective, kendo risks becoming nothing more than a competitive sport.
One of the fundamental purposes of kendo is the cultivation of human character. More important than defeating an opponent is overcoming one's own weaknesses. More important than striking down another person is continuing to polish oneself. It is through this lifelong process that true strength is developed.
For this reason, I find myself drawn more to the idea of "a hundred refinements" than "a hundred battles." I place greater value on the experience of repeatedly improving oneself than on the experience of repeatedly competing against others.
Kendo is a path in which we face an opponent, yet ultimately it is a path of confronting ourselves. It is my hope that we never lose sight of this essential truth as we continue our training.

17/05/2026

15/05/2026

Today, 16th May Saturday, we are training at Alexander Community Hall from 10:30am.

09/05/2026

This is a part of intervew article by Toda Hanshi8th Dan sensei(Jodan/Nito) i read long time ago. The reasons to recommend Kendo to children.

"It does not make you good at hitting people with a bamboo stick,
Instead, it makes you practice to stand face to face with others when you are still a child,
To stand nobly with pride and full spirit,
To foster courage of completing to the very end,
So that even if the person you face is much older than you are,
You can confront the person if you think s/he is wrong,
So that even if you are wrong,
You have courage to accept the wrongness against the person who is weaker than you,
You will have that kind of strong heart,
And the joy of winning a match would be something very trivial in your life,
Like a birthday present."

Tadao Toda, 8-dan
in April 1999 issue of Kendo Nippon

08/05/2026

I happened to find an article I read a long time ago about Kendo perspective. I want to share with you.

What good is kendo?
By Ron Fox

It was early morning May 23, 2014. I was practising at Mitsubishi’s Shiseikan dojo as part of a bit of kendo prior to a professional conference. As I was waiting in line for the next person to crush me, I noticed a familiar looking person practising in the next line with Hayashi Nobuo-sensei. Once practice finished, I realised it was Yamada Noboru-sensei and he had been a member of the Chicago kendo dojo about 30 years ago when he was stationed in Chicago, IL, USA. We reintroduced ourselves and I noticed how easily we slipped right back into the relationship we had 30 years ago. During that 30 years, I had only seen him once and had not practised with him at all. This got me thinking about the relationships we build with the people who share our love for kendo.

What is kendo anyway? Is it a sport? A martial art? All of the above? None of the above? For a martial art based on the sword it’s pretty odd. The tool we use for most of our practice bears very little resemblance in weight or shape to the katana. It’s too long, too light, too straight, too cylindrical.

Is it a sport? There certainly is a lot of competition these days. It’s also been said that the true test of one’s kendo practice is performance in shiai. I’m not satisfied by that, however. Let’s go back and look at what happens when we use the 1975 Concept and Purpose of Kendo as a definition of what kendo is, or at least what it is for. For people who believe kendo is a sport, and that performance in shiai is important, the Purpose and Concept of Kendo must seem a bit strange as well. Nowhere is competition mentioned, let alone the importance of winning, losing or even the grace with which one wins or loses.

“The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword).”

But again, the sword and shinai are very different animals. People who practice iai or a sword koryu would be more than happy to tell us that what we can do with the shinai is impossible with a katana. So what principles of the katana does it refer to?

Many years ago, I was privileged to be one of the U.S. representatives at the Foreign Kendo Leaders Seminar in Kitamoto. In the first half, I was lucky enough to have as the sensei in charge H8-dan Inoue Yoshihiko-sensei who wrote “the book on kata” and who would much later be so supportive of the efforts of the Kendo World team. One of the things he said I think bears on these questions. He said that when you face an opponent in kendo, it is critically important to establish a relationship and communication with that person. I believe this to mean that only through that communication with full body, mind and spirit, can you create and find the opportunity to strike.

The Purpose of Kendo has something to say about why this is important in the idea of what kendo is and what it is for:

The purpose of practicing Kendo is:
To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo
To hold in esteem human courtsy and honor,
To associate with others with sincerity.

To me this means that the relationships we establish, and the communication that we have as we practise our physical kendo can and should carry over into our relationships with our opponents, and others in daily life as well. I think this gives kendo a very special place in human activity. I know people who practise other disciplines and play sports at a very high level. Few of them experience the welcome that we have when they visit places at which other groups practice.

Consider this. I work at Michigan State University, a longtime basketball and recently an American football power. In 1998, when I worked at Osaka University, I was welcomed easily and naturally into the practice of the kendo dojo at Osaka University. Imagine what would happen if a Japanese athlete interested in football or basketball who played a couple of times a week visited MSU and asked the coach if they could work out with the team? Wouldn’t happen I guess.

My experience at Osaka University was not the only time I experienced a welcome of this sort, and I think I’m far from alone in this. So next time we say “onegai-shimasu” or “domo arigatou gozaimash*ta”, take a bit of time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have fallen into this wonderful community we have. At the next shiai sayonara party, hoist a drink with your former opponent and plan exchange visits to their dojo. Above all, “Promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.”

05/05/2026

Congratulations, Charlie!
He began his Kendo journey at Musashi Kai in Year 6. Now, as a Year 10 student, he has reached his first major milestone — achieving Shodan (1st black belt) at the Gold Coast in April. Notably, he is the first person to attain Shodan since Musashi Kai was founded in 2021. This accomplishment reflects his dedication and consistent effort. We hope that through Kendo — the Way of the Sword — he continues to develop both his character and his skills.

17/01/2026

I visited Reishinkan in Sydney. Reishinkan is related with Reishinkan Musashi Kai like brothers. Had awesome training with every single one of them on Sunday and Tuesday. This was how I looked after driving from Brisbane -Port Macquarie-Sydney over 10 hours and training in the morningupon arrival!