Yuukan Kendo Club Reunion 2008

We're really just a rag-tag bunch of people from different walks of life and martial disciplines who banded together to learn kendo from Sensei Tak, our Questor officemate. No belts, no levels (except sensei, sempai and kohai), just exercise and a love for the sport and the culture. At first we subsisted on hand-me-down shinai (bamboo swords) and bogu (armor) from Sensei's gracious old Japanese high school.

It lasted 4 years, from ca. 2000 to ca. 2004. It started with Sensei Tak, Bambi, Cecil and Me. Then the young ones Ralph and Patrick. Then the Guerrero sisters Lea, Liz and Joy. Then JM, Toby and the rest of the gang. Sometimes Allan, sometimes Emil, sometimes Jess, Jofred, Larson, Jiggy, etc. At our highest point there were 17 of us, but it was usually 10. Occasional visiting Japanese kendoka, Philippine kendoka, judoka, karateka and aikidoka. The occasional trial-by-combat lecture by arnisador Guro Phil at the UP Vanguard. *sigh* Those were the days. For some time it was just me and Ralph. Then it ended with me and Tyran.

Far from formal, it was nothing grandiose, but it was special. The echo of iaido forms by Liz from Germany, MMA moves by Toby and JM, capoeira stuff thrown in too. Still want to go formal at the MKC (Manila Kendo Club), but I don't and can't seem to have the time. I envied Liz, Lea and Joy for that.

Eight years since the first shinai was swung and four years after the last suburi, we met for Sensei Tak's and Patrick's birthday. We had japanese food and drink! Somen, takoyaki, sushi, sake, smb (okay, not japanese) and tenugui (kerchief) souvenirs! :p

Sensei Tak's here for a year, we're looking for a place so we could start practicing again. :D Hehehehe.