After one month of practice, BUKA has grown into a very large club: roughly 40 students practice weekly, with at least 20 members in bogu (armor). Coach Alex Eitoku and Captain John Yi have rigorously trained BU’s kendoka (kendo practitioners) – both new and experienced – for the coming Cornell Kendo Tournament taking place October 11th and 12th.
For the new members, Cornell will be their first exposure to kendo outside of practice. Cornell boasts a diverse group of schools from around the East Coast, allowing them to see how other teams play. It will be a means for them to fully absorb every aspect of their teachings and begin to grasp the concepts that have been stressed thus far. It will be a great learning opportunity, but it will also be a time for spectators to begin to bond with their peers and their sempai.
For the experienced members, this is our first opportunity to test ourselves against non-BU opponents. Historically, BU has performed well and we look to continue that legacy this year. For example, last year President Lucien Thomas and A Team Member Jessica Alexandria placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Mudansha (unranked) Individuals tournament. In 2011, BU members Jumpei Uchida, SungYeob Lee and Shawn Shou placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, and BU A placed 3rd in the team tournament. In 2010, BU’s A team placed 2nd in the team tournament and Alex Eitoku placed 2nd in Individuals. Many await the day they claim their first medal, but we must remind ourselves that medals are not the main focus of the tournament.
Competition is a learning experience for all of us regardless of rank. We learn as much about our strengths as we do our weaknesses. We learn solidarity and camaraderie. We also learn the importance of practice. As all martial arts, kendo requires constant practice and refinement of your basics. If you do not practice your basics, you will not improve. Cornell marks our first attempt at taking the next step.