About HKK
The Houston Kendo Kyokai was established to help people in the Houston area learn Kendo. As said by the All Japan Kendo Federation, "The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana:
The purpose of practicing Kendo is;
To mold the mind and the body,
To cultivate a vigorous spirit through correct and rigid training
To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor
To associate with others with sincerity,
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
Thus will one be able to love his country and society,
To contribute to the development of culture
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.
Kendo originated from Kenjitsu, the actual form of sword fighting used by the samurai until the Meiji Era. Over the years, wooden swords replaced real swords to reduce injury during training. By the latter half of the 18th century, the samurai class started to disappear and the study of the sword became more of a mental discipline rather than a practical fighting form. It was around this time that modern kendo took form: the use of protective armor and a bamboo sword (the shinai) were introduced to further reduce injury to the participants and standard regulations for matches and practice were established. Click here for more information on the names and types of armor as well as other Kendo equipment.
email: houstonkendokyokai@gmail.com