The University of Texas Kendo Association

sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin Division of Recreational Sports

The University of Texas Kendo Association and the Austin Kendo Doshikai were created to teach and study Kendo. As mentioned by the International 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,
     And 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 period. Over the years, wooden swords replaced real swords to reduce injury during training. By the later 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 armour 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 armour as well as general equipment used in Kendo.

In 1981, the Austin Kendo Doshikai was formed under Sensei Tetsuo Komizu and kendo instruction was offered through the Texas Union Informal Classes. Shortly thereafter, the UT Kendo Association was created allowing UT students, faculty and staff to join the club directly.