Kendo Club's First Appearance at SportFest
November 11, 2024
Article by Liza Gegechkori
Edited by Eli Khokhiashvili
Source GZAAT Gazette
This year’s SportFest introduced something new and exciting: Kendo, the Japanese martial art of swordsmanship. For the first time, the school's Kendo club was included in the event, where the team showed off their skills and gave demonstrations. People even got the chance to try it for themselves during the event.
Kendo, often compared to Japanese fencing, is a descendant of ancient sword fighting techniques. Mr. Cruz explained, “Kendo uses something similar to a sword, but it is not real, we would hurt each other if they were.” Although the swords used are fake, participants wear armor for safety. “ , they can still cause injuries without the armor,” Mr Cruz said. In addition to the armor, people practicing kendo wear traditional clothing like a Keikogi and a very ample and loose pair of pants. “We practice Kendo barefoot, which can be tough on the feet,” Mr. Cruz added.
The Kendo club at the school has been running for a decade. According to Mr. Cruz, while the club is open to anyone in Georgia, only a few students from the school have participated. “The GZAAT Kendo club is still up and running because people outside of the school keep it going,” he said, disappointed that students have not shown more commitment and discipline to the sport.
Kendo club president Giorgi Gegenava and Vice President Ketevan Nikatsadze ensured that the club could participate in this year’s Sporfest. Giorgi contacted the event organizers after missing last year’s event. “I reached out to the Sportfest organizers on Instagram, and they kept us in mind for this year’s event,” he said. Ketevan added that the club formed a team to work at their stand during the event, while another group was responsible for putting on a performance to demonstrate Kendo to the public.
During the two-day event, the Kendo club set up a stand displaying their armor and uniforms. People could try on the gear and learn about the sport. “We explained what Kendo is, the strikes, the protective gear, and where strikes should be made,” Mr. Gegenava said. The club also put on a seven-minute performance, showing different parts of Kendo for those who could not visit the stand. “We had a mannequin named Salome fully dressed in our armor for people to take photos with, and those willing could even hold a sword or try on the full uniform,” Ketevan added.
The reaction to Kendo at SportFest was very pleasant. “So many people wanted to know about Kendo that we could not keep up with everyone’s questions,” Giorgi Gegenava said. Nikatsadze explained that the event was very important for the awareness of Kendo, a sport which is not widespread in Georgia. “It gave us the chance to reach a wider audience,” she said.
The Kendo Club's open house day on October 6th saw an increase in attraction and popularity because of their involvement in SportFest. “More than twenty people attended this year’s open house, much more than in previous years,” Giorgi said. Many of these new members have since joined the club. “A few of the people I helped at Sportfest even came to join, which was great to see,” Nikatsadze said.
For the future, the Kendo club plans to continue growing and improving. They are accepting new members, organizing seminars, and preparing to compete in the European Kendo Championships next year.
