The Steveston Kendo Club will welcome competitors from throughout North America for its 55th annual Steveston Kendo Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 11) at McMath Secondary School.
According to head sensei Ray Murao, the event will feature 350 participants, representing 35 dojos from Toronto, Hawaii, California, Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest region. The tournament has earned a reputation as one of the premier competitions on the continent and is on the “must attend” list for many kendo practitioners.
Club president Kelvin High noted how the tournament is benefitting this year as a recipient of a Richmond Sport Hosting grant that will enhance many of the activities that are associated with an event of this size and complexity.
Higo went on to state that it is only fitting that the Steveston tournament is one of the largest competitions in Canada, held in a community that is the birthplace of kendo in the country.
The first recorded kendo activity was in 1914 and has led to a flourishing local club since then. Another interesting fact is that since the beginning of kendo in Steveston, there have only been four head sensei (instructor) and two of them, Akune-sensei and Murao-sensei have been inducted into the Richmond Sports Wall of Fame.
Anyone interested in viewing the ancient sport of kendo is encouraged to arrive at McMath at 10 a.m., with the competition getting underway after the parade of participants and opening welcome are completed. Admission is by donation.
