Tucked away in the very back corner of the storage room sits a lonely bogu set, silently collecting dust. The stitches holding the thick, layered cotton are worn out, and the shinais leaning against the walls are splintered and shattered beyond repair. They are but a fleeting whisper of their glorious past, filled with passion and vigor. Maybe if you listen carefully, you can hear the sharp snap of the sword meeting the target, and swift feet gliding across the floor. This is all that’s left of the Bothell Kendo Club. 

Kendo means ‘the way of the sword’ and is a modern Japanese martial art that descends from samurai swordsmanship, using bamboo swords called shinai and protective armor called bogu. It emphasizes elements of physical and mental discipline, as well as respect for the dojo, sensei, peers, and opponent. 

The Bothell Kendo Club brought a piece of Japan to our campus. It was considered one of the most popular clubs in school, with over 40 participants, and held meetings during club time. It formed when students eagerly asked Mrs. Misener, the Japanese teacher, to start a kendo club. Mrs. Misener already had experience in kendo, and with help from the kendo community, she formed the Bothell Kendo Club in 2006. The club remained active for five years. 

Twice a week after the final bell, the aerobics room transformed into a dojo. It was like any other typical kendo practice, with warm-ups, suburi (form practice), and sparring, along with scrimmage matches from time to time. Sometimes, they practiced with the Cascade dojo. But one thing was always consistent: every practice began and ended with a bow.

So, what happened? How did a flourishing club with the love and support of its many participants come to its end? Unfortunately, when Mrs. Misener was on her maternity leave, the district decided that the sport was too dangerous to continue. And just like that, the school’s most popular club was gone. Students stopped practicing, skills were forgotten, and all the gear was shoved to the back of the storage room. The glory of the Bothell Kendo club was soon forgotten.

As someone with many years of experience in kendo, when I heard about the enthusiasm of the Bothell Kendo club, I was impressed, especially when I heard that the majority of the club members were new to kendo. I’ve seen many people start kendo but quit due to the sport’s difficulty. It is incredibly mentally challenging because of the constant repetition of drills. However, this repetition is necessary to solidify the foundation of the basics to improve, and typically, newcomers lack the patience to continue.  It’s hard to keep your spirits up when you only see minute changes. But it was inspirational to learn that there used to be students who overcame that adversity and shared my love for kendo.

Are you interested in improving your physical strength, mental fortitude, and cultivating the spirit? Give kendo a try! Talk to Mrs. Misener for more information on getting started on your kendo journey!