Dojo Portrait, Gakushinkan: Odense Kendo Club Part II

The Regular Members

Aske Sylngbom Nielsen has trained kendo for roughly 18 months (though more like a year if you take coronavirus restrictions into account.). Some of his best experiences have been his first jigeiko and just generally the camaraderie of his dojo. His favorite waza is debana because it is the hardest technique to master, so when you pull it off it is quite the experience.

Ernest Majkic has trained kendo since February 2019. He started because he had always been fascinated with fighting and war in bygone days such as the middle ages, classical era and the bronze age. Kendo just really spoke to his interests, so he decided to give it a try and has continued ever since. Though while his reasons for starting are quite unusual compared to other danish kendoka, he’s into Japanese culture and anime pretty much like everyone else in the community.

Lukas Kronholm Morgensen started kendo at Goshikan back in 2013, but has taken several long breaks as necessary. He started because he loves martial arts and was looking for something new. His preferred technique is currently hiki men and the first two summer camps he attended loom large and fondly in his mental scrapbook of good kendo memories. 

Sep Mamoi started kendo in 2017. He has no preferred waza and loves kendo because of the mental focus, how when you engage in free fight the psychological aspect is as important as the physical. The sensation of having learned something new after each keiko and being able to use kendo philosophy to tackle difficulties he encounters in his every day life.

Levon Gzogian has trained kendo for four years and started simply because he was curious about it. Back when he was a karateka, he’d heard of it, but it was some time before he had a chance to actually try it. He has no preferred technique, but would like to get better at debana waza and thinks it would be neat to try an octagonal handled shinai. One of his best experiences was training with 8-dan Toru Kamei-sensei back at the 2019 summer camp.

Phillip Mwaipaya plays kendo because of his dad. His favorite part of keiko is jigeiko and he thinks men kaeshi dou is the most fun waza.