Many McGill students only encounter the McGill Kendo Club through brief glances into the glass windows of the Aerobics Room on their way to the B2 gym. In the hallway, the dull whirl of the air conditioner and the B2 stereo system muffle most of the noise coming from the club’s practice. Yet just a few steps inside, yells, the stamp of bare feet on the gym floor, and the slap of colliding shinai—bamboo swords—echo around the mirrored room and fill the space with sound.
Kendo is a form of Japanese martial art which focuses on swordsmanship using shinai. This lively period of sparring comes at the end of each of the club’s practices, which are offered as classes at the Athletics Centre. Lesley Roberts, U3 Arts and Vice President Curriculum and Training of the club, explained to The Tribune that these classes are led by experienced sensei, many of whom are alumni from McGill or Université de Montréal. Classes are open to all experience levels and to the general public, not just students.
“At the start of the Fall and Winter semesters, we take people who’ve never done kendo before aside, and usually we rent a separate room, and we teach them all of the basics that they need to know. Then they rejoin the main class on Tuesdays and Saturdays,” Roberts said. “Around your second semester, you’re invited to join Thursdays too, [which] is our day for people who have been in what’s called Bogu—the armor—for a little while.”
Roberts added that self-motivation is an important aspect of practices. This opportunity to challenge herself is among Roberts’ favourite parts of being involved with the club.
“I think every practice is a chance to push yourself as hard as you want, and it’s your choice how hard you work,” Roberts said.
Throughout the year, the club also performs demonstrations at Montreal festivals such as Otakuthon and YATAI MTL, and attends tournaments to compete against other clubs from across North America. At a competition in November 2023 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, the club’s team of Roberts, Ai Matsumoto, U1 Arts and Science, and Véronique Marchand won first place in the women’s team category. Matsumoto also took home second place in the women’s Nidan and up category.
Matsumoto has been practicing kendo since she was seven, and told The Tribune that a major draw for attending McGill was its reputable kendo club. She highlighted that several of its alumni have gone on to compete for Team Canada, such as Tania Delage.
Outside the gym, the club organizes social events, with past activities including combat archery, disco bowling, and a stay in New York City following a tournament there. Post-practice boba tea is another common outing for the group.
Kevin Nguyen, U2 Engineering, joined the club after having practised fencing for around five years. Nguyen spoke to the club’s sense of community, which he found especially beneficial when he joined as a new student at McGill.
“It’s really good for meeting people,” Nguyen said. “You start out [at university] and you’re a bit lost. You’re like, ‘I don’t know anyone.’ But [through the club] you get to get really close to people. It’s really fun, and a good way to socialize.”
For Matsumoto, the club was not just a way to meet other people at McGill but also a way to connect with a wider kendo community beyond Montreal over a love of the sport.
“If you go to Toronto, you can meet people from the University of Toronto, or just regular people who practice kendo,” Matsumoto said. “You can get to share Instagrams, and you can become friends. The next time you go there, you can text them and be like, ‘Oh, we can stay at your house?’ or [say], ‘Let’s GO train.’ There’s a whole network of people who love kendo and make no money from it. They just love kendo as a passion, and you get to be friends with them.”
The McGill Kendo club’s next competition will take place on Nov. 23 at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto.
