We try Kendo, a Japanese martial art form, and learn the samurai’s secrets

At a practice session of Japanese martial art form Kendo at Combat Kinetics, Teynampet in Chennai
| Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN

A week since my first Kendo class with the Chennai Kendo Club, I find myself often zoning in and out of a larger cosmic zen.

When things go wrong, I say ‘utsuke’ (meaning idiot) and when I wish to return to my quiet, I mutter ‘bushido’ (the way of the warrior) to centre myself.

Elan Kathiravan, my sensi and the chief instructor of Aikido of Chennai, said that this is likely to be a consequence, now that I’m a Samurai and everything.

This wasn’t the case till my first class where I picked up my shinai, the bamboo sword, for training. Samurai paraphernalia is as cool as it looks on television and the silver screen, but be warned. To master this tricky Japanese martial art form, one requires balance, a mastery of technique, quick feet, and an ability to laugh at oneself. Of the four, I lack the first three.

Sensi Kathiravan stifles a giggle as he teaches me but he has been training people in various martial art forms including akido and judo since 1995, and is well aware of the novice struggle. “First we bow, then we transfer the shinai from the left to the right signalling that we are ready for a duel. Then we take five steps forward. Now, squat to the floor and rise up. Don’t swing the shinai like that. See, one wrong move and I could stab you here,” he says, pointing right at my neck. 

My face is entirely covered in a mask and I’m in several layers of a purple kendogi (the complete uniform), made out of cloth. I sweat, not just because of Chennai’s punishing heat but also because my neck could have been at stake during 18th Century Japanese combat.

“I was in Japan a few years ago and saw the full uniform made of iron and other materials. Imagine, these guys used to carry all that weight around, walk and even wage war,” he says. 

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 16 Fe 2025: FOR METROPLUS: Practice session of Japanese martial art Kendo at Combat Kinetics, Teynampet in Chennai on Sunday. Photo: Akhila Easwaran/ The Hindu
| Photo Credit:
AKHILA EASWARAN

Kathiravan says that kendo training began in 2018 when a Japanese executive, Takaai Nakabo, wanted to practise at their aikido dojo in Egmore. “I asked him if he would be interested in teaching us and he agreed. We had about 15-20 individuals when we began classes,” he said. Over time, two other Japanese sensis have taken over and have helped those in training, compete in tournaments. 

Kathiravan adds that several individuals have signed up after watching anime. “The initial samurai excitement lasts for a while but immediately, the technique also becomes important. That’s when regular training comes into the picture. One needs to recognise that while signing up,” he says. 

This, I realise, is advice for me. 

Sensi tells me to sync my mind and body. “If you use your mind, any force that I place on you will disallow your arm from bending. Think of yourself as water. Let it flow,” he says, telling me what arbitrary instructions. The only water I seek is the one out of my bottle that is currently inaccessible because of my cage-like mask. 

“If I’m just using my muscles, it’s easy to defeat me. The muscle power only lasts for a little while based on your fitness. Later, the mind needs to take over,” he says. 

Eventually, after seeing me fail with water, flow and muscle power, sensi gives me some words of consolation. “You defended your head well this time. Next time, we’ll get the techniques correctly too,” he says. 

I grunt like the true warrior I am in the face of my inability. Just a stoic zen in the face of criticism. 

You may now call me samurai Sanjana. 

Learn kendo at Chennai Kendo Club. Classes are once a week at Combat Kinetics, Teynampet. For details regarding the fees, contact +919551262099.