In a resounding kickoff on the 11th of November, the joint efforts of the dedicated Nederlandse Kendo Renmei (NKR) Youth Leaders Patrick Bakker (Mokuseikan) and Sjoerd Kater (Kendo Kai Den Haag (KKDH)) manifested in the first session of the long-awaited 'Joint Kids Training'. (JKT). Held at the regular venue for KKDH’s kids' training in sportcampus Zuiderpark, this event saw an impressive turnout of 30 enthusiastic youngsters hailing from six different dojos. It was undeniably the largest gathering of young kendo practitioners in years! The dynamic duo Taichi and Pakwan, esteemed members of the Dutch National team, generously lent their expertise to lead the training session. Assisted by the dojo leaders when needed, the pair guided the eager participants through an engaging program that encompassed. essential elements of kendo. From refining footwork to mastering kihon drills, the training session provided a comprehensive and well-rounded kendo experience. A notable highlight of the day was the inclusion of a team shiai, injecting a spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie among the young practitioners. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, not just because there was only a prize for the winning team but also to showcase their skills, putting into practice the techniques they had learned throughout the session. This inaugural event marked the beginning of the rejuvenated and re-envisioned 'Joint Kids Training,' promising a revitalized platform for young kendo enthusiasts to grow and excel in their practice. The success of the first session sets a high bar for the subsequent events. The journey doesn't end here, as the organizers have already outlined plans for future sessions. The next installment is scheduled for March in Amersfoort at Mokuseikan, followed by sessions hosted by Renshinjuku and Washinkan. The diversity in venues reflects the collaborative spirit and widespread support for the JKT initiative within the kendo community. Heartfelt appreciation goes out to all who contributed to the success of the event—Taichi and Pakwan for their guidance, the participating kids who brought their energy and passion, the dojo leaders (Renshinjuku, Mokuseikan, Washinkan, Sakura Kai and Kendo Kai Den Haag), and, of course, the supportive parents. The resounding success of the first Joint Kids Training session sets a promising tone for the future, fostering a sense of unity and growth within the Dutch kendo youth community. See you next time!

The stage was set for an exhilarating showdown at the 2023 Dutch Individual Kendo Championship (Nederlands Kampioenschap individueel) that unfolded in The Hague (Den Haag) during the last weekend of October. An event that marked a remarkable moment for Kendo Kai Den Haag as it played host to the championship after a hiatus of almost two decades. The pulsating energy of the competition filled the air at the Sportcampus Zuiderpark, the home of our dojo where countless hours of training had prepared us for this very occasion. This tournament, which boasted a record-breaking participation of over 70 contenders across five distinct and occasionally overlapping categories, was a testament to the resolute efforts of our dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Their unwavering commitment laid the foundation for the seamless execution of this grand event, for which we are profoundly grateful. Eager to make our mark as hosts, it was only natural for us at Kendo Kai Den Haag to field a strong contingent across four of the five categories. Amongst the standout performances, young talents Iyed and Ryu showcased exceptional skill and determination, with Ryu emerging as the worthy Dutch Champion in their category. Not to be outdone, the spirited Milou (12) displayed remarkable resilience, clinching the third-place medal in the next age group category for participants up to 15 years old while being the youngest competitor in that age group. The intensity of the competition reached its zenith during the fiercely contested ladies' tournament. Our members, including the tournament's eldest participant, fought with unwavering determination, resulting in notable achievements. Suraya secured the third-place spot (for the third time in a row), while Lonneke's unwavering dedication earned her the well-deserved Fighting Spirit award, showcasing the indomitable spirit of our dojo Kendo Kai Den Haag. Following a brief interlude for lunch, the eagerly anticipated mixed tournament commenced, unveiling a series of unexpected twists and turns. Displaying exceptional skill and tenacity, a majority of our members navigated their way through the initial stages of the tournament, culminating in a display of exceptional prowess. Sjoerd and Mugisho emerged as the Kendo Kai Den Haag stars of the tournament, storming into the quarter finals, an achievement made even more remarkable by the fact that they were the sole representatives not hailing from our national team or its alumni. Mugisho, whose remarkable journey in the world of Kendo began just two years ago, not only made his presence felt in the shiai-jo but also proved instrumental in handling the technical challenges that plagued the digital scoring system during the event. In recognition of his relentless spirit and unwavering dedication, Mugisho was rightfully bestowed with the prestigious Fighting Spirit award, a testament to his remarkable spirit and achievements. With a Dutch Champion, two third places and two fighting spirit prices we can look back at a successful tournament as well as a fun one! Of course we intend to come back even stronger next year. For everyone who attended, volunteered and/or came to cheer thank you!

Op zondag 25 juni 2022 werden de NKR jodo en iaido teamkampioenschappen gehouden in Rotterdam. Voor jodo deed dit jaar één team van KKDH mee: Steven, Kees en Jasper, onder de traditionele naam Idiots in Indigo. Hun resultaten waren niet slecht: na elk gevecht met 3-0 te hebben gewonnen, namen ze het goud mee naar huis. Voor iaido waren er twee teams van onze dojo: - One Cut Wonders: Ken'ichi, Noel en Artur - KKDH 2: Stan, Lorena en Marcel En ook hier was het een KKDH-team dat het goud pakte: One Cut Wonders won de finale. KKDH2 kwam één vlag te kort voor het brons.

The European Iaido Championships took place on 3-4 September 2022 in Modena, Italy. 5 KKDH members were there, making up half of the Dutch team: - Marcel (mudan, individual competition) - C. (mudan, individual competition) - Noël (nidan, individual and team competition) - Lorena (sandan, individual and team competition) - Kenichi (yondan, individual competition) Aad Sensei was there as a referee for the Championships, while Liston came as a (are rather, the) supporter of the NKR team. Saturday was for the individual competitions. For C., Marcel, Lorena and Kenichi, this was their first time at the European Iaido Championships. That makes it extra remarkable that the first three made it all the way to the quarterfinals. Kenichi made it to the first knockout round, which he narrowly lost. Furthermore, C. got a Fighting Spirit prize in the mudan category. And Noël? As usual, he made it to the final, where he took the silver. On Sunday, the country team competitions took place. The Dutch team consisted of Stan (Yushinkan, godan), Jolanda (Holland Jikiden Kan, godan, reserve), Lorena and Noël. The team made it to the semi-finals, where it lost to the host country and so took the third place. There were also exams on Sunday afternoon: C. and Marcel became shodan and Noël became sandan. Congratulations to all KKDH members!

De 20e Europese Jodo kampioenschappen hebben zeer goede resultaten opgeleverd voor leden van Kendo Kai Den Haag: zilver voor Steven en Jasper en brons plus een ‘fighting spirit'-prijs voor Piotr. Het evenement werd gehouden in Stevenage, vlakbij Londen. De finale in de 5e dan-divisie van de individuele kampioenschappen op zaterdag was close: Steven verloor met 1-2 van Lukasz uit Polen, een uiterst dynamische jodoka. Jasper had de 2e dan-finale kunnen winnen, ware het niet dat hij een foutje maakte in zijn allerlaatste techniek. In de 4e dan haalde Piotr de halve finale. Maar op zondag, tijdens de teamkampioenschappen, won hij een ‘fighting spirit'-prijs. Deze wordt gegeven aan een deelnemer die geen medaille won, maar toch zeer goed presteerde. De andere KKDH-leden in het Nederlandse team, Kees (2e dan) en Jolanda (ikkyu), wonnen deze keer geen medaille. Maar ze slaagden zondag wel allebei voor hun examens (Kees 3e dan en Jolanda 1e dan). Bovendien was het voor allen een geweldige ervaring. Niet alleen vanwege het inspirerende seminar op vrijdag door de delegatie uit Japan, maar ook vanwege het contact met oude en nieuwe vrienden uit heel Europa. Jodo is een kleine budo, maar het voelt als een grote familie. De jodo-instructeurs van KKDH, Edwin en Aad, waren ook bij de kampioenschappen, als scheidsrechters. Liston, die in Londen was, kwam het Nederlandse team steunen!