At A Glance
- Rookies and seasoned bets take the spotlight once again as the 7th Philippine National Kendo Tournament (PNKT) gets going on Oct. 25 and 26 at Gameville Ball Park, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.
Rookies and seasoned bets take the spotlight once again as the 7th Philippine National Kendo Tournament (PNKT) gets going on Oct. 25 and 26 at Gameville Ball Park, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City.
The annual competition lured 145 practitioners from different parts of the Philippines as they vie for glory while also showcasing their skill and empowering discipline and unity.
Several clubs from Cebu (Cebu Kendo Club), Davao (Davao Kendo Club, Davao Kenyukai, and Davao Yushinkai), Metro Manila (IGA Kendo Club and Metro Kendo Club), Bacolod (Negros Shiseikan Kendo Club), and Angeles City (Tiger Kendo Club) have registered to participate in the event.
Under the supervision of the United Kendo Federation of the Philippines (UKFP), the two-day meet, which previously held its sixth iteration in Davao City, aims to boost the sport's popularity here as well as strengthen relationships within the local and international community.
With a commitment of abiding to global standards of practice, foreign referees from Japan, Korea, Australia, the United States, and other ASEAN countries will officiate the matches.
Beyond competition, the PNKT highlights the spirit of keiko—continuous learning and self-improvement.
It provides a venue for practitioners of all levels to test their skills, share experiences, and uphold the values of respect, perseverance, and integrity that define the martial art.
This is further emphasized through the shinsa (official grading) that will take place as part of the event, where 110 candidates will attempt to get promoted to higher ranks. This is the UKFP’s largest shinsa since the initial one in 2022.
This year's tournament also reflects the Philippines' growing role in regional Kendo activities, with the preparations underway for the next ASEAN Kendo Tournament to be hosted by the country in 2028. Events like the PNKT continue to build a strong foundation for Filipino kendoka to excel both locally and abroad.