Sefor Cup sees SA’s top kendoka battle at University of Johannesburg
AUCKLAND PARK – South Africa's top kendoka battle it out at the Sefor Cup.
AUCKLAND PARK – Kendoka from across the country descended on Auckland Park to take part in the third annual Sefor Cup on 17 March.
Held at the University of Johannesburg, the Sefor Cup (formerly known as the South African National Kendo Championships) took part on the second day of the 2019 International Kendo Seminar.
Kendo, or the ‘way of the sword’, is a style of Japanese fencing derived from the ancient sword-fighting techniques of the samurai warriors.
Dressed in full armour and wielding two-handed bamboo swords, modern kendoka squared off in competition. To win a match, a kendoka must score a point by striking a clear, crisp blow to the opponent’s head, wrist or side all while showing the proper zanshin (spirit).
Participants from South Africa, Namibia and Germany took part in the Sefor Cup open division that pitched male and female competitors of all ages against each other as they tested their skills in the shiai-jo (ring).
Brendan Dateling and Matthew Price of San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank fought furiously to make it to the finals of the open division, with Dateling coming out on top to take the trophy. Natalie Morris from Ken Yu Kai dojo (Bryanston) and Eiji Dioda, also from San Kawa Kendo Dojo, took joint third place. Anesu Shamu from Mushin Kendo Dojo (Pretoria) won the fighting spirit award.
In a first for the Sefor Cup, a women’s division was also held. Morris took first place while Angela Becht from Germany took second. Joint third place was won by Wendy Vermuelen of Shi Hoko Dojo (Olivedale) and Yentl Krugel from Pretoria’s Mushin Dojo. Krugel also won the fighting spirit trophy for the division.
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