Eiji Dioda of San Kawa kendo Dojo (right) took a joint third place with Natalie Morris from Ken Yu Kai dojo (Bryanston) at the Sefor Cup. Photo: Nicholas Zaal
Rosebank kendoka, Brendan Dateling had to beat his San Kawa Kendo Dojo teammate, Matthew Price, to earn ultimate glory in the third annual Sefor Cup.
The event, formerly called the South African National Kendo Championships, attracted participants in the martial art from South Africa, Namibia, and Germany to compete at the University of Johannesburg on 17 March. The competition occurred on the second day of the 2019 International Kendo Seminar.
Dateling and Price train together at San Kawa Kendo Dojo in Rosebank, and have represented South Africa at numerous kendo tournaments all over the world, including at the World Kendo Championships.
“We push each other in training and in the past couple of years have had a rivalry at local competitions,” Dateling said, adding that this is a healthy rivalry because they are always helping each other improve.
Brendan Dateling has won the Sefor Cup, previously known as the South African National Kendo Championships. Photo: Supplied
Dateling said the tournament was not an easy one. “There is a small pool of competitors in South Africa but you never know what to expect because everyone puts their best into it.”
He added that he just tries to do his best and enjoy every tournament. But this is not easy at first because he has to warm up at tournaments before he can put everything he has learned into practice.
Dateling encouraged anyone interested in taking up kendo to give it a shot.
“I love that kendo has retained all the cultural aspects to it, that it emphasises respect, etiquette and discipline. It instils character and helps you be true to yourself. It has helped me with focusing too.”
San Kawa’s Eiji Dioda also took a joint third place with Natalie Morris from Ken Yu Kai dojo (Bryanston) at the Sefor Cup.
Details: San Kawa Kendo Dojo info@sankawa.co.za; 072 977 9067.
Ashtyn is the editor of the Rosebank Killarney Gazette. She has been a community journalist since 2014 and is passionate about delivering impactful and thought-provoking stories.
