KENDO & KOMEDY: Our Killer Kombo

By Lawin Bulatao, Verns Buckley

At the recently concluded 16th Hong Kong Taikai, more than just Kendo skills were on display. Behind the lightning stroke ippons and the thunder of the kiais rolling across the hall, there is that thing that makes us at IGA Ken who we are: our laughter.

As clearly and hilariously demonstrated in Hong Kong, being deadly serious and drop-dead funny are merely two sides of the same coin for us.

And just to prove that point, here thanks to Verns, our very own Smiling Demon, are some of Hong Kong’s more humorous highlights:

(Alain-san, Igarashi-sensei and Verns at the Tin Shui Wai Sports Center)

Alain Duminy: I was inside him!
Verns: You were?
Alain: Yes! My shinai was inside him!
Verns: Oh my God!

oOo

Gek & Sensei

Gek & Sensei

Igarashi-sensei: Tell us about your experience today.
Gek: Sensei, I noticed my opponent was very handsome.

oOo

Source: ibc.lynxeds.com

Verns: We went to the wetlands and saw the chinese bulbol (scientific name: pycnonotus sinensis) (Definitely not what you’re thinking! XD)

oOo

4

Gek: Next time, I will hit big men…

4.1

…I will hit on big men!”

oOo

Nakagane-san wields a light saber!

Nakagane-san wields a light saber!

Loida: I am happy for you Nakagane san.
Nakagane-san: But I did not pass!

oOo

Romaine with Prince and Dane on his side

(From the left) Prince, Romaine, and Dane

Kutch-senpai: Ok guys, let’s get ready.
Romaine: Teka, nandito yung saging ko!
Kutch: What’s a banana doing in your men?
Romaine: Pinahawak ko pala kay Tammy!

oOo

Shigetaka-san with Vince during the Welcome Party at HK

Shigetaka-san with Vince during the Welcome Party at HK

Verns: Shige-san, you did very good!
Shigetaka-san: yes but I want to win!

oOo

vince4

Vince: i feel reborn! Like it is the first time I’ve ever eaten food before.

oOo

Sensei with Tachibana-san

Sensei with Tachibana-san

Sensei: Did you see my 8th-dan Kamae? But only Kamae!

oOo

Sensei and Sakuhara-san during the 2015 IGA Ken Gasshuku

Sensei and Sakuhara-san during the 2015 IGA Ken Gasshuku

Sensei: Nakagane-san, Shige-san, Tachibana-san and Sakuhara-san. You get 2 ippon each so that I will only do motodachi during shiai.

Sakuhara-san: No need for me! Three of them is enough already! You three get two ippon so I can drink beer!

oOo

Ejay

Ejay: I was kissed! Kissed by a shinai! Na-tsuki ako ni Kato-sensei!!!

oOo

Sensei & Verns after keiko

Sensei & Verns after keiko

Sensei: Train is like Vern’s driving! I feel I will die!

oOo

12

Nakagane-san: I have 1 tsuki kiss mark. I need 1 more for other side.

oOo

romaine2

Romaine: Aaaah!!! I can feel the kendo! I can smell it!

oOo

Red

Red: I did my best but they were better!

oOo

Verns with Takasu-sensei

Verns with Takasu-sensei

Verns: If I sneeze, is it part of hassei?

oOo

13

Romaine: Tammy, where’s my banana?

oOo

Edward in full bogu during a shiai

Edward in full bogu during a shiai

Sensei: Edward, don’t forget kote!!

In relation to that line above, Prince Pogi started a thread in Facebook…

In memory of this year’s Hong Kong event. #neverforget

16

 

 

Wherein the rest came up with numerous hashtags to commemorate one of the memorable scenes during the 3-man team event.

Romaine: IGA Kendo Tenets

Big Voice
Hit Straight, go straight
Shibori
Wear kote

#kotematters

#NoNeedKote

#TooProForKote

#KoteisforNewbs

Our greatest hits, obviously don’t all happen on the competition floor.

Welcome home Team IGA Ken and congratulations! Thank you for making us proud, and more importantly, for keeping us smiling!

What dyou think?