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
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
Gek: Next time, I will hit big men…
…I will hit on big men!”
oOo
Nakagane-san wields a light saber!
Loida: I am happy for you Nakagane san.
Nakagane-san: But I did not pass!
oOo
(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
Verns: Shige-san, you did very good!
Shigetaka-san: yes but I want to win!
oOo
Vince: i feel reborn! Like it is the first time I’ve ever eaten food before.
oOo
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: 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: I was kissed! Kissed by a shinai! Na-tsuki ako ni Kato-sensei!!!
oOo
Sensei & Verns after keiko
Sensei: Train is like Vern’s driving! I feel I will die!
oOo
Nakagane-san: I have 1 tsuki kiss mark. I need 1 more for other side.
oOo
Romaine: Aaaah!!! I can feel the kendo! I can smell it!
oOo
Red: I did my best but they were better!
oOo
Verns with Takasu-sensei
Verns: If I sneeze, is it part of hassei?
oOo
Romaine: Tammy, where’s my banana?
oOo
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
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!