British University Championships 2002
23rd February 2002
Saturday February 23rd was when the 5th University Kendo Championships, hosted by the University of Gloucestershire, previously Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, took place at the Hardwick Campus in Cheltenham. This was a truly international event with 50 individuals from nine universities. The students came from Japan, Korea, France, Germany, Thailand, England, Scotland and Wales. The competition started at 11.45 and finished at 8 o’clock in the evening. There were 133 fights in that time. It was a busy day.
This competition was the result of a meeting following the Mumeshi Threes competition last November. The universities then present decided that they wanted to re-establish the university competition, after a lapse of 18 months and to have a new format. A most important addition was the establishment of a competition with teams of five for a University Title. The last competition had been a small affair with teams of three. University Kendo was now felt to be strong enough to carry such a competition. Together with this a kyu grade competition, a dan grade competition and a women’s competition were thought to be desirable. Participants were to be restricted to undergraduate and postgraduate students except in special circumstances. These circumstances were those which were likely to enhance the development of University Kendo throughout Europe. The development of a pan-European dimension to the competition is seen as important.
The venue was accepted to be the University of Gloucestershire’s dojo. This was because the venue was available and Ian Parker Dodd, the dojo leader, had run the previous championships. There was a concern that the venue would be too small for such a number of competitions in one day. This nearly proved the case!
The original group of Universities were Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Kent and the University of Gloucestershire. Interest was expressed from the fledgling club of Edinburgh University and from University College Cork in Ireland. Edinburgh sent a team of three but the date coincided with a national squad-training weekend in Dublin for the Irish contingent so they will have to wait for another year. The University of Northumberia dojos has just been inaugurated and could not attend this year, but have signalled their intentions for 2003.
Out of the blue there then came Frank Jaehne of the University of Mainz in Germany. He made contact and indicated the desire to take part. This was completely in line with hoped-for developments so an invitation was offered and taken up. Frank and his students appeared in Cheltenham on the Thursday before the competition, had a brief practice whilst their route to their accommodation for the night was worked out and then they went on their way. A meeting was held on Friday to exchange ideas about the development of university Kendo in Europe. Frank told us about the German championships to be held in June and offered warm invitations. The Edinburgh contingent had arrived by this time so a pleasant evening was spent by all and friendships were cemented in an English pub.
Saturday dawned and the dojo was readied for the influx. Terry Holt, 7th Dan had agreed to act as chief referee. Peter Wells 6th Dan, Kaz Oishi 5th Dan and Malcolm Goodwin 5th Dan were to act as referees for the team competition, the women’s and the Dan grade competition. Ms. Hamada, Ms. Yoshikawa, Mr. Wise and Mr. Jaehne acted as referees for the Kyu grade championships. The start was scheduled for 11 o’clock but this was delayed for 45 minutes as the British railway system had worked its magic and Kent University?fs connections in London had not worked properly.
Competitors booked in on the day. It transpired that there were also competitors from Brooks University and Kings College London. These had made up a composite team. In all there were thirty two competitors in the Kyu competition and eighteen in the Dan grade competition. There were seven women competitors and nine teams. The Kyu, Dan and women competitions fought in pools to start with and then went to knockout rounds. The team competition was by knock out.
| British University Championships 2002 – Results | ||
| Kyu | 1st | Kim (Cambridge) |
| 2nd | Fujihara (Imperial) | |
| 3rd | Ettner (Mainz) Pichit Hung Saranagun (Imperial) |
|
| Ladies | 1st | Mattsson (Oxford) |
| 2nd | Tsukahara (Imperial) | |
| 3rd | Matsushita (Kent) Regardsoe (Oxford) |
|
| Men Yudansha | 1st | Kishigami (UGC) |
| 2nd | Jaehne (Mainz) | |
| 3rd | Nakamura (Kent) | |
| Team | 1st | University of Kent |
| 2nd | Mainz University | |
| 3rd | Cambridge Imperial ‘A’ |
|
The team competition was won by the University of Kent, who were led by Lawrence Pereira. Mainz University, led by Frank Jaehne, were second. Cambridge University and Imperial ‘A’ were joint third.
In the Kyu (beginners) grade competition Kim of Cambridge beat Fujihara of Imperial with joint third being Ettner of Mainz and Pichit Hung Saranagun of Imperial.
Mattesson of Oxford beat Tsukahara of Imperial in the women’s final with Regardsoe of Oxford and Matsushita of Kent joint third. The Dan grade competition was won by Kashigami of Gloucestershire with Jaehne of Mainz second and Nakamura of Kent third. Ms. Tsukahara of Imperial won the Hizen Fighting Spirit award.
Thanks are due to the referees, timekeepers, scorers and ribbon fixers who endured a long hard day. Their task was made somewhat easier by the provision of food, and endless cups tea and coffee.
A number of participants retired to the Frog and Fiddle Pub for post-competition recovery on Saturday night. A number of these appeared for Sunday practice looking reasonably battered. The practice was enlivened by the participation of four British National squad members who had been helping on the Saturday. I think probably everyone slept well on Sunday night!
The competition, having been restored by the enthusiasm of the university clubs, moves on to Kent University next year. They have a larger facility than Gloucestershire and they are closer to continental Europe. Next year could be a big one. I hope to see you there.
- Ian Parker Dodd, UGC