Among the many sports clubs at UC San Diego, the campus’ kendo team is a hidden gem.

Holding first-place medals across most competition styles, UCSD Kendo is proud of both its accolades and its tight-knit community.

Kendo is a Japanese sword martial art that combines strength and finesse. During a round-table interview last week, UCSD Kendo members discussed how their dedication to the craft has shaped their experiences on the team.

Due to kendo’s variety of techniques, determination and discipline are necessary, but the team also focuses on creating a safe space to learn new skills. For new members, the welcoming environment is a draw.

“It was very easy because you don’t need any experience at all,” graduate student Camille Handa said. “It’s easy to learn because they walk you through everything. And there’s also a bunch of people there who are learning, so you get to learn with them.”

Being a newcomer is not a barrier to competition in kendo — it just offers a different experience. Kendo tournaments have different divisions based on skill level, from non-bogu — a mostly-beginner style where members compete without formal armor — to Yudansha — where members compete with other experienced opponents.

“Joining the team just involves regularly coming to practice,” co-president and fourth-year Tobin Caldwell said. “You don’t have to be an Olympic-level athlete to be sent to that tournament.”

The sport’s inclusivity is mirrored in the team’s social scene. Fourth-year Ryan Tokumoto explained how the social aspects of the club enhance his practice.

“Coming into college was a completely different environment, and getting to meet … a lot of people with different skill levels [and] getting to experience the social aspect of kendo really made me want to keep practicing,” Tokumoto explained. “It was [also] kind of like a restart for me, and getting to experience the different social events of the club, the different tournaments, always having something to look forward to is what really makes it fun.”

Fifth-year Len EinDar attributes the club’s stellar competition performances to the morale boost of team bonding during these social events.

“I felt a connection with my club mates, my teammates,” he expressed. “There’s a culture during practices and socials when everyone just hangs out. I feel like there’s a sense of closeness that’s uplifting and helps me motivate myself to practice all the time and get better.”

This sentiment is shared across the club. Second-year Scarlett Wu spoke about how the club creates environments for everyone. When she first joined, Wu was a bit intimidated, but after a “girls’ night social,” she was able to find a community in the club.

“This is where I felt like, ‘Oh, I was pretty welcome here, and everyone is so nice,’” Wu said. “This is why I stayed.”

Caldwell encouraged those who are interested in joining to visit the team’s table on Library Walk during the first week of the quarter to see a kendo demonstration.

“We always do a demo where we have someone in armor during our tabling events, and you can hit someone with the shinai; it never hurts, and it’s just fun,” Caldwell explained. “Without paying money or going to practice, they can get a feel of kendo.”

No matter who you are, the UCSD Kendo team has a place for you, proving there’s more to sports than the podium. From tournaments to socials, the UCSD Kendo team offers a sense of community to all of its members.