NEW YORK—World-acclaimed Kendo Master Shozo Kato demonstrated Samurai sword fighting for a group of high school students on Thursday at the Museum of the City of New York.
Kato, 54, has been practicing Kendo, a traditional Japanese fencing martial art, since he was 12. He simulated different combat techniques with the help of his students in traditional armor and using bamboo foil swords to mimic the katana, a traditional Japanese sword.
The demonstration is part of an exhibition at the Museum, “Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860.”
“If you get too angry when you’re playing you lose right away,” said one of his students while explaining the emphasis of proper etiquette and self-development behind Kendo.
Kato said the focus is not to fight. He emphasized the physical and mental training involved while noting that many American kids have a misperception of martial arts and associate it with being a movie star and fighting.
This Saturday, the museum will be hosting a family event at 2:00 p.m. featuring sword fighting as well as comedy routines and dramas to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese visitors to New York.
Kato, 54, has been practicing Kendo, a traditional Japanese fencing martial art, since he was 12. He simulated different combat techniques with the help of his students in traditional armor and using bamboo foil swords to mimic the katana, a traditional Japanese sword.
The demonstration is part of an exhibition at the Museum, “Samurai in New York: The First Japanese Delegation, 1860.”
“If you get too angry when you’re playing you lose right away,” said one of his students while explaining the emphasis of proper etiquette and self-development behind Kendo.
Kato said the focus is not to fight. He emphasized the physical and mental training involved while noting that many American kids have a misperception of martial arts and associate it with being a movie star and fighting.
This Saturday, the museum will be hosting a family event at 2:00 p.m. featuring sword fighting as well as comedy routines and dramas to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Japanese visitors to New York.
