By Lawin Bulatao. Photos by Kurt Alvarez, John Tronco & Darwin Flores

“WE KENDO IT!”

At least that’s the feeling one gets, watching the newly formed Philippine Kendo Team prepare for the 11th AKT 2016 this July.

From being a loose (and sometimes fractious) congregation of kendo enthusiasts a mere three months ago, the team, under the stern guidance of Head Coach Naoko Morishima sensei, has been forged and tempered into a unit well worth watching out for.

Their intense preparation has cut through personal and club differences, and now the team thinks, moves, and most importantly fights as one for the goal of putting Philippine Kendo in the limelight, and of course bringing pride back home to the country.

Morishima sensei, more than ably assisted by coaches Koji Igarashi, Tomoyuki Akita, Tsutomu Takahashi and Team Manager Alain Duminy, is fielding the largest, most prepared contingent ever sent by the country. “The team has vastly improved both in terms of skills and camaraderie in such a short time” says Morishima sensei. “And while there’s still much room for improvement, I’m optimistic we can come up with a good showing and maybe even pull off a few surprises come July.”

The secret, Morishima sensei shares, is about Kihon (the Japanese term for basics, or fundamentals, specially in the martial arts). With strong Kihon, you reduce the chances of panicking, you increase confidence in your technique. You need strong Kihon to have strong Kendo. And that’s what the team will bring to Thailand to show the rest of the world.

“There’s also our Filipino optimism, cheerfulness and fighting spirit to bank on” according to National Kendo Federation of the Philippines President Kristopher Inting. “Kendo may still be in its developing stages here in the Philippines, but we’ve always been warriors so it’s hard to just write us off.”

The rest of the Philippine Kendo Team for the AKT are as follows:

Men’s Individual Players:

Kurt Alvarez, Matthew Arce, Andre Brillantes, Gerard Cagatan, Robert Dela Cruz, Lorenz Duka, Joshua Espiritu, Vincenzo Hernandez, Johnny Lardera Jr., Paul Minoza

Women’s Individual Players:

Maria Bianca Abriol-Santos, Ethyl Jane Angeles, Abegail Brillantes, Verna Lynn Chiongbian, Loida Estanilla-Inting, Elvira Inoue, Vangielyn Joy Joson, Angelyn Mercado, Tamorah Sison, Ma. Denise Verastigue

Men’s Team A:

Team Captain Andre Brillantes, Kristopher Inting, Lorenz Duka, Matthew Arce, Emerson Sychingiok, Joshua Espiritu, Gerard Cagatan

Men’s Team B:

Team Captain Ronald Villaroya, Ian Earl Navarro, Kurt Alvarez, Prince Mallari, Dane Pio de Roda, Robert Dela Cruz, Vincenzo Hernandez

Women’s Team A:

Team Captain Loida Estanilla-Inting, Angelyn Mercado, Ma. Denise Verastigue, Ethyl Jane Angeles, Maria Bianca Abriol-Santos

Women’s Team B:

Team Captain Vangielyn Joy Joson, Tamorah Sison, Verna Lynn Chiongbian, Elvira Inoue, Abegail Brillantes