On August 16th, San Mateo Kendo Dojo hosted our 36th Anniversary Taikai at Burlingame High School. It has been about ten years since we last hosted a tournament—longer than our usual five-year cycle, after the COVID pandemic made it impossible to hold one when the time came. We were grateful to welcome back friends from across Northern California for a full day of competition.

Putting on a tournament takes a village. Members of our dojo, friends from other dojos, and community volunteers came together to prepare brackets, tape courts, staff tables, and keep everything running smoothly. We were especially moved that former members who once practiced with us, but stepped away as life took them elsewhere, came back to lend a hand. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day possible.

Congratulations to all of the division winners:

And congratulations to our own Catherine, who placed 3rd in Open Women! Tournaments are a great way to test your skill. Practitioners of all levels are encouraged to compete—it is one of the best ways to see where you stand and what to work on next.