The 2011 Rembuden Taikai is one of the premier Kendo shiai events held in Wellington every year, and open to all competitors.
Seven competitors from Christchurch tried hard to snatch some gold medals but despite coming close Rembuden claimed the title in every event!
Canterbury Kendo Club Results
Juniors -- 2nd Masa Matsunami
Women's -- 2nd Alicia Cavan
Men's Senior Dan -- 3rd David Wong
Teams
Open team event -- 2nd Canterbury A (Masa Matsunami, Blake Bennett, David Wong)
The team that will be sent to Italy in May 2012 to represent New Zealand at the 15th World Kendo Championships has been selected, with a strong showing from the Canterbury Kendo club in the final lineup.
The 2012 World Kendo Championships will be held in Novara, Italy, on the 25th - 27th May. Following an NZ squad training held after the New Zealand National Championships earlier this month, eight men and five women were selected to compete for New Zealand next year. Congratulations to all who made the cut.
Canterbury Kendo Club members selected for the 2012 New Zealand Team
Men
- Blake Bennett
- David Wong
- Ramon Palmer
Women
- Alicia Cavan
- Akiyo Ellin
The 2011 New Zealand Kendo Nationals were held in Wellington over the 4th and 5th of June. The Canterbury Kendo Club sent seven competitors.
Thanks to the Rembuden Kendo Club, the event this year once again ran very smoothly. There were many exciting matches and fierce competition between the Christchurch and Rembuden clubs in the finals of most of the events.
Canterbury did well in both Mens and Womens Individuals, our own Akiyo once again taking the trophy for the Womens for the second year in a row. Blake fought hard in the Mens final in a long and nail biting encho match which ended with Walter McCahon from Rembuden claiming gold after almost 20 minutes!
Team Canterbury lost to Rembuden by one point on countback in both the Womens and Mens Team finals, scrabbling back to take the gold in the Kata for the second year running.
Individuals
Women's Dan Grade -- 1st Akiyo Ellin
Men's Dan Grade -- 2nd Blake Bennett
Teams
Women's Teams -- 2nd Alicia Cavan and Akiyo Ellin
Men's Teams -- 2nd David Wong, Ramon Palmer, Eynon Phillips, Blake Bennett, Karl Hitchcock
Kata -- 1st David Wong and Blake Bennett