On Vol. 3.4's cover: is that a sponsorship logo on the mune?

[slidercrank]

Just saw on the Kendo World website the color photograph of Team Korea's uniform at the last world championship.

There is a "Nokia" logo on the mune!? FIK regulations allow that?

[Badtz-Maru]

I was told by cesarekim when I met him at Kitamoto that there are pro-teams in Korea which are fueled by corporate sponsorships. Perhaps the Korean player we see on the cover plays for the Nokia sponsored pro-team. Maybe they did sponsor the Korean national team.

I would be surprised if there was a rule against it as long as it is not flashy and all the uniform colors are within regulation.

Heck, if Motorola or anyone else paid me to do Kendo, paid for my travel and bought me Bogu, I'd gladly wear their logo on my mune.

[Paburo]

but nokia is finnish! shouldn't they be sponsoring the finland squad instead? :D

[Kenshi]

Many companies here in Japan have teams as well. Although the people are workers of the company and not a pro-team. So you see mitsubishi, toyota, panasonic etc zekken.

[JoonShik]

but nokia is finnish! shouldn't they be sponsoring the finland squad instead? :D
Nokia is Finnish?? Never knew that. Anyway, yea, there company sponsered teams out there.

[sam.i.am]

Just to clarify, there are about 14~15 "pro" kumdo team in Korea. Except for Nokia TMC and Mireuchigwa Network all other teams are city hall or local govenment teams. They are not sponsored teams. The players are employees of Nokia and city halls. However, most teams train strictly a professional teams.

Here's the Nokia TMC team roster: http://businesskumdo.x-y.net/one_html/index.php?menu_id=22

[nodachi]

Many companies here in Japan have teams as well. Although the people are workers of the company and not a pro-team. So you see mitsubishi, toyota, panasonic etc zekken.

Although the logos in this situation serve as an advertisement, their main function is to identify that those people are actually employees of that company thus making it that company's team. I think this has a totally different feeling than a company sponsoring random other people who don't work for them like a Nascar racer.

[Kendoka]

Many companies here in Japan have teams as well. Although the people are workers of the company and not a pro-team. So you see mitsubishi, toyota, panasonic etc zekken.

The President of Nokia Korea is kendoka, what a nice friend to have! :ko:

[EBP2K2]

The President of Nokia Korea is kendoka, what a nice friend to have! :ko:

that's what i heard, too.. the reason why they are sponsoring kumdo team and members

now we need bill gates to pick up kendo, at my dojo. haha.

[cesarekim]

Sam.i.am has the details down pat... Most teams are under gucheung or sicheong (district or city government units) although the Nokia team was privately run. The former chairman of Nokia Korea was president of the Korea Kumdo Association. He was at Glasgow, for example. Due to health reasons, he cut back on his activities and had the current president of Nokia Korea take over in the KKA as well.

Nokia TMC was one of the strongest teams around for quite a bit and they even have a girl's team.