Who was the first non-japanese kendoka ?

[skilled]

It has come to my mind who was the first "outlander" who practiced kendo .. ?

thanks!

[j.noh]

Probably a Korean or Chinese guy.

[Dervish]

Was Gordon Warner the first non-Asian to practice kendo as we know it? William Adams might have learned a little about the Japanese art of the sword (kendo in the older sense of the word) -- I seem to recall that he carried Japanese swords in his capacity as hatamoto.

[JoonShik]

maybe Benjamin Hazard Sensei.

[skilled]

are there any records?

[Maku-san]

Someone prolly related to Kenzan-san, something or another... :smiley:

[xvikingx]

AHEM! AHEM!
http://www.kendo-world.com/products.php?s%5Bid%5D=5&s%5Bcat%5D=4
You guys do know that kendo world produces books and magazines right?

[Kenzan]

AHEM! AHEM!
http://www.kendo-world.com/products.php?s%5Bid%5D=5&s%5Bcat%5D=4
You guys do know that kendo world produces books and magazines right?

What, you get kickbacks like the Taxi drivers in Osaka?

BAM-U!

LOL

[Kenzan]

Someone prolly related to Kenzan-san, something or another... :smiley:

Not unless he was an Oklahoma Potato farmer.

[xvikingx]

What, you get kickbacks like the Taxi drivers in Osaka?

It's a nice thought but I have a feeling that whatever "profit" the KW guys make goes straight into the magazine.

[Kenzan]

It's a nice thought but I have a feeling that whatever "profit" the KW guys make goes straight into the magazine.

Indeed, a noble endeavor.
Shitsure shimasu.

[Paburo]

everybody knows it was tom cruise in the last samurai.....

[Roberto]

everybody knows it was tom cruise in the last samurai.....

Which was a mixture of William Adams, and his fictional representation in Shogun book, as John Blackthorne...


I bet it was Takezo Kensei. His life has been doccumented on Heroes

[sobasan7]

Not unless he was an Oklahoma Potato farmer.

yeah Oklahoma represent! mmm... squirrley potato's

[hugo]

It has come to my mind who was the first "outlander" who practiced kendo .. ?

thanks!

A more accurate question would be "who was the first outlander who STUCK WITH kendo?" Warner-sensei and Hazard-sensei made immeasurable contributions to Kendo in the US, but I am more than willing to bet that a bunch gave it a shot before that and either were hazed and quit (there are records of this) or just gave up.

[Maku-san]

Not unless he was an Oklahoma Potato farmer.

Only two things come from Oklahoma... steers and....squirrels.

Ain't no horns around you, boy. So that makes you a squirrel.

So desu BAM! :D

[Dervish]

I bet it was Takezo Kensei. His life has been doccumented on Heroes

I take it you missed the Takezo Kensei mockumentary (http://www.yamagatofellowship.org/videoEvents.shtml) done by John Rhys Davies? (