In the autumn of 2023, nearly the entire company had the opportunity to try kendo, guided by Fudo Kamae, as part of our well-being event. Among our employees, we have both fitness enthusiasts and those who don’t typically engage in physical activity during their free time.
Despite our varying levels of fitness, everyone had a fantastic time under the care of Fudo Kamae! This well-being event was designed in a way that challenged us all just the right amount, while still being fun and educational. It was strangely difficult and amusing to learn how to look someone in the eye while striking them on the top of the head with a large stick. On top of that, we received praise for executing our moves correctly and with the right attitude.
The biggest surprise was the sheer volume of sound that emanates during a kendo match. The clashing of shinai swords pales in comparison to the shouts of the practitioners, which apparently play a big role in balancing oneself. It didn’t take long before we too were shouting out the names of different strikes with all our might as we practiced our forms.
The well-being event also taught us that kendo is much more than just striking someone on the top of the head with permission. It involves respect, philosophy, and self-awareness, all of which we believe are valuable not only in the dojo but outside of it as well.
We spent a lot of time discussing our experiences within the company in the days that followed. We compared muscle aches and shared the feelings the activity left us with. Overall, the experience was very positive, and it seems likely that a good number of us from Koud will be joining the next beginner course.
Olli Ikonen
Head of Sales
