A small, dedicated community formed, bringing together Japanese and Filipino practitioners who shared a passion for the art.
We are Metro Kendo Club, a non-profit martial arts organization based in Metro Manila, Philippines 🇵🇭 Affiliated with the United Kendo Federation of the Philippines Metro Kendo Club (Metroken) traces its origins back to the early 1990s, when Japanese expatriates—including the respected Yamanishi-sensei—brought kendo practice to the Philippines. As the community grew and evolved, key leaders and fo
09/08/2026
The weather didn’t stop our members to train yesterday! ⛈️
We are honored to welcome our visitors: Kento Maeda and Karen Maeda! 🙇♀️
We are also happy to welcome Waka Dobashi who will temporarily train with us here at Metro Kendo Club! 🌸
It has been rainy these past few days, and we appreciate everyone who still took time to still get some practice done!
07/08/2026
Kendo is one of the few martial arts / activities that you can do regardless of your age or gender 🌸
Unlike sports where you peak in your 20s, Kendo only deepens as you get older. You trade raw speed for composure, efficiency, and sharp presence.
It bridges generations, as adults and kids train side-by-side, learning from and inspiring each other.
No matter where you are in life, it’s never too early and never too late to pick up a shinai. ⚔️
📸 Jake Fernandez / jaketrieseverything
Solid bonds, 8 months later ⚔️✨Huge shoutout to our January 2026 batch!
The determination, shared laughs, solid attendance even up to the “2nd dojo”, and genuine support for one another’s growth prove that while Kendo is an individual journey, you never walk the path alone! 🌸✨
Watching this batch build such an incredible sense of camaraderie has been a highlight for the dojo. Keep pushing each other forward! 🔥
Insightful podcast featuring Naoki Eiga-sensei, 4x Kendo 8th Dan Champion! 🔥
rainy season fit 👀🌸
Tame 溜め/tah-meh/ is a core concept in Kendo literally translates to “accumulating” or “storing” energy.
It’s the hidden power behind high-level strikes. The split-second of immense physical and mental tension right before you commit. ⚔️
Tame is holding completely still with absolute focus, waiting for the exact moment before exploding into action.
In shiai (match), whoever panics first loses. Tame gives you the mental composure to hold your ground until your opponent breaks.
In Dan (段) promotion exams, raw speed won’t impress the panel. They also evaluate whether your strike was backed by patience and control.
🤝 Seme and Tame
To truly master Tame, you have to pair it with Seme 攻め /seh-meh/, the act of applying forward pressure and taking the center line.
Think of them as a two-step combo:
Seme (The Spark): You push into your opponent’s space, forcing them to panic, freeze, or reach prematurely.
Tame (The Fuel): As their guard cracks, you don’t rush. You hold the tension in your core and left foot until the opening is 100% clear, then strike.
Seme without Tame leads to rushing in blindly and getting counter-struck. Tame without Seme just leaves you standing still.
Control the urge to rush, hold the tension, and strike with conviction!
25/07/2026
Huge crowd for tonight’s keiko! And we are honored to have several visitors tonight: Sugiyama-sensei, Nitobe-sensei, Ariji-sensei, Kitada-sensei, and Shingaki-sensei! 🌸⚔️
Thank you so much for practicing with us. ありがとうございました! 🙇♀️
21/07/2026
🔴Why is the inside of your men’s (headgear) mengane red?
Ever notice that flash of red every time you look through your mengane? That's not just for ✨aesthetics✨.
In Japanese craft tradition, red (vermilion) is believed to make a field of view feel brighter, the same reason bowls and tableware are painted with red urushi lacquer, so the contents inside look clearer and more vivid.
Bogu (armor) makers borrowed this same idea for the mengane. The red interior is said to reduce glare and afterimages from the metal bars, which is part of why you barely notice the grill is even there when you're locking eyes with your opponent, it just kind of "disappears."
According to Bushizo, the leather trim where the mengane meets the men cushion follows the same pattern: painted black lacquer on the outside and red on the inside, with the red again serving to let in light and widen the field of view. Interestingly, they also note the area with red paint tends to correspond to where the mengane's horizontal bars are spaced slightly wider, specifically to preserve visibility.
It's not something that came out of a lab or research. It's centuries of craftsmen passing down what worked, refined through generations of actually wearing the gear.
Next time you suit up, take a second to notice it. 🔴
Sources in the comments.
📸 Photo from
| Wednesday | 7:30pm - 9pm |
| Saturday | 6pm - 8pm |