Eleven players in full kit and armour are competing in the first kendo league organised by the Maltese Kendo Federation, the recognised official body affiliated with the European Kendo Federation.

With a total of 55 matches per round these competitions are the first steps towards building a team to compete in the European and world kendo cup respectively.

Kendo translates as the way of the sword and symbolises the spirit of the samurai that one must compete with spirit and mind in a physically challenging sport like element.

Though the metal sword has been replaced by bamboo all other aspects of the spirit of the samurai live on in the practice of kendo.

Hollywood movies such as “The Last Samurai” exposed the art of kendo to a huge audience many of whom were unaware that over 40 countries participate in a world championship and 10 million practise this martial art worldwide.

Kendo requires a strong spirit, physical strength and a mental attitude to avoid defeat. Each attack is undertaken as it would have been for the samurai with death as the only outcome.

To strike a winning blow requires good technique but victory requires a single mindedness to avoid defeat. In kendo such courageous attacks develop the spirit which is necessary for victory.

League standings

J. Mallia (Y) 7 points; B. Baron (K) 6; J. Zammit (Y), T. De Bono (K), C. Bezzina (Y) 4; K. Mallia (Y) 3, I. Grech (Y), O. Galea (Y) 3; W. Gatt (K) 2, A. Galea (K) 0, J. Wightman (Y) 0.