After a seven-year hiatus, the 11th Charity Kendo Championships made a heartwarming return on Sunday, 27th April, hosted at The Dunstable Centre by Kodokan Kendo Club and the Kendo Charity Group. The event brought together 50 young Kendoka and an equal number of family members, friends, and supporters, in a celebration of community spirit, sportsmanship, and a shared passion for Kendo; all in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity.

The day began with a one-minute silence held in honour of Roald Knutsen Sensei, who passed away just a day before the event at the age of 91. His memory was honoured with heartfelt words during the opening ceremony, recalling his lifelong dedication to the art and especially to the development of junior and family kendo.

The championships featured four junior divisions, a junior team event (Sakura Cup), and the popular Family Team division. Children aged 7 to 17 demonstrated impressive skill and determination, delivering high-quality matches that had spectators on the edge of their seats. The Family Team event featured closely contested bouts where victory was often decided by a single point - a testament to the talent and dedication on display.

These are the results:

Junior Group A:

1st Place - Lev Appleton

2nd Place - Bertram Kudo

Junior Group B:

1st Place - Lucca Duarte

2nd Place - Kotaro Izawa

3rd Place - Oskar Ohlenburg & Kanami Kai Li

Fighting Spirit - Mana Sudo

Junior Group C:

1st Place - Mitsuki Mori

2nd Place - Antonia Ramos

3rd Place - Rufus Kudo & Lyas Sakuma

Fighting Spirit - Miron Blyszczynski

Junior Group D:

1st Place - Jaycus Yeung

2nd Place - Henri Braibant

3rd Place - Martino Celestine & Alexander Sundin

Junior Team (Sakura Cup)

Winner - Wakaba Blue (Kotaro Izawa, Mitsuki Mori & Martino Celestine)

2nd Place - London Kenyukai (Mana Sudo, Antonia Ramos & Alexander Sundin)

3rd Place - Wakaba Red (Oskar Ohlenburg, Miron Blyszczynski & Tobin Pooten) & Mu-Shiro-To (Kanami Kai Li, Milo Ozawa & Romain Vidakovic)

Fighting Spirit - Antonia Ramos

Family Team (Hiroshi Ozawa Fighting Spirit Shield)

Winner - Tora A (Nico Butler, Henri Braibant, Lok Lam & Simon Bruins)

2nd Place - Wakaba Blue (Kotaro Izawa, Mitsuki Mori, Martino Celestine, Aleksandra Sudin & Hiromichi Matsuoka)

3rd Place - Wakaba Red (Oskar Ohlenburg, Miron Blyszczynski, Tobin Pooten, Gin Jing Ching & Izawa) & Kashinoki 2 (Riku Ozawa, Jaycus Yeung, Mindy Ju & Alex Chan)

Fighting Spirit - Martino Celestine

This is our 8th year supporting this event that is more than a competition—it is a heartfelt reunion of the UK’s kendo community, a tribute to those who came before, and a joyful testament to the next generation of Kendoka. Until next time—Kendo continues, stronger than ever.