Teaching the Japanese martial art of kendo, or "the way of the sword," has been a way of life for Shigeo Yoshinaga.

The 89-year-old sensei has been teaching kendo in Hawai'i for 70 years and, in the process, perpetuating Japanese culture.

Yoshinaga is president of the Kenshikan Kendo Dojo, which practices three times a week at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii on South Beretania Street.

He said his club has more than 120 members, including 11 other instructors.

"Kendo is student-to-teacher communication," Yoshinaga said. "Try to give this good path of kendo to the student. The main thing is to respect each other. Doing the kendo can improve you mentally and physically. After that you try to get peace with each other."

Yoshinaga is a 7-dan, the highest rank among anyone in Hawai'i. He said he'll likely continue teaching for one or two more years.

"I have the greatest respect for him out of all the sensei," said club member Kevin Chun, a 16-year-old student at Roosevelt High.

Yoshinaga was born in Wahiawa, moved to Kumamoto, Japan, at age 4, and returned to Hawai'i in 1937 at age 19. He immediately began teaching Japanese and kendo.

Yoshinaga's two children trained under him, and now his grandson Braden Yoshinaga has a few months of kendo experience.

"I think it's really neat. I enjoy doing all the motions," said Braden, a 9-year-old student at Punahou School.

Katsumi Yamada, a 5-dan and general manager of the Kenshikan Kendo Dojo, said he was "forced" by his father to take kendo in Japan when he was 10.

He quit, eventually moved to Hawai'i and re-enrolled in kendo after a 38-year break because of his son Jack.

"When my son was 7 years old, he was so restless, a rascal," said Yamada, 69. "I took him to the soccer games and other sports. I realized he wanted to play individual sports instead of group. So I took him to kendo with Yoshinaga, and that's how I started."

Jack, 24, lives in Japan and is a 4-dan.

Tawri Matsushige, a 14-year-old student at 'Iolani School, is a fourth-generation kendoka. She gave up kendo for a while, but decided to return.

"I kind of missed it because I had a lot of things going on," Matsushige said. "When I went to a new school, I found someone by chance and she started (at the club) right after I quit so I decided to rejoin after."

THE BENEFITS

The benefits of kendo, like other martial arts, go beyond the physical aspects. The ancient art, which originated from samurai warriors during the 13th century, also can help someone mentally and spiritually.

"I feel like I'm a better person because I'm doing something good for myself, and if I'm doing good for myself it raises the level of the spirit inside the dojo, which helps everyone inside," Chun said.

For the youngsters, swinging a bamboo sword is fun and good exercise. But as they get more experience they should start picking up kendo's other aspects.

"Work yourself to be disciplined, respect others," Yamada said. "Kendo without respect is nothing more than violence. That's in our minds. By respecting other people your kendo will become good."

EQUIPMENT

Kendoka strike opponents with a shinai, a two-handed sword made of split bamboo.

Dogu is the protective armor worn by kendoka to protect target areas on the head, torso and hands. Beginning kendoka usually do not suit up in dogu until they have learned how to handle the shinai.

The men (helmet) has a metal "face mask" and flaps that cover both shoulders. A small towel is worn under the men.

The do is the armored chest plate and kote are well-padded gloves. The tare is rapped around the waist and protects the hips and groin.

Kendoka also wear a keikogi, or jacket, and hakama, which is a skirt-like garment.

The equipment can be expensive. According to Yoshinaga, a full adult set can cost about $1,000 ($600 for the dogu, $185 for the shinai and $185 for the keikogi and hakama). A full child set could cost about $600.

DISCIPLINE IS KEY

To become good at kendo, "It takes a lot of self discipline. It is very demanding, but it helps you become a better person," said Chun, who has been taking kendo for 12 years.

Yoshinaga said the Kenshikan Kendo Dojo usually competes in four tournaments a year.

In competitions, one kendoka wears a white ribbon on his back and the opponent has red. If at least two of the three judges raise the same color flag after a strike, a point is awarded. The first to two points wins, but there are time limits.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.