[CHAR] Akimitsu Academy Kendo Club [INVITE ONLY]

[Bartimaeus]

Shion Sasaki

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Shion

"Ya think so? Prove it, then!~"

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Name:

Sasaki, Shion

Age:

17

Appearance:

At passing glance, one would be forgiven for immediately thinking Shion a girl. Albeit his unkempt-looking hair is short, it is also quite fluffy and possesses a traditionally-feminine rosy-pink tone. His bangs are often prone to brushing into his face, occasionally covering the similarly-unique hue of his grape-purple eyes - which are often enhanced with his personal application of black eyeliner. Additionally, Shion's facial aspects are rather feminine; soft yet angular features and fair, clear skin accompanied by thin, expressive eyebrows.

Aside from his head, Shion doesn't have anything particularly special to note about him, physically. Admittedly, he does possesses a physique a bit feminine for most boys his age - being that he is rather petite at 5'4" and with no visible muscle. Despite his soft appearance though, he does have some musculature to him in the areas that are most manipulated in Kendo - those being the back, arms, core, and legs.

Personality:

Shion is a bit of a wildcard, some might say. In general, he's a boy of many facets - he is very-much-so an ambivert, and his day-to-day self flexes this duality often. He's not scared of being loud, nor of being unheard. He's fun-loving and animated, but equally capable of solemnity or aloofness that might seem off-putting coming from a bright, quip-cracking personality like his. He is a naturally competitive sort, and possesses the tenacity to compete against the odds in whichever field it is that he desires. He's more attentive than one might expect from a boy as air-headed as he can sometimes be, and is all-too-interested in learning specific fields that might seem a little random - like martial arts, or chemistry.

Bio:

Shion's life has been rather simple, if unfortunate, up to this point. Now living with his grandmother in an oddly large home for a Japanese citizen, Shion had been raised solely by his mother up until the age of 13. Until then, the two of them had lived alone, spending their days together as his mother, Aiko, worked from home. His life was one of normality and happiness - despite his father not being in the picture - and he would always return home from school to the waiting arms of his mother, who greeted him and treated him with all the love one could muster. But for some, fate deemed life would not be so blessed. At age 13, Shion lost his mother to a genetic disease with which he did not know she was burdened. From that point onward, he began to live with his grandmother Miu - a distant, if generous and benevolent, entity in his life.

He is, at least, a little fortunate in his inheritances granted by his mother. His closet is full of her belongings - memories of the only person who he was ever truly close to. Additionally, Shion seeks to carry on her legacy in Kendo. Aiko Sasaki was a world-competitor in Kendo some years ago, having to quit due to health. Shion keeps tapes of some of her competitions, watching them from time-to-time when he needs inspiration or comfort. It is her legacy in the sport that causes him to hold a deep respect for Kendo, and the drive to be the best than he can be - and better.

Kendo:

One might expect Shion's Kendo style to mirror his personality, and they would be right - though maybe for the wrong reasons. Where he is a rather balanced character who is equally prone to outwardness or reticence, in Kendo he is a defensive, counterattack-specialist. In shiai, Shion almost never deviates from the balanced Chudan stance, and develops a sharp eye and a reactive disposition - looking for even the slightest moment where his opponent's attack leaves them vulnerable to one of his own.

Not only is Shion's style one that takes advantage of the aggression of the opponent, but Shion is also a bit of a trickster when it comes to his own forms of aggression. Generally, the most common form of strike in Kendo is a cut, but Shion finds some success in a proclivity for thrusts - a faster and more deceptive, but more easily deflected, attack. Fortunately, this works well for him, as it is more difficult to articulate one's shinai during the recovery of a deflected or bypassed attack.

Additionally, Shion's interest in martial arts and swordsmanship as a whole leads him to have developed a taste for.. innovating. While being mindful of what maneuvers fit within the rules of a competition, Shion likes to include a number of techniques that aren't something a Kendoka would teach you. Stuff like techniques from European or Italian manuals - exotic things like that. Of course, these techniques can be hard to find uses for in practice, and aren't hammered into him for weeks by an instructor - so they could cost him.

Finally, there is Shion's behavior within Kendo. In all his flexibility, Shion's demeanor during true shiai is one that is very-much-so at odds with what people know of him. Were one to watch Shion closely, they would notice the very moment he reaches first sonkyo, any modicum of a smile, smirk, or really any emotion, vanishes. He eyes lock onto his opponent, and he develops an aura of seriousness that one can almost feel. The only reaction that one could distinguish from Shion's visage, in that moment, is the movement of his eyes as they flick from detail-to-detail, scanning his opponent in almost machine-like fashion. One could become so engrossed in the the polarity of the change that they could very well be startled by the curt, powerful burst of vocals that are Shion's kiai.

Shion is an exceptional Kendo student in his own right, but he does have his flaws. While he obviously isn't incapable of aggressing a defensive opponent, Shion's specialty lies in his eye for counter-attacks, and he is much more comfortable in that field of use. Additionally, he has been known to lose practices due to his use of the aforementioned exotic techniques - as his level of exercise with some of them is lacking, compared to normal Kendo maneuvers. This has gotten him scolded on more than a couple occasions by whichever sensei was teaching him at the time.

Other:

Nothing, for now!

[Feyblue]

Takamine Mikumo

T A K A M I N E M I K U M O
T A K A M I N E M I K U M O

^{“There's no need for any further introduction. Show me your resolve, and my sword will answer.”}

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_______________________________________________ Demographic Full Name - Takamine Mikumo (高嶺 美雲) Nicknames - Her family and the old ladies in her neighborhood often call her "Miku-chan." Age - 17 Gender - Female Year - Second Year Club Position - Fukusho - Vice-Captain Personality Stern and Silent Mikumo is not a person who makes a good first impression. With a perpetually harsh gaze and blunt words, she has little tolerance for or capacity to make small talk. She's a girl who always has a goal in mind, and will always take the most direct route to achieving it. But while this does make her an effective instructor and organizer, it makes her a very poor conversationalist. Hard Work Always Works Mikumo might be rather bad at thinking outside the box, but though her methods lack subtlety, her dedication is second to none. If there's a problem she can't solve, she'll study it until it makes sense to her. If there's an opponent she can't defeat, she'll train until she can. Her answer to any and all problems is to simply redouble her focus and her efforts, and to throw herself up against them with grit and gusto. Wounded Pride Though Mikumo's own reputation precedes her, it pales in comparison to that of her father and elder brother -- figures to whom she has been compared one way or the other for most of her life. Though she admires them greatly, that doesn't change the way it stings when she's referred to as "Takamine Mikoto's little sister" or "Takamine Masashi's daughter" -- nor can she entirely escape the lingering feeling of inadequacy that that's all she'll ever be seen as. Beneath the Ice Though her frigid demeanor and taciturn personality scare away many of those who might otherwise seek to befriend her, truth be told she's not deliberately cold so much as socially inept. Her frankness often gives cause for unintended offense, while her own self-consciousness causes her to avoid overt displays of emotion or interest that might be seen as unbecoming of her image. And, making matters worse, her lack of awareness causes her to either misread or completely fail to notice social cues that would warn her away from such behavior. But underneath it all, she's actually a surprisingly sweet and caring girl... if only she could just learn to relax a little. Kendo Style As one who has studied the art of Kendo since she was old enough to hold a sword, and who has benefited from the generational experience of her family in their long history as professional Kendoka, it comes as no surprise that Mikumo is quite skilled for her age. Although unlike her more prodigious brother she only holds the rank of second Dan, she makes up for this gap in the overall breadth of her knowledge with a firm mastery of the fundamentals. Possessed of lightning-quick reflexes and a keenly analytical eye, she is well-suited to predicting the intentions of her opponents, and countering them with a wide array of simple-yet-effective techniques. Her swordsmanship is neither flashy nor subtle, but rather exactly as swift and direct as her own unwavering personality would lead one to believe. She turns her opponent's blade, then immediately retaliates with her own, pressing the attack for as long as her momentum remains unbroken. Or, should she be unable to remain on the offensive, she's equally capable of adjusting to a more passive posture, weathering the opponent's blows without offering up any openings for them to capitalize on, and simply enduring until they make a mistake. Adaptability is thus, first and foremost, her greatest advantage, allowing her to take a wide range of different tactics and integrate them harmoniously into her own style, shoring up gaps in her own knowledge and weak points in her strategy, while picking and choosing the right stance and the right move for any given matchup. ...The problem is not her abilities or aptitudes, then -- it's her willingness (or lack thereof) to make use of what should be her greatest strength. Hardened by a lifelong inferiority complex, her mindset is far too rigid to accept that some tactics and techniques are ill-suited for her physique, build, and relative proficiency. She's far too preoccupied with trying to do things "right" -- or, more precisely, with trying to do things the way Mikoto would. Because of this, she's not satisfied with victories earned through simple endurance. Mikumo wants to overwhelm her opponents, advancing decisively and proactively to meet and overcome them in a head-to-head contest of strength. Because of this, she's dead-set on mastering a highly aggressive Jodan strategy of relentless aggression, pressuring the opponent with overhead strikes even when she might be better served by winding around the opponent's sword instead of clashing with it directly. But while she has height, she lacks the same brute strength as her brother possesses -- and that is a gap she will likely never be able to close. Perhaps in this manner, too, she is doomed to forever languish in her brother's shadow -- so blinded by his radiance that she never thinks to notice the glimmer of talent that she alone possesses... Other Information Part of the reason why Mikumo was so quickly scouted for and so highly placed within Akimitsu Academy's Kendo team, despite only recently having transferred to the school, is that she has cultivated a certain reputation due to her performance in tournaments back in Junior High. It's uncertain where the name originates from, but apparently, she was known previously as the "Sleeping Dragon of Harugaoka Junior High." She seems to rather strongly dislike this sobriquet, and has repeatedly asked people to stop calling her by it, but that only seems to have solidified the name in the hearts and minds of her new schoolmates. Though, it's questionable whether this is because people actually believe in her much-exaggerated reputation, or simply because some of her male admirers greatly enjoy seeing her flustered by it. Her dialogue Hexacode color is #B90050.

Physical Description Ever since her transfer at the start of the second year, the girl named Takamine Mikumo has taken Akimitsu Academy by storm. Well, that's probably an exaggeration. But be that as it may, it's admittedly rather difficult to ignore someone so visually striking. Standing at a height of 171 cm/5'7", she stands almost a head taller than most of her female classmates, and can even look down on some of the boys. Coupled with her long, sometimes-neat, sometimes-wild mane of ink black hair, piercing wine-red gaze, and her clear, commanding voice, one almost can't help but take note of her natural charisma. Her figure plays more than just a small part as well, of course -- it's a secret only to her that most of the academy's male population finds her rather easy on the eyes. The only flaw in her otherwise tremendous physical appeal comes in her lack of expressiveness. When her face's entire visible emotional range lies somewhere between vacant disinterest, stoic resolution, and the occasional scowl of frustration or scorn, it's a little hard to do more than just observe her from afar. After all, she's a lot less pretty when it's you she's glaring at. But bold souls will ever and always struggle and strive in the face of great challenges, and accordingly, there is a rumor that has been circulated among the male student body. Anyone who can make the ice queen of the Kendo Club smile will be blessed. Your acne will clear up, your sleep schedule will resolve itself, your grades will improve, your lost cat will come home, and you shall be graced with miraculous good fortune until the end of your days... probably. Personal Story The noble art of Kendo has been passed down the Takamine family line for generations. Tracing their lineage proudly back to an old samurai family, each successive heir of the family has gone on to raise their name to still loftier heights. Her grandfather founded a prominent dojo which her family still runs to this day, while her father achieved national honors in the sport and now serves as a Kendo instructor to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. And her brother, though only one year older than Mikumo herself, has already proven himself a prodigy in the art of the sword, earning the rank of first Dan by unanimous vote almost the moment he became old enough to undertake the examination for it, second Dan exactly one year after, and third Dan two years after that, held back only by how quickly his teachers would allow him to undertake testing. In any other household, Mikumo's own skills would likely have stood out more. However, there is a sharp line between "talent" and "genius" -- and she, unfortunately, falls short of that line. As her brother's progression outstripped her further and further, then, how could she not feel as though she was wasting her father's time with her incessant questions and failures to grasp what Mikoto had mastered so easily? With no other peers to compare herself to, the young Mikumo's view of her own competence became warped -- and the fact that despite her shortcomings, her father still took the time to try to instruct her only made her more painfully aware of this perceived inadequacy. She likely would have set aside the sport entirely, had she been forced to continue any longer in such a manner. But in Junior High, things changed. Following as she did in the footsteps of her esteemed elder brother, the Kendo club's hero, it was impossible to shake the expectations of her new classmates -- classmates who almost immediately offered her a place on the team. She could have said no. Maybe she should have. But Mikumo's wounded pride had yet to heal, and the expectant eyes of her classmates soothed her sense of inadequacy. And much to her surprise, she was anything but inadequate. Before she knew it, she was recognized as the second coming of their club's hero, in deed as well as in name, filling in for her brother as team captain once he graduated to High School and advanced to national-level competition. For the first time since she had set out as a child to learn the art, she felt... pride? ...A pride that was doomed to be short-lived. For although she, in her third year, stood where her brother once had, basking in the acclaim that had so long eluded her, there were no shortage of those who occupied what had once been her own place. Admiration turned to resentment, as the approval which other talented clubmates desired was instead heaped solely upon her, their prodigious young captain. And just like that, the place she thought she had finally found was gone, as her classmates turned to spreading rumors and mockery behind her back, and the club she had helped lead to victory fell apart around her. Her parents tried to salvage the situation as best they could. Her father, hoping her love of the sport would not be soured by this bad experience, tried to arrange for her admission to the same high school as Mikoto. He must have surely hoped that in such an environment, she would be surrounded by equals who would respect her skills and accomplishments, and that Mikoto would be able to protect her from any doubts or insults leveled by those who refused to. But mo matter how benevolent her father and brother's intentions might have been, the last thing she wanted was to go back to meekly dwelling in Mikoto's shadow. She wanted to strive, to accomplish, and to excel on her own terms. So it was that after only a year at her first high school, she talked her mother into letting her stay with her grandparents, and transfer to a different school closer to their home -- one with a Kendo team only slightly less prestigious than the one which her brother now captained, and on which she herself had so briefly competed. Only this time, she would not be following in Mikoto's footsteps. She would enter the school as just another Kendoka, seeking to draw no attention to her name or to her troubled history with the sport -- succeeding or failing solely on her own merits, and hers alone. ...Were it only so easy.

[Lemons]

Furukawa Fujiko

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"I'm sorry, I'm trying to be less aggressive..."

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Name:

Furukawa Fujiko

Age:

16

Appearance:

Perhaps the best word for Furukawa Fujiko's appearance is 'transitional.' Her hair is somewhat shaggy and unkempt as though grown out unevenly, and sits at an awkward length around the base of her neck. Narrow eyebrows that always seem at least slightly sad sit over a pair of dark gray eyes with much the same emotion. She's taller than a middle schooler but still not quite as tall as a high schooler, sitting at 152 centimeters: not short enough to be especially noticeable, but short enough to be a little bit self-conscious.

Her small size might have you thinking she's frail at first, but—as befits a girl is athletic as she is—if you look closer, you will find an incredibly athletic physique. Her trimmed stomach displays prominent abs that are remarkably strong. Her legs are even moreso, packed with the wiry whipcord muscle that comes from running hard for hours, for days in a row. And yet for all the strength that her core and lower body present, anything above her abs is...not unfit, obviously, but being mainly a soccer player, she never really worked it out nearly as much. Of course she dabbled in other sports, but none of them held her interest in the same way, and so her upper body is much less developed than her lower.

On that note, Fujiko has a passionate hatred for her chest. Not that she's particularly against the concept, but...why did it have to grow as much as it did? It's unbelievably inconvenient, makes her stick out in a way she isn't fond of, makes it frustrating to do anything even the slightest bit active, and gives her back pain besides. Unless she's going to a formal event of some variety, she's in a sports bra 95% of the time. Even on the rare occasion that she isn't wearing a sports bra, she tends to wear tight tops, but not too tight; For example, close fitting tee shirts. Too loose and any rigorous physical activity becomes a massive pain, too tight and that's uncomfortable all on its own.

At the moment, Fujiko has a strange way of carrying herself. While to strangers she looks perfectly respectable, for people who know her, she looks a touch stiff, vaguely uncomfortable, a little bit like an imported exotic pet that's has been cowed into submission (which isn't exactly far off, to be honest), forced to fit into a mold that has no business in. Consequently, behind the movement that she tries to make as graceful as possible, there is a subtle tension. Said tension is most apparent in stressful situations, where on occasion she can look extremely vicious and aggressive until she can reign it in.

Personality:

Fujiko's personality only encapsulates further that sense of transitions. As one could probably surmise by looking at her bearing, she has two distinctly oppositional pieces of her personality. There is the Fujiko that her parents have envisioned: the shy, calm, sweet girl who is distinctly and unequivocally feminine. This is the face of Fujiko that most people see now. She's a pleasant person to be around, she's patient, she's kind, and she's overall generally sweet. She's very intelligent, and she's always ready to study if she needs to. Really, she's growing into that picture perfect traditional conservative image of a 'true Japanese lady.'

And then there's the actual Fujiko: a wild, unrestrained tomboy, who takes a wild, unrestrained joy in her life. As much as she's tried to bury this part of her personality, it has admittedly not been entirely successful. Even now, sometimes she snaps and the tomboy rears her shaggy head. Because of the circumstances which led to this, it's not really a true alloying of the two parts of her personality. It's more so painting over one with the other, trying to hide it from the world out of the twin senses of shame and familial obligation. Thus, this is very rarely seen at this point in time, only really poking out when the coat of paint starts to wear a bit thin in places, where Fujiko is always ready to paint over again

That said...no coat of paint lasts forever.

Bio:

Fujiko was...a crazy kid.

Born to Furukawa Jonouchi and Akemi—an older family now, and one that put a great deal of emphasis on familial pride—Fujiko, their only daughter, was wild from the start. The instant she could, she was running around, climbing trees, searching for bugs, falling in really stupid ways, and getting hurt repeatedly. She eschewed the company of other girls her age, claiming that they were all dumb and boring, and instead sought out the company of boys to take part in her hairbrained antics.

When she was in second grade, she met a 3rd grader named Shion (who Fujiko 100% thought was a girl when they first met), and they became good friends in rapid time. Only two months later, Shion told her about a sport he'd started playing a bit: soccer. And though Shion never really got into it, it wasn't long until it took over the young Fujiko's life; and it would define it for many years.

The years rolled by, and found Fujiko, now in her third year of middle school, no less of a tomboy now than she was in elementary school, perhaps even more so. Really, 'part of the guys' in a lot of ways. And her parents were becoming concerned. As a proud old family, the Furukawas were very concerned with image; and their daughter showed no signs of growing out of her wild tomboy nature. Chewing on their metaphorical fingernails, Jonouchi and Akemi came to a resolution: if she wanted to find a good husband and live a happy life, their daughter needed to move out of this tomboy phase. And if she wouldn't or couldn't do it on her own...well, that was their duty as parents, wasn't it?

Fujiko, dear, don't you think it's time you move past this?
Honey, I don't think it's a good idea for you to play soccer anymore.
Fujiko, this is reflecting poorly on the entire family.
Don't you want to find a good husband, Fujiko?

Fujiko brushed it off for quite a long time, dismissing it as her parents just being...weird. But, as it always is, when something is said often enough, you tend to start believing it. And slowly, slowly, she started acting like it too. This is where her personality began to shift; shame and pressure are a potent combination indeed. By the time she graduated middle school, she was almost a different person entirely.

But high school is a different environment altogether, and the personality she's created for herself has Begun to strain.

...Not long now.

Kendo:

As Fujiko's only real exposure to kendo is a small amount with Shion in middle school, she is still very much a beginner of the sport, and has yet to figure out any kind of style of her own. At the moment, as a byproduct of her psychological state, she's going to tend to play much more defensively than she really should, and be wary of doing anything too risky, not playing much to her strengths at all.

However, as time goes on, she'll eventually loosen the strictures on the way she participates in the sport and nail down how to funnel her aggression into most effectively leveraging the explosive power in her legs: dashing in for a blisteringly fast strike and then withdrawing almost simultaneously, leaving little time for retaliation before she's out of reach again.

Though of course as a novice she's going to learn the foundational chuudan first, after she goes far enough in kendo she'll figure out that her strategy fits best with hassou: it lets her whip the blade forward with the momentum of her movement, making her strikes that much faster and harder to predict or deflect.

Other:

Nothing, for now!

[Mixtape Ghost N]

Kenya Rwanda Saywer

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"Just stop beating around the bush, baby!"

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Name:

Sawyer, Kenya R.

Age:

17

Appearance:

A definite stand out in the world of the Nipon... as she's not even Japanese, unlike the rest of the cast. One glance will tell you that Kenya Sawyer is an African-American girl, and her accent is Chicagoan - and it's easy to ascertain her accent as she's very talkative and personable. Her vibe is bouncy, passionate, and firey, giving away that she's always open for a conversation.

Usually, you'll see her saying hello to people as she walks like she owns the whole place! Two things make the young Kenya stand out: her afro and height. Kenya has a massive bushy afro... something that she inherited from her late mother. Her mother, Zambia Sawyer, was famous for her gigantic and well-maintained afro; however, she passed away a few years ago, and Kenya wears the afro to honor her deceased mother.

Kenya's afro is curly and well-textured from all the work she puts into ensuring it looks the best (and yes, it fits in the Kendo helmet - it's anime, shut up). It adds a couple of inches to the girl, who is tall and likely one of the two things people notice about her. The other thing people notice about Kenya is that she is tall. She stands at five-eleven, but she is stick-thin with awkwardly long limbs that make her look just slightly weird. Kenya had an active childhood, so she is well-toned from playing sports (like basketball), going jogging with her mother, and martial arts - and, thankfully, her genetics favor gaining muscle and keeping fat off.

Personality:

Don't make a big deal out of Kenya while going to Japan for the foreign exchange program is a once in a lifetime experience, she remains lax, laid-back, and doesn't want to be made a big deal out of. Yes, Kenya knows that she sticks out like a sore thumb, but she would instead be treated equally as everyone else in Akimitsu. The way Kenya grew up is that she always brushed things off her shoulders and kept pushing herself to be her very best - no matter what. Someone insult her? She'll play it off as a joke and keep moving. Did she embarrass herself? Well, she'll she'll make sure not. Did she lose a Kendo tournament? She'll try even harder next time.

Kenya never gives up and makes sure that, no matter what she does, she puts her absolute all into it to honor her deceased mother. This extends to people she cares about; she'll definitely push them as well, seeing herself as the "big sis" many people never had! Though she doesn't realize it, she can be a bit pushy and overbearing, even though she has the best intentions.

Bio:

There's no deep and dark backstory here, a secret family lineage that trails back to the origin of Kendo or anything. Kenya was born in Miami, Florida, and lived in the house her grandparents owned until her teen when her parents got their place in Orlando. Her parents showered her with as much love as possible, but Kenya was far closer to her mother than her father (who was usually either tired or busy). Kenya didn't realize it until her teens but became an exact copy of her mother, Zambia Sawyer, without the afro. Growing up, she was very outgoing and active, and to curb her activity, her family placed her in several sports and martial arts programs so it could be at least constructively used. Some things Kenya excelled at, like martial arts, and other things, like soccer, she was so horrible at she still gets mocked about it today! However, right before she entered high school, her mother died from cancer, which was a defining moment for Kenya. Who dedicated every day to her mother, which meant she wanted every day that she lived to be her very best, doing her very best. She pushed herself at whatever sports or martial arts she competed in, and every day after school was spent at the gym.

Her hard work paid off when she received the letter: an invitation to participate in a foreign exchange program in Japan. Everyone she talked to told her to do it, and she was sent it back, and in a few months, she was on the plane to Japan and ended up at Akimitsu Academy. It was one hell of a culture shock - and they were shocked to see a girl like her there! However, the only issue was that they didn't have the same outlets for Kenya's energy back home... well, she remembered reading that the academy was famous for creating kendo practitioners. Kenya thought that Kendo was playing samurai or something, but she figured that she'd give it a chance...

... and she loved it. Thus begins Kenya's journey navigating Akimitsu Academy's eccentric kendo team as she honors her mother with every match.

Kendo:

Now, Kenya is a complete newcomer to Kendo but is not a newcomer to martial arts - she already has the basics down for her footwork, which is already superb. She has the basics of kendo down, but she is already quickly developing her unique style... offense, offense, and more offense. Kenya prefers to bumrush the opponent and overwhelm them with her speed and footwork before they can even get a chance to figure out what is going on. It works ^sometimes!

Other: