Institutional abuse in kendo community

From my observation, there is a worrying tendency in kendo community which attracts (and sometimes promote) anti-social and abusive behaviour.

These abuses are often take place thinly disguised as part of kendo discipline, and we were led to believe that some unpleasant, manipulative and devious behaviours are part of kendo culture, so, shut up and put up.

But after a few years of regular practice in various dojos, seriously questioning my own findings and some in-depth discussions with experienced practitioners, I now feel that I'm able to distinguish abuse from discipline reasonably well, so I decided to share my concern with wider kendo community.

I believe this phenomenon exists due to the misguided perception of kendo - brutal, archaic, hierarchical & somewhat exotic discipline that (incorrectly but often romantically assumed) operates outside the norms & boundaries of everyday life.

This is far from the image the mainstream kendo community wants to portray, but the reality is that often hierarchical culture in kendo is used as a platform to exercise one's petty authority and inflict abuse on junior members by senior people of undesirable traits.

This issue is not limited to far-flung obscure dojos. Reputable and established dojos in big cities are equally susceptible to this type of insidious problems.

Allowing such devious behaviours poses a risk to the entire kendo community in the eyes of the wider society.

In short, our reputation is at stake.

The institutional problem here is that the victim often feels powerless due to the hierarchical nature of kendo.

Grade and past achievements are highly respected and such prestige culture is a big discouragement for the victim to challenge their senior, and even when they plucked up the courage and complain, they meet with dismissive or indifferent response from their peers and seniors.

Too often their voice is not taken seriously due to the myth that in kendo the higher rank you get more righteous you become.

Such simplistic association is unrealistic yet the kendo community quite readily accepts such naive view when it comes to its members.

There's also a critical flaw in the system, such as the grievance procedure set by the national umbrella organisation which designated the dojo leader as the first point of contact for any grievances - it is wholly inadequate if the dojo leader themselves are causing the problem.

There is also no anonymity for the victim to report an incident, and their complaint is very rarely investigated by the umbrella organisation. Such record simply vanishes into the void.

Given that kendo community is highly intertwined - almost incestuous, even talking to a complaint officer from other dojo risks victim's welfare if the complaint officer is happened to be well-connected to the accused.

They could gang up on the victim and make it impossible for the victim to practice kendo wherever they are present.

Alongside such weak system to prevent abuse, too many aspects of dojo management is left to the discretion of dojo leaders that could be used to conceal internal abuse.

Some dojos carry an air of cult such as blatant hostility towards other dojos and demand excessive devotion to the club from its members. Such controlling atmosphere breeds unhealthy attitude & often resulted in abuse.

Some seniors routinely take advantage of their position to harass junior members of the opposite gender.

When such concern is voiced, typically the dojo leaders (who are not the accused) are disinterested in dealing with such issue and put most of their effort in silencing the victim or sweep the matter under the carpet, or even throw out the accuser from the dojo.

If an adult can be abused like that, more vulnerable group are equally at risk if not grater.

Any of these behaviours are totally against the mainstream kendo value, but the obscure presence of kendo in society, weak internal system and naivety amongst the member are currently allowing such institutional abuse to continue and its victims to suffer in silence.

Such injustice should not be associated with kendo whatsoever, but sadly, that's the current situation from my observation.

And since the abusers are getting away with it, this culture could attract people with similar undesirable dispositions.

It is this indifferent attitude that needs utmost urgent change, and I believe the solution is quite simple.

Think this in terms of acceptable behaviour in a workplace.

Albeit kendo is primarily charity/volunteer activity, that doesn't warrant harmful behaviour. Volunteer activities can be done in a professional manner and such professional culture would attract more people with the right idea into kendo.

The bottom line is, when a type of behaviour is unacceptable in the wider society, it's still unacceptable regardless of whether someone has an exotic hobby or not.

It is rather puzzling that may people within the kendo community seem to think that there's a different law operating inside the kendo community therefore they are exempt from the normal rules & regulations. (a cult-like mindset)

Such misconception is not only irrelevant but also dangerous.

In order to promote healthy & mainstream image of kendo and deliver on it, all of us are responsible to identify and tackle such institutional problems.

I would suggest 3 points below to be introduced and maintained. This level of openness and firm attitude towards abuse would send a strong message to the entire community that kendo will not tolerate abusive behaviour and the perpetrator will face the consequence regardless of their reputation, connection, grade or past achievement.

- acknowledge potential risks and raise awareness amongst its member (education)
- set a clear and fair grievance procedure by the umbrella body (system)
- any incident reported should be anonymised and (with a permission of the victim) shared with the entire community annually as case studies (feedback + preventative effect)

Challenge authority if there's a valid reason.

Kendo should taught you to make a good judgement and act upon it without hesitation.