14th Kendo World Championships San Paulo Brazil

The 14th World Kendo Championship was held in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the end of August (27-29) 2009. Teams from around the world competed for the title of World Champion. After three years of preparation Japan, Korea, Brazil and the United States placed at the top.

In a teeth-clenching semi-final round, Korea and Japan faced off ending with the Japanese taking the victory. Japan took the victory with men's individual champion, Shoji Teramoto, ending with a final score of 2 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties. In the other semi-final round, the US delivered a crushing victory against Brazil winning 4 matches and losing only 1.

In the finals, Japan dominated the United States in the final round of mens team, winning 4 and tying 1.

Watch the final exciting match between Teramoto and Park below (individual's tournement)! Great match worth watching!

For the women's team championship, Brazil, Japan, Korean and the US also came out on top. Japan also won first and second women's individual.

The team Japan fielded this year was one of prestige and power. Teramoto, the team taisho (captain), and Uchimura, the team chuken (lieutenant) won first and second place in the last year's All Japan Kendo tournement and placed in the All Japan Police Kendo tournement as well. Many of us know of the hidari-jodan powerhouse Kenji Shodai, the team Sempo (lowest member), as well.

The results for the the 2009 Kendo World Championship:

Individual's

Men
1st Teramoto (JPN)
2nd Park (KOR)
3rd Kim (KOR)/ Choi (KOR)

Women
1st Takami (JPN)
2nd Shojima (JPN)
3rd Shizato (JPN/ Takashina (BRA)

Team

Men
1st Japan
2nd USA
3rd Brazil and Korea

Women's Teams
1st Japan
2nd Korea
3rd Brazil and USA

So all you young Kenshi! We all have three years to train and hopefully we will see some of you at the world tournament! Practice hard!