Vivian Yung has kendo attitude ahead of national title

VIVIAN Yung will face off against challengers from around Australia and masters from Japan in the national kendo title.

Kendo

VIVIAN Yung does not have far to travel from Warrawee to defend her national kendo title this Easter the annual championships are in Thornleigh.

Challengers from around the country and two kendo masters from Japan are coming to the brickpit stadium for two days of sword fighting competition over the long weekend.

"It's going to be a very noisy environment, with lots of screaming," Yung said.

"It's a chance to experience one of the oldest and most respected martial arts of traditional Japan."

For competitors, it is a cauldron, where for four minutes everything is on the line.

"In a fight its either you, or it's them," said Hornsby TAFE teacher and kendoka Kathleen Macdonald.

She took up the sport while teaching in Korea.

"When I first saw it, I thought the fighters looked like two scorpions stinging each other and then rushing back," she said. "The fights are fast-paced and intense.

"If you think too much, you can't react you're relying on reflexes, because you've done the training."

Fighters score points by landing precise sword blows on four targets the head, throat, side and forearm in time with a foot stomp and a yell.

"We have this wild demonic scream," Macdonald said.

"You can say whatever you like, everyone has their own."

Yung an Australian representative is expecting world-class competition.

"Big contests are what separate the good fighters from the great fighters because of the pressure, you must first win against your own mind," she said.