David Drawdy (center) leads group in sword moves to address enemies in front, behind, or on either side. Sword handlers (from left): Christopher Durr, Patrick Bannister, Drawdy, David MConnell, Angel Lebron. Photo by Susan Laume/The Connection
Lorton’s Community Market took a choreographed step into the times of ancient Japanese martial arts last weekend, recognizing May’s Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The Kenkonkai dojo, Alexandria, demonstrated Kendo, a Japanese sword martial art.
Nine of the group’s 20 members, dressed in traditional keikogi (training robes), hakama (pants) and obi (belts) were led in a group exercise by the dojo’s senior trainer David Drawdy. The group is part of the Capital Area Budokai, a registered non-profit organization of several Japanese weapon arts organizations, including jodo, naginata-do, kyudo and kendo, dedicated to training in and preserving the spirit of Japanese budo, or martial arts.