A dojo in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Jean-Pierre Labru first held a shinai in 1974, at the age of seven. Fifty-two years later he is still on that floor.
Way of Life #1, “Kōken-chiai”, is a portrait of Jean-Pierre Labru (Kyoshi 7-dan · EKF Technical Director · 52 years in kendo) at BUDO XI, Paris. What follows is transcribed from the subtitles of the film — Jean-Pierre Labru’s own words, in the order they are spoken, under the chapters of the film.
In Japanese, my answer is — Kōken-chiai.
1974 — his first shinai, at age seven
For the first years, kendo was forced on me. In year four I realized it was part of me. At school I was "the kendo kid".
Why he still returns, 52 years on
I still want to improve, to get better. What drives me is becoming a fuller person.
Kendo, carried from Japan
Europe was fortunate — great teachers from Japan came here, many of them. So from the start, our kihon was right. Because those teachers were the real thing.
To the next generation
Young kenshi train to win. That too is kendo — but there is more beyond. The practice of completing oneself.
Kendo is a way you can walk for life.
Each of us can polish our character, and grow.
About this series
Way of Life is a series of short portraits of people who live the way, filmed by KAIDO Inc. in dojos across Europe and Japan. One person, one word, a few minutes.