AMPUS NEWS _ oroxseewwsauw

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2012 3

Langara Kendo club hits campus hard

Japanese martial
art roaring and
lunging into
college this fall

By BRANDON KOSTINUK

e Kendo Club has arrived: $30
membership fee and one bamboo
sword is required to participate.

Students Aaron Lev, Sei
Kaneko and instructor Raymond Chow
began organizing the Langara Kendo
Club in August, but everything from
school approval to gym time is now be-
ing settled.

“For me, kendo was a way to incorpo-
rate discipline in my life,” said Lev,
adding, he hopes it can do the same for
others.

But Lev said his short-term goal is
simple: to introduce others to the sport.

Kaneko, an international student,
said she helped start the club to meet
new people, while doing something she
loved to do in Japan.

Kendo is more than a martial art,
said Kaneko, its style and structure,
rooted in Japanese tradition, instills
character and respect, and fosters a
sense of community.

Lev and Kaneko also praised Chow’s
role, saying the club wouldn’t be in the
position it is without his guidance and
leadership.

The club has also affiliated itself
with the Steveston Kendo Club and the
UBC Kendo Club, so members will ben-
efit from seeing a series of different
coaches.

They include Steveston Kendo Club
head coach Ray Murao, a seven-time
Canadian national team member and
five-time national team coach.

David Harding, head instructor for
the UBC Kendo Club, said the sport is
physical but severe injury is rare.

“The most common injuries are blis-
ters on the foot because you have to
practise in bare feet,” said Harding.

Club organizers have another infor-
mation session tonight, Oct. 18 at 5 p.m.
in room C123. See the Langara Kendo
Club Facebook page for information.

JEREMY SALLY photos
Screaming lunges are the norm for UBC’s kendo club, especially for Seattle’s Dana Chinn (left) who powered through her opponents.

Langara students
iLead the way ahead

Today’s leaders speak at
the college to groom the
stars of tomorrow

By JUDY CHERN

ference on Friday, Oct. 26 is calling

all students who want to have their
voices heard and make change in soci-
ety.

The iLead conference is a precursor
to a new student leadership program
and will feature nine speakers with a
range of specializations, including
Grammy award-winning composer
Bramwell Tovey.

Tovey has led orchestras from all
over the world, including the Vancou-
ver Symphony Orchesta, and brings an
artistic front to the topic of leadership.

Marketing executive Wayne Culli-
gan will also be speaking at the confer-
ence. Culligan has more than 15 years
of experience in the field, including a
position at Alliance Atlantic that saw
him manage numerous television and
motion picture marketing efforts.

“Twenty-first century social, educa-
tional and economic needs call for

Live: first ever leadership con-

skilled leaders,” said Shirley Roberts,
manager of student assistant programs
in an email.

She says that employers look for
people that can demonstrate leader-
ship ability, but we also need those who
can create jobs and programs that are
currently lacking in society.

Roberts said that the conference was
created with the belief that everyone
has some leadership potential.

“We want to recognize where the
participants are currently at with their
ideas and skills and build from there,”
she said.

Organizers hope to teach skills that
are applicable in both business and
community. These include team build-
ing, project planning, and how to recog-
nize an opportunity to “fill a gap” in
society.

The conference aims to engage stu-
dents across all faculties and make
sure that each department is equally

represented.
The extended deadline to apply has
passed, but slots may still be available.
For more information, check iLead’s
Twitter account @ileadlangara or the
conference’s website at langara.be.ca/
ilead.

“YOU LOOK
BEAUTIFUL
IN SILK”

Hand embroidered silk dresses-wrap skirts from India

“Princess design”
$75.00
$ 45.00
$25.00

Ponchos-Shawls- (Wool natural fiber) $ 25.00 -$ 15.00
(Rayon) and other India products.

Student Union Building
Langara Community College
October 22-27

For further information please e-mail
karma2great@yahoo.com