Although the results were officially announced by the All Japan Kendo Federation earlier this month, I'm just getting around to publishing them here.

http://www.kendo.or.jp/picture/photo_13.html

I'm also happy to report that out of 576 photographs that were entered in this year's contest, one of my pictures won Honorable Mention.

Actually, the last three times that I have entered the contest, I have been fortunate to receive a prize; I was awarded the same prize last year and the Grand Prize in 2006.

From the 2009 contest:

Kendo's Roots: Ono-ha Itto-ryu

http://www.kendo.or.jp/picture/photo_13.html#13_007

Unfortunately, the image on the All Japan Kendo Federation's website appears to be too orange, unlike the original print I sent them.

From 2008's contest:

Basics are Important

http://www.kendo.or.jp/picture/photo_12.html#12_006

From 2006:

One Chance in the Blink of an Eye

http://www.kendo.or.jp/picture/photo_10.html#10_001

Unfortunately, this photo looks a bit blurry on their website. A better version can be seen on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronbeaubien/882283377/

I hope you enjoy them.

Regards,

Ron Beaubien

Fantastic photos, especially the face closeups; also really liked the row in seiza in front of the fall foliage window in the 2006 file. Thanks!!

Thank you for your kind words. The closeup shots are my favorites as well. I like to make my viewers feel that they are right in the middle of the action. I feel that a sense of tension is missing in most martial arts photographs and that is what I am trying to bring out in my images.

Regards,

Ron Beaubien

Ron

All I can say is "WOW!"

And thank you very much for takeing the time to share.

Thanks again. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

As the picture that won a prize this year had such a strange orange cast to it, no matter which computer monitor I viewed it with, on the All Japan Kendo Federation's website linked to above, I decided to upload an improved version of the photograph to my Flickr account.

This should provide a better idea of what the original print looked like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronbeaubien/4039732826/

Thanks again,

Ron Beaubien

Ron -

Great photos! Thanks for sharing. BTW, do women compete against men in kendo?

Thanks!

I don't think I'm the best person to answer your question as I don't actually practice kendo myself, although I have seen a lot of it. However, as no one else has offered to answer your question, I'll give it a go.

From what I understand, women usually practice with the men and sometimes pair off against them, but they also have their own kendo tournaments just for women. I've even seen kendo tournaments for housewives, workers, students, policemen, etc. Not a month goes by that there isn't a kendo tournament somewhere here in Japan.

Perhaps someone else can give you a better answer.

I hope that helps.

Ron Beaubien