I never imagined at 24 I would become a U.S. diplomat and travel the world. I never thought at 42 I would publish my first book, and then a second, six years later. At 48, I never imagined I would write an original song in both English and Japanese for a rural town. And today, I had the honor of trying, for the first time, the Japanese martial art of Kendo.

The invitation came from the Mikata High School Kendo Team, and I said yes before I fully understood what I was getting myself into. I arrived at the gymnasium not entirely sure what to expect, and left with a completely different appreciation for the discipline, history, and physicality behind this centuries-old martial art.

Stepping Into the Dojo

The team welcomed me warmly, fitting me with the bogu, the traditional armor: the do (chest protector), the men (helmet with its steel grille), and the kote (padded gloves). It’s heavier than it looks, and once it’s on, you understand immediately why posture and breathing matter so much in this sport.

Training alongside me were students preparing for a national tournament, guided by a 7th-degree Kendo master whose calm authority filled the entire gym. Watching the students practice, their strikes landing with incredible speed, strength, and precision, was humbling. Every motion, from footwork to the shout that accompanies a strike, is refined through years of repetition.

What Kendo Taught Me

I learned two things today.

First, there is no age where learning stops. New adventures are always available as long as we keep an open mind and embrace new challenges. Whether it’s stepping into a dojo for the first time or picking up a new skill later in life, growth doesn’t have an expiration date.

Second, Kendo teaches discipline, focus, and the ability to act with total commitment in a single moment. There’s no hesitation in a real strike; commitment has to be total, or it doesn’t land. Those same principles carry from the dojo straight into the executive boardroom: clarity of purpose, decisiveness, and the willingness to fully commit to a decision once it’s made.

Looking Ahead

I can’t wait to see what comes next, and to keep training with these future leaders. Watching young people pursue mastery with such seriousness and joy is a reminder that tradition and ambition aren’t mutually exclusive; they can, and often do, walk hand in hand.

Thank you again to the Mikata High School Kendo Team for the generosity of welcoming a complete beginner into your training, and for sharing a piece of Japanese culture and discipline that I won’t soon forget.