Unlike most high school students’ daily afternoon routines, sophomore Ethan Choo spends his time gearing up in armor and training for something bigger: representing Team USA in kendo.
“I liked sword fighting since I was young,” Choo said. “I thought it was really cool. When I put in a lot of practice and I start to see results at tournaments or when I play my matches, it feels really satisfying to know that my hard work is putting out some results.”
As a child, Choo tried various sports, including hockey and baseball, but ultimately enjoyed kendo the most and decided to commit to the martial art. As Choo became more dedicated to the sport, he began to practice each week for several days. He attended competitive training sessions for athletes hoping to qualify for Team USA, culminating in the Team USA Kendo tryouts earlier this year where he earned a spot on the team. Staying organized and managing his time effectively have been crucial to balancing the demands of the sport along with his other responsibilities, according to Choo.
“The most important thing that kendo teaches me is discipline because I have to make sure that I’m practicing and doing something every day to improve myself so I don’t get rusty,” Choo said. “It also teaches me respect because there are really strict manners in the dojo, and you have to know how to talk to your coaches and respect your teammates.”
Choo’s dedication and passion for kendo are evident to his longtime friends and teammates, such as senior Shinsuke Yamamoto. Choo and Yamamoto have known each other since 2020, but became Team USA teammates in 2025.
“We work hard together, but he’s good at balancing being serious and also having fun at the same time,” Yamamoto said. “I feel like we have that natural bond that a lot of other people from different teams probably wouldn’t have.”
As a member of the junior team, Choo currently practices alongside the men’s team and represents Team USA at competitions. He will travel to support the team at the World Kendo Championships, which takes place in Japan in 2027, according to Team USA Kendo.
“My goal right now is just to keep improving my skills at kendo, and also be able to balance my studies and get good grades in school,” Choo said. “I want to continue kendo even when I’m older, so maybe one day I’ll start teaching at the dojo for the next generation.”
