Santiago Tejada, 55, stretched to warm up while 7-year-old Jiho Shin put on the last pieces of her blue kendo uniform.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun. 01, 2010

Students learn way of sword and more at Japan Cultural Center in Westchester

By JOANNA CHAU

Santiago Tejada, 55, stretched to warm up while 7-year-old Jiho Shin put on the last pieces of her blue kendo uniform.

They were at the Japan Cultural Center in Westchester, learning and practicing the ancient Japanese martial arts of kendo and iaido.

``We have people from all ages and cultures,'' said instructor Frank Nieves, who is Cuban-American, while demonstrating sword movements to a student. ``It is interesting how through the practice of kendo and iaido this multicultural, diverse group can come together and train.''