Be Inspired. Finding Relevance in Kendo.
SEMINAR UPDATES:
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The CKF welcomes you to join the 2021 Virtual National Kendo Seminar on June 19 & 20, 2021. In a time of altering priorities, hardship, and distance, the shape of kendo and its values have shifted. Come together to be inspired and find relevance in kendo.
We are excited to present a lineup of speakers from across Canada and the World. Each session will focus on different skills, topics, and knowledge areas. The event is free to attend for current CKF members, and by donation for non-members.
Please direct any urgent questions to Makiko Ara.
Keynote Session
Alexander Bennett
Interview
Spotlight Session
Renée Hock
Mental Martial Arts
We are honoured to welcome Renée Hock, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Mental Performance Consultant with the Canadian. Sport Psychology Association (CSPA), and an NCCP Level 3 Certified Coach. She holds a Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and is a pioneer for women in judo. Renée Hock will speak on the unique values of martial arts and how they help us to manage stress and live our best lives. She will delve into strategies for optimizing mental performance, pulling from her personal experiences competing in Judo for Canada at the Pan American Games and the World Championships, as well as coaching both Men’s and Women’s National Teams. We invite you to watch her TEDx Talk on Life Lessons from Judo: A Judoka’s Tale from 2018, and learn about Mind in Motion, the sport, performance, and mental health counseling practice she works out of.
Presenters
Basics of Kendo Part II
Taro Ariga, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan
Taro Ariga is the founder and Head Instructor of Butokuden Martial Arts Centre in Irvine, California. As the founder of the University of Waterloo Kendo Club, Ariga Sensei continues to have strong ties to Canada. Ariga Sensei is the owner and CEO of two successful ventures, e-Bogu and Beancube. This session is a follow-up to his highly popular session from last year. Learn more about Butokuden Dojo.
How I Watch YouTube Videos
Dean Ara, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan
Dean Ara is the Head Coach of Team Canada and Head Instructor at Renbu Dojo Canada in Burnaby, BC. He is passionate about developing young players and has been involved with the Team Canada program for over a decade. Ara Sensei is a successful entrepreneur and is the Principal of Total Product Marketing. In this session, Ara Sensei will help us change the way we binge-watch kendo videos.
Learning Through the Pandemic
Bryan Asa, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan
Bryan Asa is the Chief Instructor of the JCCC Kendo Club in Toronto, Ontario. Asa Sensei is passionate about developing kendo in Ontario and is the President of Kendo Ontario. He is a leader in the clean energy industry and is the Director of his own consultancy, Asa Works. Asa Sensei will be presenting his personal experience of running a dojo virtually through the pandemic.
Introduction to Nito-Ryu
Matthew Raymond, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan
Matthew Raymond is an Instructor at the University of Toronto Kendo Club. He has been a Team Canada coach and player and is an advocate of clean healthy living. Raymond Sensei is a Project Management Professional with experience working for IBM and CIBC. As a pioneer of Nito in Canada, this is a rare opportunity to understand the basics of the two-sword method.
Load to Explode - Suburi for Kids (all ages welcome)
Shigemitsu Kamata, Kendo Kyoshi 7 Dan
Shigemitsu Kamata is an instructor at the Etobicoke Kendo and Iaido Club in Toronto, Ontario. He operates a family business, Kamada Wood Products, in the wood industry. He is an active leader in the Ontario kendo community. Kamata Sensei enjoys time with his family and friends relaxing around the fire. Kamata Sensei encourages students of all ages to join this high-energy suburi session.
Home Compound Physical Training Tailored for Kendo
Martin Doré, Kendo Renshi 6 Dan
Martin Doré is an instructor at the Laval University’s Québec Kendo Kai, in Québec City. Martin is active in the Eastern Canada kendo community as a competitor, shinpan, and examiner. He is an Electrical Engineer and is currently the Vice President of the Transformers Business Unit at Hitachi Power Grids Canada. Doré Sensei invites you to join him for his short home training sessions, to stay (or get) fit for kendo.
Mindful Yoga for Kendoka
Junko Ariyama, Kendo Kyoshi 6 Dan
Junko Ariyama is the Head Instructor at the Montreal Kendo Club. She started her kendo in Japan and was a member of her company team, the Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Kendo Club. She moved to Canada in 1998 and after finishing her BA in Linguistics at Concordia University and Master’s at McGill University, she joined the Montreal Kendo Club. She currently works as a speech therapist in Montreal. Ariyama Sensei has a 500-hour Modo Yoga Teacher Training Certificate and will be using her experience in both yoga and kendo to provide a tailored experience for kendoka.
Panel Discussions
Dojo Leaders Building Strong Community in Unexpected Places
Saturday, June 19th at 9:50 PDT / 12:50 EDT
Have you ever thought about venturing out to start your own club? Are you struggling to build a sense of community or fearful that your members have lost interest in kendo during the pandemic? Get ready to be inspired by a group of kendo leaders growing kendo in unexpected places and making it work for their community.
We welcome to the panel: David Westhead, Tesshin Dojo; Kyle Lee, Chinook Kendo Dojo; Victor Nishi, Kelowna Kendo Club; and Wilson Humphries, The Rock Iaido & Kendo Club.
Interview with the 2018 Bronze Medal Team: Reflections & Perspectives
Sunday, June 20 at 9:10 PDT / 12:10 EDT
Relive the excitement of the quarter-final women’s team match of the 17th World Kendo Championships between Canada and the US. Learn what it takes to compete at the highest level and hear team members’ personal reflections. An interview with the bronze-medal Women’s Team of the 2018 World Kendo Championships.
We welcome to the panel: Akiko Fukushima, Vancouver Kendo Club; Hanaca Yamada, Vancouver Kendo Club; Man-San Ma, Etobicoke Kendo and Iaido Club; Kyrene Kim, Etobicoke Kendo and Iaido Club; and Kianna Darbyshire, Vancouver Kendo Club.
Eastern Time UTC -4 |
Pacific Time UTC -7 |
Session | Details | Type |
11:30 EDT | 8:30 PDT | Opening Ceremony Message from the President, Christian D’Orangeville |
David Mori, MC | |
11:40 ET | 8:40 PT | Basics of Kendo Part II Taro Ariga Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom open) | 10 min | |||
12:50 ET | 9:50 PT | Panel: Dojo Leaders Building Strong Community in Unexpected Places | 45 min + 15 min Q&A Patrick Suen, Moderator |
|
Transition (Zoom open) | 20 min | |||
14:10 ET | 11:10 PT | Home Compound Physical Training for Kendo Martin Dore Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom open) | 10 min | |||
15:20 ET | 12:20 PT | Load to Expload – Suburi for Juniors (all ages welcome) Shigemitsu Kamata Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom closed) | 40 min | |||
17:00 ET | 14:00 PT | “Mental Martial Arts” Renee Hock, Mental Performance Consultant |
45 min + 15 min Q&A Spotlight Session Makiko Ara, Moderator |
|
Transition (Zoom open) | 10 min | |||
18:10 ET | 15:10 PT | Learning and Adapting Through the Pandemic Bryan Asa Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom closed) | 40 min | |||
20:00 ET | 17:00 PT | Interview Alex Bennett Sensei, Professor and Author |
45 min + 15 min Q&A Hyun-June Choi, Moderator |
|
21:00 EDT | 18:00 PT | Social Meetup Open to Everyone | Breakout Room Format |
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Eastern Time UTC -4 |
Pacific Time UTC -7 |
Session | Details | Type |
10:55 ET | 7:55 PT | Day 2 Greetings | David Mori, MC | |
11:00 ET | 8:00 PT | Mindful Yoga for Kendoka Junko Ariyama Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom open) | 10 min | |||
12:10 ET | 9:10 PT | Panel: 2018 Bronze Medal Team Reflections and Perspectives | 45 min + 15 min Q&A Makiko Ara, Moderator |
|
Transition (Zoom colsed) | 30 min | |||
13:40 ET | 10:40 PT | An Introduction to Nito Matthew Raymond Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
Transition (Zoom open) | 10 min | |||
14:50 ET | 11:50 PT | How I Watch YouTube Videos Dean Ara Sensei |
45 min + 15 min Q&A | |
15:50 ET | 12:50 PT | Closing Remarks | 10 min |
Thank You
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We look forward to seeing you at the seminar!