KENDO IN CANADA
FIK America Zone Referee Seminar
Registration is now open for Kendo practitioners 5 Dan and above, to register for the FIK America Zone Referee Seminar to be held on January 31 & February 1, 2026 in Vancouver, BC.
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LATEST NEWS & STORIES
2019 Kitamoto Foreign Kendo Leaders’ Seminar
The CKF invites applications for qualified members to attend the 46th Foreign Kendo Leaders' Seminar in Kitamoto, Japan. The seminar, hosted by the All Japan Kendo Federation runs July 19 - 26, 2019. Interested candidates are asked to apply directly to CKF...
CKF Mailing List
In order to provide a better quality of service and comply with laws regarding electronic mail, CKF has moved to an opt-in mailing list for our newsletters and informational e-mail. NOTE: We will no longer send important announcments automatically to all members. Now,...
New Years Message from D’Orangeville-sensei
In a few days, all of us members of the Canadian Kendo Federation and related Arts (Iaido and Jodo) across the country will gather with family, friends, and students to celebrate various events. Stemming from the Chinese zodiac, we shall all enter through the front...
Japan Honours Asa-sensei
Conferment of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (旭日小綬章) by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan has been officially approved by the Government of Japan for past CKF President Roy Asa. This order was given to Asa-sensei for "promoting Kendo in Canada and...
2019 FIK Referee Seminar
The FIK America Zone Kendo Referee Seminar 2019 will be hosted by AUSKF in Dallas. Place: Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports, Southern Methodist University (SMU), 6000 Bush Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75205Dates: January 26-27, 2019Fees: Bento $12 USD, Banquet $60 USD (no...
North American Partnership Iaido Seminar
The North American Partnership Iaido Seminar and Grading will be held November 30 - December 2 at Etobicoke Olympium. For more information, see here.
What is Kendo?
Kendo is a Japanese martial art originating from the training of samurai in the art of swordsmanship. Modern Kendo training involves practitioners using a bamboo sword (shinai) and wearing protective armour (bogu).
The Japanese characters for Kendo (剣道) are translated as The Way of the Sword and characterized through the discipline of the human character through training and the application of the sword (katana). Through training, students strengthen body and mind, while learning many of the core teachings of the samurai: to treat people with respect, to strive for self-development, and to contribute to the peace and prosperity of humanity.
Photo courtesy of Kendo Photography
Kendo Training in Canada
Kendo was brought to Canada by Japanese immigrants in the early 1900’s in British Columbia. Today, there are nearly sixty dojo all across Canada registered with the Canadian Kendo Federation. If you are interested in starting Kendo, please visit our directory to find a Kendo dojo near you.
Kendo is widely regarded as a life-long endeavour and most dojo will accept students from seven or eight years of age. Through the various stages of life and development, students can continue to practice throughout their lives. In Canada, many dojo include a mix of students young and old.
Although the schedule and style of training differ from dojo to dojo, typically a new practitioner will initially learn proper etiquette, handling of the shinai, body movement, footwork, and striking techniques. Once a practitioner is able to perform these basic fundamentals properly, the instructor will graduate the student to wear armour and begin sparring (keiko) with opponents.
In terms of equipment, you will initially only need a shinai (bamboo sword), and they can often be purchased through the dojo or local vendors. Next you will need kendo-gi and hakama, and finally the entire Kendo-gu (armour) set. In Canada, there are a few on-line Kendo shops including: Aoi Budogu and Bogushop.
Kendo Team Canada competes internationally in the World Kendo Championships, held every three years. Canada has had a long history of success at the World Kendo Championships, historically placing silver and bronze in both the men’s and women’s team competitions.
Photo Courtesy of Kendo Photography
History of Kendo in Canada
Kendo Canada can be traced back to the early 1900’s, brought from Japan by immigrants to Canada. In 1914, Yokikan Dojo in Steveston, BC was established, followed by three other dojos in British Columbia. At that time, there were around 290 Kendo players in the Vancouver and surrounding areas.
In 1939, the first Canadian National Kendo Tournament was held in BC.
During the Second World War, Kendo was practiced in some of the internment camps. After the war, four dojos opened up; two in Vancouver and two in Toronto.
Canada has participated in every World Kendo Championships (WKC) its start in 1970.
Now, there are over 55 Kendo dojo spread across Canada.
Reference- (Okusa, H., Kendo Boryu, Kendo Nippon, April 2016-March 2017)
Photo courtesy of Steveston Kendo Club
