KENDO IN CANADA

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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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EVENTS

2024 Team Canada Announced

The CKF is excited to announce the athletes representing Team Canada at the 19th World Kendo Championships.

2024 Spring/Summer Gradings

Registration for Spring/Summer gradings will be available shortly. Please check the FAQ for how to login and register for an exam. Thank you for your patience. *********** Please note that written examinations are due on the same date as the registration deadline....

2023 Fall Gradings

Registration is now open for the gradings through the CKF's new membership system. Please check the FAQ for how to login and register for an exam. *********** Please note that written examinations are due on the same date as the registration deadline. Registration...

FIK Shinpan Seminar Fall 2023 in Toronto

The American Zone Referee Seminar, organized by the Canadian Kendo Federation(CKF) will be held as follows this fall. We invite all qualified kendo leaders from across Canada to participate in this event. Date: September 16 and 17, 2023 Venue: York University, Tait...

Spring/Summer Gradings

Registration is now open for the following gradings. Please note that written examinations are due on the same date as the registration deadline. Registration deadlines are 2 weeks before the examination date.Les inscriptions sont maintenant ouvertes pour les examens...

LATEST NEWS & STORIES

2024 CKF Annual General Meeting

Sep 2, 2024 | , ,

The CKF AGM is coming up on Saturday, September 21 at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST.  The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom at this link:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81990085719?pwd=eaAFpLVbrCtptVjYH3aCzKmydbAa9v.1 The agenda is as follows: Introduction, agenda, 2023...

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

Junior Kendo in Canada

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