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.
EVENTS
115th All-Japan Enbu Taikai Participants
The 115th All-Japan Enbu Taikai will be held in Kyoto from May 2-5. Please see here for the information on the participants including their competition number and date.
Spring and summer Exams / Examens de printemps et d’été
Spring and summer grading registration is open, please check the dates below. Remember to get proper authorization from your Sensei first, then ask the Dojo Administrator to unlock the grading application form for you. Please DO NOT wait until the last minute. If you...
Athletes Call for 2021 Team Canada
Photo courtesy of All Japan Kendo FederationTo the Canadian Kendo Federation Membership, It is with enthusiasm that Team Canada invites eligible kenshi from across Canada to submit their intent to participate in the Team Canada selection process. Over the past few...
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...
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...
LATEST NEWS & STORIES
$5685 Raised to Make a Change in 2022
A Word of Thanks to Our Donors in 2021 Merci à nos donateurs et donatrices en 2021 The CKF Board extends its gratitude to the donors who made a contribution to our "Make a Change in 2022" donation drive. We are pleased to announce that our generous community donated a...
Make a Change in 2022 – Donate to the CKF by December 31st
As the year comes to an end, we are reaching out to the Kendo community to support the ongoing activities of the Canadian Kendo Federation in 2022. This fall, we were able to hold gradings in Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo in cities across Canada. These were the first...
Upcoming Gradings
Updated: November 19. 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...
AGM Voting Results / Résultats des votes de l’AGA
During the Annual General Meeting held on June 26, voting was held for the Board of Directors. Following the meeting, the new board met and elected the executive.The results are as follows: Richard Tizzard - President Makiko Ara - Vice-President, WestHyun-June Choi -...
Jodo Report
This report was prepared for the 2021 AGM by Pamela Morgan, BOD member.
Financial Statements
Here are the financial statements for the year ending March 2021. They will be presented at the AGM by the treasurer.
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
