TEAM CANADA

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Kendo Team Canada

The Canadian Kendo Federation manages and sponsors the development of amateur athletes across Canada under the Team Canada program. Team Canada consists of a Men’s Team and Women’s Team, who train towards the World Kendo Championships (WKC) hosted every three years.

The 2021 Kendo Team Canada selection process is underway. The team will compete at the 18th WKC to be held in the spring of 2021 in Paris France. Final team members will be announced in Fall 2020, following the final selection process.

2021 Team Canada Management

Manager: David Westhead

Head Coach: Dean Ara

Assistant Coach East: Hyo Sung Kim
Assistant Coach West: Daisaku Taguchi

Associate Coach: Shigemitsu Kamata, Kyle Lee, Shane Asa, and Makiko Ara

Photo courtesy of Kendo Photography

Team Canada Support

Kendo is practiced throughout the world, with 56 countries participating in the most recent 16th WKC in 2015. Canada enjoys a very high profile within the global Kendo community with an impressive record of two 2nd place finishes and eight 3rd place finishes at the WKC. Only teams from Japan, Korea, Brasil, Canada, and USA have placed in the top 2 over the 40-year history of the Championships.

Despite these international successes, Kendo in Canada remains strictly an amateur sport. The CKF Board of Directors, referees, instructors, and coaches even at the highest levels devote their time and resources on a volunteer basis. Athletes work regular full-time jobs or are students trying to complete degrees while competing internationally. Much of the funding provided by the CKF goes towards training, while expenses to attend the Championships is self-funded.

The CKF welcomes corporate and individual sponsorship through financial support, facility use, equipment, team wear, travel, and training expenses.  Please contact [email protected] to learn how you can help.

Team Canada Prospects and Development Program

The selection process for the 2021 Team Canada Program is underway. All inquires should be directed to Team Manager, David Westhead.

Planning for Team Canada and prospects selection for Team Canada begins two years before the next WKC. Prospects for Team Canada must hold a Canadian Passport and be a CKF member in good standing. A call for prospects is distributed by the CKF to all active members upon selection of Team Canada Management. Qualified applicants should follow the application process and expect to attend prospect evaluation camps held in Vancouver and Toronto.

Any new prospects should speak to a CKF Director or current Team Canada Management to learn more about the Team Canada Program.

Team Canada History

The first World Kendo Championships (WKC) were hosted in Japan in 1970 and is held every three years in locations around the world. Canada had the honour of hosting the 8th WKC in Toronto in 1991. Canadian teams have had great success throughout the 40 years of the championships, with 2nd and 3rd place finishes over the years.

Year Championships Hosting Country Category Medal Finish
1973 2nd WKC San Francisco, USA Canada Men’s Team 2nd Place
1976 3rd WKC Milton Keynes, Great Britain Canada Men’s Team 2nd Place
1985 6th WKC Paris, France Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1988 7th WKC Seoul, South Korea Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1991 8th WKC Toronto, Ontario Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1994 9th WKC Paris, France Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
1997 10th WKC* Kyoto, Japan Wendy Nakano, Women’s Individual 3rd Place
2000 11th WKC Santa Clara, USA Canada Men’s Team 3rd Place
2000 11th WKC Santa Clara, USA Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2003 12th WKC Glasgow, Great Britain Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2006 13th WKC Taipei, Taiwan Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
2018 17th WKC Incheon, Korea Canada Women’s Team 3rd Place
*Women’s Individual and Team matches started in 1997 at the 10th WKC.
17th WKC Women's Kendo 3rd Place

 2018 Team Canada – Women’s Team 3rd Place at the 17th World Kendo Championships in Seoul Korea

 

1991 Team Canada WKC in Toronto

1991 Team Canada – 8th World Kendo Championships in Toronto, Canada

The Latest from Kendo Team Canada

Athletes Call for 2021 Team Canada

Athletes Call for 2021 Team Canada

Mar 6, 2019

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...

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2021 Team Canada Coach & Management Announcement

2021 Team Canada Coach & Management Announcement

Jan 9, 2019

Team Canada Coaching and Management The CKF Board of Directors is pleased to announce that they have selected Dean Ara as Team Canada Head Coach and David Westhead as General Manager. The board congratulates Ara-sensei and Westhead-sensei and wishes them the best of...

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Mailing Address:

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Christian D'Orangeville
Vice President East: Hyun-June Choi
Vice President West: Makiko Ara
Secretary: Neil Gendzwill
Treasurer: John Maisonneuve
Director: Pamela Morgan
Director: David Mori
Director: Patrick Suen