Kendo

KENDO SUMMER SPECIAL SCHEDULE
(AUGUST 1 – 31)

Tuesdays and Thursdays:
6 – 8PM: Juniors and Adults Joint practice

Wednesdays: Same as usual
6 – 7 PM: Ryo sensei special TOKUREN practice
7 – 8:15 PM: Open Keiko

Welcome to Butokuden Kendo Dojo!

BUTOKUDEN Dojo is one of the largest Kendo Dojos in the USA, and we currently have three levels of Kendo classes. Our instructors are well qualified instructors with international competition experiences, with extensive experience in teaching Kendo. Our Juniors won the National tournaments in 2012, 2015, 2016, 207, 2018, 2019. Our Dojo is a member of Southern California Kendo Organization (SCKO), which is affiliated with AUSKF (All USA Kendo Federation), as well as the IKF (International Kendo Federation).

Class Levels and Schedule:

Junior (Basic/Advanced) (6 – 14 years old) – Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30 to 6:45PM
Kendo for all Ages (High school and older) – Tuesdays and Thursdays 7:00 to 9:00PM
Open Jigeiko (Must wear Bogu) – Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:15PM

Fees:

Click here for the current fees.  All Kendo members are also required to join SCKO and AUSKF.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

For our current events, such as tournaments, promotion exams, seminars, click here.

Contact:

e-mail: kendo@butokuden.com
Phone: 866-DO-KENDO (866-365-3636), 949-756-8880
Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/73052462309/

(1) Kendo Junior (Basic/Advanced)

This class is divided into two separate groups, Basic and Advanced. Basic group focuses in children just starting Kendo, without wearing Bogu (Kendo Equipment gear). The Advanced group focuses in children who have completed the Basic Kendo class and/or have been approved by the Sensei (instructor) to proceed to the next level.

Basic (Non-Bogu) Group:

This class focuses on teaching basic movements such as footwork, Suburi (basic Shinai movement) and Kirikaeshi, as well as important etiquette and manners in the Dojo, for kids who are just starting Kendo. We make Kendo fun at the same time, we teach good manners in the Dojo.  After mastering this basic movements, students are tested in order to advance to the Advanced Bogu class.

Advanced group:

Advanced techniques are taught. Basic and advanced movements with Kendo Bogu are taught in more depth including Kirikaeshi, Uchikomi, Kakarigeiko, Ouyou Waza, Competition techniques, and much more.

Every year, there are various tournaments hosted by the Southern California Kendo Organization (SCKO) and All USA Kendo Federation (AUSKF) which students are allowed to attend, upon Sensei’s approval. Our children did extremely well in the past tournament, placing #1 in the USA.

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30 – 6:45PM
Age group: 7 – 14 years old (or equivalent level)

(2) Kendo for All Ages

This class is focused for High School ages and older and adults. We have a variety of levels in this class so everyone is welcome. For advanced people, we run a full advanced technique classes, with high level Wazas and competition techniques. For beginners, Senseis and Sempais will help you so you can start practicing with more advanced people. We also have lessons for people just starting Kendo. This class is taught divided in two groups: With Bogu and without Bogu.

Age group: 14 and older Adults

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00PM

(3) Kendo Open JiGeiko

This class is open Jigeiko (Free practice). Senseis will also put on their Bogu and do Jigeiko. We have many guest participants from different Dojos. It is a great opportunity to practice and try your skills. You must wear Bogu in order to join this class.

Age group: All
Time: Wednesday, 7:00 – 8:15PM

KENDO INSTRUCTORS

 

 7 DAN
Taro Ariga Taro Ariga (Kendo Kyoshi 7th Dan)

  • BUTOKUDEN Kancho – Kendo Head Instructor
  • E-BOGU.COM Inc. CEO
  • Southern California Kendo Organization (SCKO) President
  • All USA Kendo Federation Board of Directors
  • Portugal National Team Coach

Achievements:

  • BUTOKUDEN Dojo Founder
  • IBM Kendo Club Founder
  • University of Waterloo Kendo Club Founder

Tournament Achievements:

  • Represented Canada in the 7th World Kendo Championships in Korea 1988 (Bronze Medal)
  • Represented Canada in the 8th World Kendo Championships in Canada 1991 (Bronze Medal)
  • Represented Canada in the 9th World Kendo Championships in Paris 1994 (Bronze Medal)
  • Represented Canada in the 10th World Kendo Championships in Japan 1997
  • Represented Canada in the 11th World Kendo Championships in USA 2000 (Bronze Medal)
  • Represented Canada in the 12th World Kendo Championships in Great Britain 2003
  • Represented Canada in the 13th World Kendo Championships in Taiwan 2006
  • Canadian Kendo Championships 1990 (Gold Medal)
  • Canadian Kendo Championships 1993 (Bronze Medal)
  • Canadian Kendo Championships 2002 (Bronze Medal)
  • Represented Canada two times at the Nakakura-Ki Tournament, Japan
  • 2014 All USA Kendo Championships (2nd Place Team)
  • 2017 All USA Kendo Championships Top 8 Individuals

International Kendo Coaching:

  • 2009 World Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
  • 2010 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Hungary)
  • 2011 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Gdynia, Poland)
  • 2012 World Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Novara, Italy)
  • 2014 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Clermont-Ferrand, France)
  • 2015 World Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Tokyo, Japan)
  • 2016 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Skopje, Mcedonia)
  • 2017 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Budapest, Hungary)
  • 2018 World Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Incheon, Korea)
  • 2019 European Kendo Championships Portuguese National Kendo Team Coach (Belgrade, Serbia)

Kendo Coaching in the USA:

  • 2011 All USA Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2010 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2011 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2012 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2015 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2016 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Manager
  • 2017 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2018 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach
  • 2019 All USA Junior Kendo Championships Southern California Kendo Organization Team Coach

e-mail: kendo@butokuden.com

 6 DAN
 Pilsoo Kim Pilsoo Kim (Kendo 6th Dan)

  • BUTOKUDEN Kendo Instructor
  • Western Kendo Federation President 2017 – 2019
   Ryan Kang (Kendo 6th Dan)
Steven Hsueh (Kendo 6th Dan)

Achievement:

  • UCLA Kendo Club Co-Founder
  • UCLA Kendo Club Captain

Tournament Results:

  • 2005 All USA Kendo Federation Championships
  • SCKO Men’s Team (2nd Place)
  • 2006 Harvard Shoryuhai Team Championships (1st Place)
Hisano Hsueh Hisano Hsueh (Kendo 6th Dan)

Achievement:

  • Ritsumeikan University Kendo Circle President

Tournament Results:

  • 2007 Kansai Kendo Circles Tournament Team (1st Place)
  • 2008 Mumeishi 3’s Championships Individuals (3rd Place)
  • 2012 PNKF North American Women’s Taikai Team (2nd Place)
  • 2014 Toyama Prefecture Corporations Kendo Tournament Individuals (2nd Place)
 5 DAN
   Sean Park (Kendo 5th Dan)

  • 2003 – Chatter of Korea Amateur Sports Association President Cup. 4 Dan Division – 1st place.
  • 2004 – USKU Ranking Competition. 4 Dan Division – 2nd place
  • 2015 – SCKO Memorial Day Tournament. 40 Years and over / 4 Dan and Below – 1st Place.
  Justin Park (Kendo 5th Dan)

  • 2010 USKU Master Seog Hwan Kang Memorial Tournament Team (3rd Place)
  • 2012 USKU 14th Individual Championship (1st Place)
  • 2013 SCKO Year End Tournament individual (3rd Place)
  • 2016 NIKKEI GAMES Tournament 3 dan division (2nd Place)
 Vicky Kuo (Kendo 5th Dan)
 4 DAN
  Wee Lee (Kendo 4th Dan)
Yujen Tony Kuo (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Lee Uchida (Kendo 4th Dan)
Anselm Hii (Kendo 4th Dan)
  Hiroyuki Yamamoto (Kendo 4th Dan)
Gang Liu (Kendo 4th Dan)
Juliano Muniz (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Ippei Iwata (Kendo 4th Dan)

  • MWKF Tournament Team Division (2nd Place)
  • MWKF Tournament Individuals (3rd Place)
  • All US Easter Kendo Federation Tournament Individuals (1st Place)
 Kirk Whang (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Yohei Okura (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Hiroyuki Ogikubo (Kendo 4th Dan)
Ian Kotake  (Kendo 4th Dan)
Gen Takahashi  (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Kunishige Takizawa (TAKKI) (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Jill Harasawa  (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Amon Tanaka  (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Ryo Totsuka  (Kendo 4th Dan)
EX-Butokuden Senseis
 Takeshi Ichiba (Kendo 7th Dan)
Shin Terashita  Shin Terashita (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Nagisa Komorida (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Chie Kawamoto (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Komei Sawai (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Hiro Yano (Kendo 4th Dan)
Marcio Fukamizu (Kendo 5th Dan)
  Shogo Iyoda (Kendo 3rd Dan)
  Yudai Tsukui (Kendo 4th Dan)
Sayaka Takayanagi (Kendo 5th Dan)
 Minako Harigai (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Yuko Saito (Kendo 4th Dan)
 Kanako Arai (Kendo 4th Dan)

  • Graduated from Kokushikan University (Taiikukai Kendobu)
  • Represented Toyama at the 2016 All Japan Women’s Kendo Championships
  • 2016 Toyama Kendo Championships 1st Place
  • Represented Toyama at the 2014 All Japan Prefecture Women’s Kendo Championships
Risako Tamada (Kendo 5th Dan)

Achievement:

  • PhD. Candidate in Sport Coaching Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo
  • Nippon Sport Science University KENDO Club (April 2018 –) Assistant Coach
  • Nihon University Senior High School/ Junior High School KENDO Club (April 2018 –) Assistant Coach

Tournament Results:

  • 36th All Japan Women’s Student KENDO Championship (TEAMs) 1st Place (2017)
  • 35th All Japan Women’s Student KENDO Championship (TEAMs) 2nd Place (2016)
  • 16th Kanto Women’s Student KENDO Championship (TEAMs) 1st Place (2015)