Sydney Kendo Club

The AOKC has successfully concluded this weekend.

Congratulations to the Australian National Team on their outstanding performance, including strong results in the 3 Dan and below divisions. The Australian Women’s Team also achieved an excellent result, finishing in the top four and earning equal third place. In other categories, the team faced tough, high-level competition and gained valuable experience throughout the event.

We would like to congratulate all members of the team on their effort, commitment, and sportsmanship over the weekend.

We are also proud of Burke Sensei and Yung Sensei, who were part of the coaching team, contributing their time, knowledge, and expertise in support of the national squad.

A great weekend for Australian kendo 🇦🇺 well done to everyone involved.

We are proud to support the Australian National Team at the inaugural Asia-Oceania Kendo Championship (AOKC) in Tokyo this weekend.

Stuart Burke sensei and Vivian Yung sensei are part of the national coaching team, contributing their experience and guidance on this historic occasion.

Wishing the team strong spirit and great kendo in Tokyo. Go Australia! 🇦🇺

Last weekend, Andrew van Hamond sensei successfully passed his 6th Dan grading in Nagoya, Japan.

This achievement represents many years of dedication, perseverance, and commitment to kendo, both on and off the dojo floor. As President of the Australian Kendo Renmei, his contribution extends far beyond our own dojo, with his leadership and support helping to strengthen and grow the kendo community across Australia.

Those who have trained with him know his passion for kendo, and the encouragement he gives to others at every level. We are incredibly proud to see his hard work recognised in Japan and grateful for everything he continues to do for Australian kendo.

Please join us in congratulating him on this significant milestone!

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting members of the Australian Women’s National Team.

The atmosphere in the dojo was energetic, respectful, and highly motivating for all members.

We also held a friendly shiai session, which gave everyone a chance to test their timing, composure, and spirit in a more competitive setting. It was a great experience for both visitors and our members, and a valuable step in everyone’s development.

A big thank you to the Australian Women’s National Team players for taking the time to join us, and to all club members who helped make the session run smoothly.

We wish the team all the best in the upcoming Asia Oceania Kendo Championships (1AOKC) at the end of the month.

We’ve officially wrapped up our first beginners course of 2026!

Over the past weeks, it’s been great to see everyone learning the fundamentals of kendo—from reiho and basic footwork to their first strikes and kirikaeshi.

Starting something new is never easy, but all participants showed strong spirit, focus, and a willingness to learn.

A big thank you to our instructors and senior members who dedicated their time to guide and support the beginners throughout the course.

To our beginners—well done on completing the course. This is just the beginning of your kendo journey, and we hope to see you continue training and growing with us.

The NSW Kendo Association is hosting a special 2-day kendo seminar this July in Sydney.

Kamei Sensei is one of Japan’s leading kendo instructors — this is a rare opportunity to learn from the very best.

📅 18–19 July 2026
📍 Abbotsleigh School, Wahroonga
⏰ 9:00am – 5:00pm (both days)

✅ Open to kendoka aged 11+ training in bogu

🎟 Tickets available now via Humanitix
• Early bird discounts (limited)
• Dojo group discounts available

https://events.humanitix.com/kamei-sensei-seminar-2026

💥 Don’t miss this opportunity — perfect preparation for upcoming gradings!

What a huge and memorable day at the dojo!

This weekend we kicked off our first beginners’ course of the year — it was fantastic to see so many new faces starting their kendo journey. The energy in the room was vibrant, focused, and full of enthusiasm.

As if that wasn’t special enough, we were also deeply honoured to welcome Kamei Toru Sensei from Japan. Having Kamei Sensei join us in keiko is truly a rare privilege. His presence, guidance, and example on the floor were incredibly inspiring for all of us — from beginners taking their very first swings to senior members refining the finer details of their kendo.

Days like this remind us how fortunate we are to be part of such a supportive and connected kendo community.

Thank you to everyone, and welcome to our new beginners — we’re excited to train with you!

We were deeply honoured to host Kaki Kuninobu Sensei, 7th Dan, from Tokyo.
His presence elevated our keiko, and we’re grateful for the experience and spirit he shared with us.
Thank you, Kaki Sensei, for your wisdom and time. We look forward to your next visit!

The first internal grading of 2026, and we’re proud to say everyone did exceptionally well! Congratulations to all who participated and passed—your hard work and dedication really showed on the floor. A big thank you to our senseis for their guidance and support. Let’s keep this momentum going for the rest of the year!

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sumi Masatake sensei.
A towering figure in the world of kendo, his lifelong dedication helped spread kendo across the globe.
We were honoured to welcome him to Sydney Kendo Club, where his presence, teaching, and spirit left a lasting impression.

With deepest gratitude and respect.
May he rest in peace.