Yōshinkan Kendo Club

24/09/2026

Our Wednesday club night was joined by our Naginata siblings. They are training hard for the upcoming NZ Nationals and are getting in some extra training. The night ended with some issujai where kendo is pitted against the longer halberd.
Some spirited fighting was had. Thanks Alice Graham for keeping naginata strong in Wellington.

18/09/2026

Yōshinkan had the honour of receiving the twin patu to Turuao on Wednesday 16 September.
Turuao (swift spark) lives at Alex Bennett dojo Jigokuden in Uji Japan. She is a twin to Turupo (Swift night) and represents the strong connection between our two dojo.
Thankyou to (Ariki) Taupuruariki Brightwell who created this awesome taonga.
Of special note is that Sumi Sensei (who passed this year) is part of Turupo. Sumi Sensei came to Aotearoa twice and his spirit is captured in the manaia on the handle of the patu (see close up)

06/09/2026

An excellent weekend for team Yōshinkan! Some hard work in the dojo is paying off, and our team demonstrated their best across the events at the Rembuden Taikai.

Congratulations to our medal winners, and the team as a whole! Thank you to Rembuden Kendo Club for hosting an outstanding event, and our friends from across Aotearoa for joining us in Wellington to test our Kendo.

Results
Junior Open
- Avery Lin: Silver and Fighting Spirit Award
- Leo Meyer: Bronze

Women's Kyu Open
- Momo Mao: Gold

Men's Kyu Open
- Matt Gane: Bronze

Men's Junior Dan
- Harald Lin: Silver
- Darius Elphick: Bronze

06/09/2026

Yōshinkan has quite a few medals this tournament Rembuden Kendo Club Taikai.

Momo Mao took the gold in the women's Kyu division, Yas! And everyone is fighting with vigour including our Panama guest Karen CC .

Next up is the 3 person teams and Yōshinkan has 4 teams entered. Ganbatte!

05/09/2026

Yōshinkan is enjoying Rembuden Taikai this weekend. Our boys are doing well starting with Avery and Leo who placed in the junior competition, then Matt Gane who placed in the men's kyu.

Our junior and senior Dan's are going hard and fighting well. All credit to their teachers and themselves for the hard training.

03/09/2026

Busy night at Yōshinkan yesterday! Congratulations to our beginners who've just finished our latest course. We hope you'll continue your Kendo journey with us in coming weeks!

Meanwhile, a busy keiko ahead of this weekend's Rembuden Taikai. Good luck to all our Kenshi who are competing over the weekend. Finally, we were delighted to welcome Karen from Japan to train with us, as well as Zee and Zac visiting from the Philippines.

08/08/2026

One last plug for our beginners course kicking off this Monday!

Join us for our Beginners Course at Yōshinkan Kendo Club. This unique Japanese martial art teaches you the techniques and skills of wielding the sword, while also building strength, sharpening focus, and cultivating discipline and inner calm.

Our beginners course covers the fundamentals of Kendo: how to hold and swing the shinai (bamboo sword), correct stance and footwork, and how to strike with accuracy and control. It's low-contact and beginner-friendly. By the end, we hope you'll be hungry for more!

Length: 4 Weeks
When: 10th August - 2nd September, 2026
- Every Monday and Wednesday, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (Seniors will continue until 8:15, and you're welcome to watch)
Where:
- Monday: Dance Studio 1, Te Whaea, 11 Hutchinson Rd, Newtown, Wellington
- Wednesday: Mt Cook School Hall, Tory Street, Wellington City
Cost: $40 for 8 lessons
Find out more and sign up here:

Explore Kendo fundamentals this Winter at Yōshinkan Kendo Club. Enhance skills, discipline, and cultural connection in our 4 week beginners course. Sign up now!

26/07/2026

Join us for our Beginners Course at Yōshinkan Kendo Club. This unique Japanese martial art teaches you the techniques and skills of wielding the sword, while also building strength, sharpening focus, and cultivating discipline and inner calm.

Our beginners course covers the fundamentals of Kendo: how to hold and swing the shinai (bamboo sword), correct stance and footwork, and how to strike with accuracy and control. It's low-contact and beginner-friendly. By the end, we hope you'll be hungry for more!

Length: 4 Weeks

When: 10th August - 2nd September, 2026
- Every Monday and Wednesday, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (Seniors will continue until 8:15, and you're welcome to watch)

Where:
- Monday: Dance Studio 1, Te Whaea, 11 Hutchinson Rd, Newtown, Wellington
- Wednesday: Mt Cook School Hall, Tory Street, Wellington City

Cost: $40 for 8 lessons

Find out more and sign up here:

Explore Kendo fundamentals this Winter at Yōshinkan Kendo Club. Enhance skills, discipline, and cultural connection in our 4 week beginners course. Sign up now!

13/07/2026

A proud day for Yōshinkan, following the closing of the 16th New Zealand Kendo Nationals and 50th Anniversary Celebrations for the NZKF. Over four days we saw the best of NZ Budo, from Shimpan instruction and iaido, naginata and jodo demonstrations, to 128 Kendo matches fought with high spirit. Congratulations to all the winners! And well done to everyone for bringing their best to the shiaijo.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended, and particularly those who helped with the running of the event including our guest Shimpan led by Shimpancho Alex Bennett Sensei.

Thank you also to the large group of volunteers, from Yōshinkan, Wellington Naginata and Wellington Iaidō Club who worked tirelessly over the last several months to prepare, and then over the weekend to deliver a successful event. In particular, our team member Russell Andrews has gone above and beyond in organising the weekend, and our club are extremely grateful to him.

All the best friends, and we look forward to seeing you at the next tournament later in the year.

23/06/2026

Kia ora friends,
There's still time to order an awesome tshirt to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NZKF. Head here to find out more and order yours. Order deadline is tomorrow, 24th June.

NZKF Souvenir T-Shirt