San Diego Kendo Bu

Pegasus Pilates

We are a member of SCKF and AUSKF and the largest Kendo Dojo in the County. Dedicated to the study an Kikuo Uyeji Sensei joined SDKB early on.

San Diego Kendo Bu (SDKB) was founded in February 1972 by Shigeo Yamanishi Sensei and practiced at the San Diego Buddhist Temple. At the foundation of SDKB, Yamanishi sensei and Uyeji sensei were 1-Dan and not qualified to teach at the time. Therefore, Maki Miyahara Sensei stepped in and became the first Sensei of SDKB. Miyahara sensei was from the Pasadena Cultural institute and the highest ranki

ng sensei in the country at 8-Dan. Eventually, Yamanishi sensei obtained 5-Dan and was a member of the US Kendo team in the 3rd World Kendo Championships in Great Britain in 1976. Kikuo Uyeji Sensei eventually obtained Renshi 6-Dan. In the same year, 1972, John Yamamoto Sensei (at the time in his 30's) was helping rehabilitate young Asian American drug parolees. As he had heard that Yamanishi Sensei was starting a new kendo club, Yamamoto Sensei brought ten of them to the dojo to have them learn kendo as part of their Japanese heritage. Victor Uyeji (at that time, 19 years old) joined in the same year. Initial members included Carl Yamamoto (Yamamoto Sensei's brother), Kichi Hayashi (brother in law to Yamamoto Sensei), David Uda, Ronnie Morinaka, Barry Morinaka and Frank Endo. After Yamanishi Sensei passed away, SDKB practices were led by Uyeji sensei and Yamamoto sensei. In summer of 2014, Henry Kikunaga Sensei, 5-Dan, took over as Head Instructor of SDKB from John Yamamoto Sensei. Kikunaga sensei started kendo when he was 7 years old with San Jose Dojo under Charlie Tanaka Sensei. After competing and contributing to the Northern California Kendo Federation's successes at the US Kendo Championships a handful of times both as member of the youth team and Men's teams over the years, he began practicing at SDKB while attending the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In 1998, Kikunaga sensei wanted to start a "University" Kendo class to teach kendo to college students. However, he needed the assistance from a local sensei and advisor at the time according to the university. Yamamoto sensei and Alfonso Gomez Sensei (Karate instructor and martial arts department advisor at UCSD) stepped in to help advise and help set up the UCSD Recreational Class for Kendo. The UCSD Recreational class has been going strong since then with it being the most popular recreational class on the campus for a number of years. From the UCSD Recreational Kendo class has sprouted about a handful of young sensei in its short time of existence and even had a member represented on the Women's National Team that competed at the World Kendo Championships. In addition, the UCSD Kendo Team was formed which competed in collegiate tournaments since 2005 with much success. Also in August 2012, SDKB member, Francisco Villa (2-Dan) moved to Yuma, Arizona to be on faculty at Arizona Western College. There he started Yuma Kendo Club, which is now officially a branch and overseen by San Diego Kendo Bu. Together, the UCSD Recreational Kendo class, Yuma Kendo Club, and San Diego Kendo Bu have coexisted to contribute to the Kendo Community in the Southwestern United States and continue to uphold the kendo teachings and traditions set forth by its founders of San Diego Kendo Bu.

05/19/2026

WKF (Western Kendo Federation) Spring Championships Results!

1st place - Adult Kyu
- L. EinDar ()

1st Place - 1-2 Dan
- D. Lee ()

2nd Place - Adult kyu
- M. Fukunaga-Taylor (.mori)

Honorable Mention - Adult Kyu
- R. Tokumoto ()

Great showing by again! Thank you to for the invitation and hosting of tournament!

📸: .ed &

05/16/2026

Celebration & Appreciation party for (UCSD Kendo) for their epic performance during the year and UCLA Yuhihai tournament! It was also a celebration of ‘s performance at the annual Nisei Week Tournament!

With great happiness, full stomachs, and lots of laughs, we all enjoyed a great night at the SDKB Party house! As the great philosopher Kendrick Lamar would say…. “They not like us”

05/04/2026

2026 NISEI WEEK TOURNAMENT RESULTS!:

-10 yrs & under-
3rd Place- Y. Baba

-Women’s Kyu-
3rd place - A. Wong
Kantosho - M. Hatanaka

- Adult kyu 3-1 kyu-
1st place - L. EinDar
3rd place - M. Fukunaga-Taylor
3rd place - R. Tokumoto
Kantosho - M. Yang

Team championship
2ND PLACE!!!
Y. Baba
K. Mochimatsu
M. Hatanaka
R. Tokumoto
M. Fukunaga-Taylor

Congratulations to everyone from and all the competitors of this tournament! Hope yall had fun! We know we did! Thank you to Francis Lee sensei and for the organization and running of this taikai.

*ta

05/01/2026

We celebrated our new sensei, Jazel Sambo Sensei!!! ()

She deserved the new rank as well as the recognition! Jazel has served as a dojo representative, has been the Director of Internal Affairs for SDKB for several years and the New member and visiting kenshi/sensei liaison for the dojo. She also brings the laughs, fun, smiles and partying that embodies the core of SDKB.

Congratulations Jazel Sensei!

Training for 5-Dan starts yesterday. Gambare!!!!

In SDKB and Jazel fashion, we presented her with a BEER cake!

04/28/2026

Tiffany, Kikunaga sensei and Zau sensei at the SD Padre game on Japanese Heritage Night!

04/22/2026

Last night, celebrated (Zau Sensei!!!) ‘s 60th BIRTHDAY with everything she loves!…… the presence of the dojo members, sharing food, drinks, karaoke, kendo, and seeing everyone enjoy each others presence and having fun!!!

Zau Sensei has truly been the QUEEN of the dojo and we wouldn’t be the same without her, both as a group but also the development and strength of kendo in the dojo.

As we celebrate her, please take the time to send her your well wishes for the QUEEN OF KENDO!!!

We love you Susan Sensei!!!!

04/11/2026

Good luck to our kids competing in the AUSKF Junior Open Nationals!!!!

03/31/2026

TEAM UCSD () competed this past weekend at the 19th UCLA Yuhihai Tournament. They did very well again this year with showing great performance and fight!

is always grateful and proud to help train the UCSD team so congrats to in leading this wonderful group.

As always, the UCSD team is unique in compiling and bringing together kendo talent not only home grown but from other dojos and federations. Thereby making the kids college collegiate experiences an amazing one full of great memories and CULTure.

Results (with dojo and federation represented in parentheses)
A. Lai (UCSD/ SDKB/SCKF) - FIRST PLACE - non bogu division
Y. Choi (UCSD/ SDKB/SCKF) - THIRD PLACE - non bogu division

L. EinDar (UCSD/ SDKB/SCKF) - FIRST PLACE - kyu Individuals

Women’s Team - FIRST PLACE
- A. Wong (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- S. Jeon (UCSD/ Bellevue / PNKF)
- K. Saito (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)

KYU team A - FIRST PLACE
- T. Caldwell (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- L. EinDar (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- R. Tokumoto (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)

Kyu Team B - SECOND PLACE
- J. Cho (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- K. Brinton (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- R. Gionet (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)

Championship team - THIRD PLACE
- R. Tokumoto (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- E. Kim (UCSD/ GEDATSU / SCKF)
- K. Saito (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- L. EinDar (UCSD/ SDKB / SCKF)
- T. Ariga (UCSD/ Butokuden / SCKO)

Congrats to all and let’s continue to improve!

Lastly a HUGE thank you to UCLA Kendo for a great event and look forward to next year!!!!!

03/27/2026

Another great practice, another farewell….. wonderful visit from our neighbors to the north!

Last practice for before he moves to Japan! We will miss you dearly and loved seeing you grow as a person and in kendo! Thank you for being part of our family here! Hope you will be back soon!!!

We also welcomed a few of our friends from Vancouver Canada as we hosted Dean Ara Sensei (Kyoshi 7-Dan and one of Team Canada Coaches), his son, as well as former Team Canada member Noda Sensei.

Thank you for taking time out of your California visit to keiko with us after your long day of playing on one of the most iconic golf courses, Torrey Pines!

03/25/2026

We bid an “until next time” to Ryan Mingyu Kim .ann ! Thank you for being a great member to our dojo and ucsd kendo! Good luck and we will see you again!

was a perfect home for Mingyu as he always showcased great spirit during keiko and tournaments with pride and respect, but also on full display, being himself and making K-pop dance vids 🤣

In these pics, Mingyu thought he can get away from the infamous farewell kakarigeiko…… but in usual Mingyu fashion, he came thru

Claim ownership or report listing

Want your business to be the top-listed Gym/sports Facility in San Diego?

Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.

Location

San Diego

Contact the business

Click here to send a message to the business

Website

http://www.sdkendo.com/

Address

8810 Judicial Drive
San Diego, CA
92122

Opening Hours

Tuesday	7pm - 10pm
Thursday	7pm - 10pm