NW Kendo

NWKC participated in 49th PNKF Taikai today. Our juniors Nathan Kim, Clara Kim, and Ryu Yokoo, along with free agents Jonas Kelley (Tacoma) and Carter Goodin (Hawaii Kendo Federation) placed 3rd in junior team division.
Clara Kim was also awarded the PNKF Shoji Award voted by PNKF board for outstanding PNKF Junior.
All our members gave it all, learned something new, and had much fun and excitements making new friends.

Thank you for all the volunteers who made the event so memorable!

NWKC hosted a PHantastic taikai yesterday in Snohomish, WA. This being our 3rd time hosting the NW Jr Taikai, we are proud to say the taikai has gotten better each year. This year, we welcomed 76 juniors around PNKF and BCKF. We witnessed awe inspiring skills by some of experienced kenshis's as well as many juniors participating in their first taikai. More importantly, we saw so many juniors making new friends, cheering on and laughing with each other, all while making great memories.

Many sensei's, senpai's, and friends around the area came to volunteer their time and talent to make the event such a success. Thank you so much~

Hope to see everyone again in few weeks at the PNKF Taikai~!

NW Kendo Club had our BBQ today at North Seattle Church where we hold our practices.

We enjoyed beautiful Pacific Northwest fall weather by the lake, with great food and friends!

Thank you Chefs Scott and Trinh for manning the grill, and setting up!

And happy belated birthday Koike sensei!

Five of our members participated in 2nd annual Tacoma Women's Taikai yesterday.

Clara Kim placed 1st in kyu division, and Shin Wu placed 3rd in kyu division.

Overall everyone did great and learned something new about their kendo. Keep up the good work!

Thank you Tacoma Kendo and Iaido Club for hosting!

Medals for 2025 NW Jr Taikai have arrived, and they are bigger and better than last year's!

Remember, deadline to sign up is September 28th before fee increases!

See you at the taikai on Oct 12th!

northwestkendo.com/taikai

Mark your calendars, on Sunday Oct 12th is 3rd annual NW Jr Taikai in Snohomish, WA!
Last year we had 70 participants from OR, WA, and BC testing their kendo skills while building friendship with fellow kenshi's.
Please encourage your juniors to participate and please sign up to volunteer and shinpan!
Information can be found at

NW Jr Taikai | Northwest Kendo Waivers: Each dojo is to collect waiver signature from parents of all participants and submit during registration on the day of taikai.

Members of NWKC participated in 9th North America Women's Taikai today in Seattle. They also took part in week long seminar with other women kendokai's who traveled from near and far. Thank you Maruyama sensei for coming all the way from Japan to share your knowledge. Thank you Marsten and Chen sensei and others for hosting!

Just reminder there will be no practices at NW Kendo Club next week, as the gym will be unavailable.
See you on the following Monday July 28th, practice starts at 6:30pm sharp!

5 of our members participated in Rose City Taikai this weekend.

Charles Dolera placed 2nd in 1-2 kyu
Keiji Underhill placed 3rd in 1-2 dan
Nina Underhill placed 1st in Women's kyu
Clara Kim placed 3rd in 14-15, as well as 1st in Jr teams
Nathan Kim placed 3rd in 11-13, and 2nd in Jr teams.

Everyone did really great, and had a great time at the godokeiko too.

Thank you very much Obukan Kendo Club for hosting, we really appreciate it!

5 of our juniors participated in Bellevue Jr Taikai today.

Adrian Lee placed 2nd in non bogu division.
Dylan Lee placed 3rd in non bogu division.
Nathan Kim placed 2nd in 11 to 12 division.
Clara Kim placed 1st in 13 to 15 Division.
Ryu Yokoo placed 2nd in 13 to 15 division.
Northwest Team comprised of Nathan Kim, Sana Lee (Cascade), Clara Kim, Kenichi Suehisa (Cascade), and Ryu Yokoo placed 1st in junior team division.

Great job everyone, we are so proud of you. Special shout out to Dylan and Adrian who participated in their first taikai. Keep up the great work!

PNKF hosted AUSKF Jr National Open in Kirkland, WA this weekend.

Nina Underhill and Clara Kim were part of PNKF girl's team that won 2nd place.
Jonathan Yu, Ryu Yokoo, and Nathan Kim were part of PNKF boy's team that won 3rd place.
Jonathan Yu won 1st in boy's individual 16-18 division.

Overall, PNKF juniors did great, many having participated in their first national tournament.

Special shout out to Jonathan and Nina for partaking in their last Jr Nationals, as they graduate high school this year. You became part of NWKC family as little children, and we are super proud to have witnessed your growth not only in kendo, but in life. Continue to kiai loud and seme forward despite the doubt, the fear, and the unknown life may throw at you; we have no doubt you will keep making us proud as you venture into other taikai's of life.

In January, two of our club members participated in Torrance Kendo Club's 50th anniversary competition.

Jonathan Yu's team placed 1st in men's adult team division.

Clara Kim's team placed 2nd in middle school team division.

Great job Jonathan and Clara, we are super proud of you~!