[{"content":"Congratulations to the DKD members that won awards in the 2026 Goryuki!\nAdult Division MWKF Men A\nAkihiko Moriya 3rd place\nWomen\u0026rsquo;s Division MWKF Women B\nNao Umeda 3rd Place\nJunior Youth Division MWKF\nMakoto Umeda 3rd Place\nSenior Youth Division MWKF Youth A\nHyogo Naritomi 2nd* Place\n","date":"20 May 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2026_goryuki_results/2026_goryuki_results/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2026 Goryuki Results","type":"pages"},{"content":"","date":"20 May 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Pages","type":"pages"},{"content":"Congratulations to the DKD members that won awards in the 2026 Michigan Family Tournament hosted at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti!\nMudan Junior\nPepper Suzuki - 1st place\nReika Hasegawa - 3rd place\nMudan Adult\nJulian Djurashaj - Star Performer (Best 8)\nYoungstar\nYu Fukuhara - Star Performer (Best 8)\n","date":"15 May 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2026_michigan_family_tournament_results/2026_michigan_family_tournament_results/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2026 Michigan Family Tournament Results","type":"pages"},{"content":" ","date":"28 February 2026","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2026_detroit_open_taikai_results/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2026 Detroit Open Taikai Results","type":"pages"},{"content":"Congratulations to our DKD members that placed in the Johnson Cup in Columbus Ohio on 10/25/25!\nMakoto UMEDA-Senior Youth 🥇\nMakoto UMEDA-Youth Mix Team 🥈\nNao UMEDA-Women’s Division 🥉\nAkihito OHTA- 1-3 DAN Division 🥉\n","date":"30 October 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2025_johnson_cup_results/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2025 Johnson Cup Results","type":"pages"},{"content":"The 2025 Midwest Kendo Federation Tournament was held last weekend (10/4-5) at Western Michigan University. Results for your DKD members are below:\n12 Under Youth Team 🥈２位 DKD 先鋒Pepper Suzuki 中堅Kuga Tanaka 大将Makoto Umeda\n🥉３位 ミネハハ混合 Hyuga Tanaka\n13 Over Youth Team 🥉３位 DKD 先鋒Hyogo Naritomi 中堅Nao Umeda 大将Akihito Ohta\nIndividual Junior Youth🥉３位 Kuga Tanaka\nYouth 🥈２位 Makoto Umeda\nYouth🥉３位 Logan Thomas\nSenior Youth🥇1位 Akihito Ohta\nSenior Youth🥈２位 Nao Umeda\nCongratulations to all the members that tested for new ranks as well!\n","date":"7 October 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2025_mwkf_tournament/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2025 MWKF Tournament Results","type":"pages"},{"content":"Thank you to the Saginaw Japan Festival for inviting us to demonstrate on 9/14/25! If you’re interested in joining our practice please click the \u0026ldquo;Join DKD” menu at the top of the page. Everyone is welcome at our dojo!\n","date":"15 September 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/dkd_saginaw_2025/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"DKD Demonstrates at Saginaw Japan Festival","type":"pages"},{"content":"This is the homepage for the Detroit Kendo Dojo. The Detroit Kendo Dojo was founded in 1996 by Yoshiteru Tagawa, with his strong dedication to spread and develop Kendo throughout the United States and the world. His motto is to develop correct Kendo through training. There are more than 60 members, from children to seniors, training at the dojo. Tagawa-sensei holds the highest possible rank in Kendo, Hanshi 8-DAN. He is also the only instructor with this rank teaching in America.\nFor his long-term contribution to the development of Kendo overseas, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2024. Free Trial Sessions Information How to Join the Detroit Kendo Dojo Traveling Kenshi Participation Information We are a non-profit organization that holds three weekly practices and the hosts the annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament in February. We are proud to be supported by many members in the Metro-Detroit community. Contact Us Via Email ","date":"15 September 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/","section":"","summary":"","title":"","type":"page"},{"content":"2025 Kendo Seminar and 27th Detroit Open Kendo Tournament Announcement\nHello Fellow Kenshi! We are excited to announce the 2025 Detroit Kendo Dojo Kendo Seminar and our 27th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament!\nSEMINAR : SATURDAY FEB.15, 2025\nTOURNAMENT : SUNDAY FEB.16, 2025\nLOCATION : Wylie E. Groves High School 20500 W. 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025\n2025 Detroit Kendo Dojo Kendo Seminar\nWe are honored to receive two distinguished sensei in 2025!\nHidenori Iwasa-sensei, Kendo Kyoshi 8 Dan\nMizuki Matsumoto-sensei, Kendo Renshi 6 Dan\nPlease note – seminar instruction will be divided into two sessions:\nIwasa-sensei will instruct men 18 and over in the main gym Matsumoto-sensei will instruct women \u0026amp; juniors 17 and under in the auxillary gym\nRegistration Deadline : Sunday, January 19, 2025\nSeminar check-in : 11:00 am – 11:45 am Saturday February 15, 2025\nSeminar : 11:50 am – 17:00 pm\nSeminar Fee:\nPre-Registration : USD 40 (18 and over)\nPre-Registration : USD 30 (17 and under)\nOn-site Registration : USD 55 (18 and over)\nOn-site Registration : USD 45 (17 and under)\nThe 27th Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament\nTournament : Sunday, February 16, 2025\nRegistration Deadline : Sunday, January 19, 2025\nTournament Start Time: Opening Ceremony starting at 7:30 am SHARP!!\nTournament Registration Fees\n18 and over : USD 70\n17 and under : USD 40\nBento Lunch : USD 16\nWe will provide a free lunch box to those senseis who do not participate in the tournament as athletes but instead register only as Shinpan.\nTournament Division / Category\nFor individual matches, each participant must choose only one category. How to Register All participants must be registered by 12:00(EST) Noon Sunday, January 19, 2025 Waiver\nALL PARTICIPANTS must consent to a waiver.\nEach participant MUST complete the online waiver at the following link -\u0026gt; Kendo Seminar and Tournament Waiver Form Kendo Seminar/Detroit Open Kendo Tournament\nEach Dojo must appoint a Dojo representative.\nDojo representatives is required to fill out the Kendo Seminar/Tournament Registration Form attached to this e-mail and upload using this link -\u0026gt; Kendo Dojo/Club Registration Form\nPlease submit only one Registration Form per Dojo/Club\nAfter uploading the Registration Form, please promptly complete the payment.\nParticipation fees can be paid by Check/Money Order or Zelle. Payment addresses are provided after registration via the Kendo Dojo/Club Registration Form\nPayment Deadline\nPay by Check/Money Order : Send via mail to Monday, January 27, 2025 (received by date)\nPay by Zelle : 12:00(EST) Noon Sunday, January 19, 2025\nIf the application form and participation fee are not submitted by the application deadline, the application will be invalid.\nApplications for categories other than those specified in the competition will be invalid. Team Match\nThe Detroit Open Kendo Tournament Team Match is intended solely for competition between dojos. Participants in team match must form a team with a dojo that is registered with the Federation to which you belong. If there are not enough participants from a dojo to form a team, the Tournament organizers may form “mixed” teams at their own discretion. Mejirushi Participants must bring their own Mejirushi to the tournament. It won’t be provided by the tournament organizer. You may purchases from on-site vendors , but availability is limited. Hotel Information\nThe Radisson Hotel Detroit Southfield has been selected as our official tournament hotel.\nRoom type – Standard King Room $109 per night, up to two complimentary breakfasts included. Standard Double Room $119 per night, up to four complimentary breakfasts included.\nBreakfast will be served at 6:00 am on Saturday, Feb 15, and at 6:00 am on Sunday, Feb 16. Please make your reservations via this link or by calling the hotel directly at 248-358-7600. You may need identify yourself as members of the group rate of Detroit open Kendo Tournament when you make a reservation on the phone.\nhttps://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/HT17Y4\nIf you have any questions, please contact detkendotournament@gmail.com for more information. Kendo Seminar Instructors\nHidenori Iwasa-sensei # Education Tokai University\nOccupation Metropolitan Police Department\nTitle/Dan Kyoshi 8 Dan Major Kendo Achievements\n24th (2024) Prince Hirohito Cup Kendo 8th Dan Selection Tournament, 1st Place\n22nd (2022) Prince Hirohito Cup Kendo 8th Dan Selection Tournament, 1st Place\n21st (2021) Prince Hirohito Cup Kendo 8th Dan Selection Tournament, 3rd Place\n18th (2018) Prince Hirohito Cup Kendo 8th Dan Selection Tournament, 3rd Place\n17th (2017) Prince Hirohito Cup Kendo 8th Dan Selection Tournament, 1st Place\n12th (2003) World Kendo Championship, Men’s Individual Competition, 2nd Place\n47th (2003) National Police Kendo Tournament, Men’s Team, 1st Place\n50th (2002) All Japan Kendo Championship, 2nd Place\n46th (2002) National Police Kendo Tournament, Men’s Team, 1st Place\n49th (2001) All Japan Kendo Championship, 1st Place\n46th (1998) All Japan Kendo Championship, 3rd Place\n40th (1996) National Police Kendo Tournament, Men’s Team, 1st Place\nMizuki Matsumoto-sensei # Education Hosei University\nOccupation Kanagawa Prefectural Police\nTitle/Dan Renshi 6 Dan Major Kendo Achievements\n63rd (2024) All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship, 3rd Place\n58th (2019) All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship, 1st Place\n35th (2018) National Police Tournament, Women’s Individual, 1st Place\n17th (2018) World Kendo Championship, Women’s Individual, 1st Place\n17th (2018) World Kendo Championship, Women’s Team, 1st Place (Taisho)\n54th (2015) All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship, 1st Place\n16th (2015) World Kendo Championship, Women’s Individual, 1st Place\n16th (2015) World Kendo Championship, Women’s Team, 1st Place (Taisho)\n48th (2014) All Japan Women’s Student Championship, 1st Place\n57th (2010) National High School Kendo Tournament, Women’s Individual, 1st Place\n57th (2010) National High School Kendo Tournament Women’s Team Championship, 1st Place (Taisho)\n43rd (2010) Gyokuryu-ki High School Kendo Tournament Women’s Team Championship, 1st Place (Taisho)\nThis is a rare opportunity to learn from such distinguished Sensei and should not be missed!!\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2025_detroit_taikai_announcement/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2025 Detroit Tournament Announcement","type":"pages"},{"content":"TO ALL 2025 DETROIT OPEN KENDO TOURNAMENT \u0026amp; DETROIT KENDO SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS AND SUPPORTERS\nThank you all for another successful seminar and tournament in 2025 without any major injuries/incidents in such cold, snowy weather. We hope everyone has returned home safely, and for those who missed attending this year, we hope to see you in 2026.\nThank you very much to Hidenori Iwasa sensei and Mizuki Matsumoto sensei for traveling from Japan to participate in and attend our seminar/tournament this year!!\n2026 will be our 30th Anniversary year for Detroit Kendo Dojo, and the 28th annual seminar/tournament preparatory committee will be making announcements in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you all again from near and far in 2026.\nSincerely,\nDetroit Kendo Dojo 2025 Detroit Open Kendo Tournament and Detroit Kendo Seminar Preparatory Committee and Operation Team\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2025_detroit_taikai_thank_you/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"2025 Detroit Tournament Thank You Message","type":"pages"},{"content":"","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_kendo/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"About Kendo","type":"pages"},{"content":"The Detroit Kendo Dojo was founded in 1996 by Yoshiteru Tagawa, with his strong dedication to spread and develop Kendo throughout the United States and the world. His motto is to develop correct Kendo through diligent practice. There are more than 60 members, from children to seniors, training at the dojo in Novi and Northville. Furthermore, many sword men and women who previously trained at this dojo are now practicing Kendo throughout North America. We hold three weekly practices, Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. We host the Annual Detroit Open Kendo Tournament in February. We are proud to be supported by many members in the Metro-Detroit community.\nYoshiteru Tagawa, Founder and Master Instructor # Mr. Tagawa is a Kendo Hanshi 8th Dan, the highest rank in Kendo, and he is the only person to hold this title outside of Japan. He also serves as the Vice President of the International Kendo Federation and the Chief Executive Advisor of the All United States Kendo Federation. For his long-term contribution to the development of Kendo overseas, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2024.\nThe Philosophy of Kendo # “Through the rigorous practice of Kendo, inner strength and character are developed. Such is the true path of Kendo.” Also, through the practice of Kendo, mental readiness is established. “Kendo training is to be taken very seriously and done properly. Mind and boy are cultivated through vigorous training. This will in turn bring vitality to the mind and spirit. The uniqueness of Kendo teaches us respect, discipline and faith. In order to accomplish this, we must always give our all until our powers and exhausted. In an even broader sense, one must learn through the practice of Kendo to love our country, but also to promote peace and harmony on earth.\nThe Ten Virtues of Kendo by Sasaburo Takano-sensei # A healthy body is a must. You must maintain good health and vitality in every part of your body. Develop a strong sprit. Your skill and spirit must be in perfect harmony. This will enable you to adapt and to cope with even the harshest of environments. Training is critical. Your mind, spirit, hands and feet are to combine to work as one. Practice diligently to attain this. Experiment and use your mind. Doing this will bring you close to enlightenment as well as improve your skill and techniques. Fundamental Training. Practicing basic techniques must be done properly. Posture, stance, grip, line of sight, footwork, attacking are critical. If you do not take these seriously, your skills will not evolve. Always train with a focused spirit. Your spirit controls your body. Whether it is during practice or tournaments, always maintain a focused spirit and put forth your best effort. Train with passion from beginning to end. You will encounter many hardships and suffering. Kendo is a lifelong commitment. If you train without putting forth your best effort, you will not reap all of the benefit of Kendo. Do not become conceited or overconfident. Whether it is in our Kendo, your education, or even in your career, arrogance is the root of all failure. This kind of attitude is the greatest detriment to your training. Maintain purity in your soul. Anger, deception, selfishness are enemies to your training. The path of Kendo is to train seriously in order to build character. Live the way you train. Do not separate what you learned in Kendo from your everyday life. It is unfortunate if this happens. The keeping the path of Kendo and the path of life as one, you will benefit greatly. The Twelve Virtues of Kendo for Youth Kenshi at the Dojo # Practice proper kendo etiquette. Offer greetings clearly and in a loud voice. Offer proper greetings at home and school as well. Follow instructions from sensei and guardians. Neatly arrange your shoes and clothes. Properly wear and neatly organize kendo uniforms, hakama, and protective gear (bogu). Sit with proper posture and perform silent meditation (Mokuso). Refrain from idle chatter during practice (focus on the keiko) Practice with loud voice kiai. Practice the kendo fundamentals thoroughly and set them in your body. Take good care of possessions. Get along well with friends (do not engage in bullying or discrimination) ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_us/detroit_kendo_dojo/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Detroit Kendo Dojo","type":"pages"},{"content":" Please read this information on the risk of concussion in martial arts and sports from the State of Michigan, then complete the form below. Note - you do not need to sign in to Google to complete this form. Loading… ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/concussion_acknowledgement_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Detroit Kendo Dojo Concussion Acknowledgement Form","type":"pages"},{"content":"Please complete the form below.\nLoading… Additional Information # Parent(s)/guardian(s) of members under 18 years old are required to join Detroit Kendo Parent Committee which involves some volunteering. Details will be communicated.\nAll members are strongly encouraged to volunteer at Kendo Tournaments and other events throughout the year.\nTiming to wear Bogu / Kendo Armor: Each participant must ask a sensei who is 5-Dan and up for permission to wear Bogu. Timing for bogu varies with each student. For beginners it normally takes at least 3 months of 8 to 10 classes per month.\nPromotion testing: Participants must obtain permission from a sensei who is 5-Dan and up if they would like to take a promotion exam.\nTournament participation: If you have questions regarding participating in tournaments, please send your inquiry to detroitkendodojo@gmail.com\nAll other inquiries, please send contact detroitkendodojo@gmail.com\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/membership_application_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Detroit Kendo Dojo Membership Application","type":"pages"},{"content":"Beginning in 1998, every February we host a tournament (taikai / 大会) and seminar in the Metro-Detroit area with 300+ participants from around all of North America. The seminar takes place on Saturday and the tournament on Sunday. The seminar always has high-level sensei from Japan who instruct attendees about proper techniques and new developments in kendo.\nOur tournament is one of the most well attended in the US and it is open to the public at no cost. Members of our dojo compete and their family members volunteer to make sure everything runs smoothly. We offer volunteer credits to local high school students and shifts are typically 2-4 hours. Running a tournament takes a lot of volunteers (court leaders, judges, timers, coordinators, etc) so if you have any interest in learning about kendo or volunteering please contact us at detroitkendodojo@gmail.com!\nHere is an example of our pamplet from the 2026 tournament: ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/detroit_open_taikai/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Detroit Open Taikai","type":"pages"},{"content":" Bogu (Kendo Armor and Equipment) Shops # Equipment can be purchased as sets or individually online or at tournaments. We can give you recommendations based on your budget and experience level. Here is a list of some of the more popular equipment vendors that ship to and operate in North America.\nHokubei Budogu # California Budogu # Mazkiya USA # E-Bogu # Maruyama Kendo Supply # E-budo.com # Boguzen.com # Bogushop.com # Kendo Organizations # Midwest Kendo Federation # The MWKF coordinates testing for 4-Dan and below. Information can be found at their website. MWKF Promotion Testing Information All United States Kendo Federaton # The AUSKF manages testing for 5-Dan and above. Information can be found at their website.\nAUSKF Promotion Testing Information ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/links/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Equipment / Organizations / Links","type":"pages"},{"content":" Loading… ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/feedback_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Feedback Form","type":"pages"},{"content":"We offer free trial sessions for beginners during our Saturday practices. You can start your trial on either the 1st or 2nd Saturday of each month. Once you begin, you can attend all Saturday practices for free until the end of that month. At the end of trial, you can decide if you would like to become a permanent member. Tuition for permanent members will start the month after your trial.\nTuition will start as a registered member from the first month following the trial month. You can view our sample calendar here. Once you are registered we will give you more detailed information about our practice locations. Practice is generally held in the Novi and Plymouth Michigan areas.\nPlease complete the forms below to begin the trial member process:\nClick the button below to begin your trial membership survey (opens in a new tab): Trial Member Survey Form Complete the Concussion Acknowledgement Form (opens in a new tab):\nConcussion Acknowledgement Form Complete the Liability and Photo Video Waiver Form (opens in a new tab): Liability and Photo Waiver Form We will contact you with more information on joining our practice. If you have any questions please contact: welcometodkd@gmail.com\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/free_trial_sessions/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Free Trial Sessions","type":"pages"},{"content":" Head Instructor # Kendo HANSHI 8-DAN Yoshiteru Tagawa # Assistant Instructors # Kendo 6-DAN Jaeho Lee Kendo RENSHI 6-DAN Hidemi Saito Kendo 5-DAN Chris Tsui Kendo 4-DAN Erick Motta Kendo 4-DAN Tetsuo Ogata Kendo 4-DAN Shinichi Hirano Kendo 4-DAN Keisuke Santo Click here to learn about Kendo DAN/KYU Levels ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/instructor_list/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Instructors","type":"pages"},{"content":" The Basics # Kendo is a Japanese martial art where participants fight with bamboo swords (called shinai) while wearing protective gear. There are four valid targets in Kendo:\nThe head/face (called men - Targets 1,2,6) The wrist (called kote - Targets 4,7) The belly (called dou - Targets 5,8) The throat (called tsuki - Target 3) Image Credit - Fred the Oyster, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons\nStriking one of these targets with the right part of the sword, a loud voice and a correct stance will earn a point in competetion. We study for many years to get our Kendo practice to be strong and graceful.\nEquipment # Shinai # A shinai （竹刀 lit. bamboo sword） is a specially-constructed sword that is used in Kendo. It it usually constructed out of four interlocking bamboo slats and bound together using a wrapper of leather or synthetic material. The shinai represents a traditional metal katana blade. The University of Michigan Kendo Club has a great article about the anatomy of a shinai.\nMen # The head guard is called men (面 lit. face/front) and is the distinctive equipment for Kendo. It consists of a metal face guard, a throat protector and shoulder guards. To attach the men you loop the strings around your head and tie a knot at the back of your head.\nKote # Kote (小手 lit. wrist) are guards that we wear to protect our hands and wrists. The proper point to strike is the top of the wrist/forearm but some techniques require getting in close with the opponent so having a hand guard is an extra precaution. The area where the fingers go is not separated for each finger which also helps to hold the shinai.\nDou # Dou (胴 lit. torso/body) is the name of the protector we attach to our stomach and chest area. This is a rigid, usually plastic or bamboo constructed guard that opponents try to strike from the sides. The katana is used to slice so the motion to hit dou starts at the side of the body and goes across the front.\nTare # Tare (垂　lit. midsection/loin) is the guard for our lower body. There are no valid strikes below the waist in Kendo but this guard helps to absorb impact if the opponent misses dou. It also holds our name tag (called Zekken or Nafuda (ゼッケン、名札)) showing our dojo name and our information.\nGi / Hakama # Kendogi and Hakama (剣道着 / 袴 lit. Kendo Uniform / Formal divided skirt) are the clothes worn by all participants in Kendo. They are generally made from cotton but technical fabric versions are available. Some higher quality versions are dyed with traditional indigo and need to be washed in cold water separately from other clothes so they don\u0026rsquo;t stain with the natural dye. Learning to tie the gi and hakama takes some practice and we will show you the best way at our dojo.\nTenugui # A tenugui (手ぬぐい lit hand towel) is used to cover our heads underneath the men protector. It provides some cusion and also works to absorb sweat. Kendo tenugui are much larger than a normal hand towel and are about 3 feet by 1 foot. They usually have a teaching written on them that we read to ourselves before putting them on but there are also versions with images or patterns. This is something you choose for yourself and you will generally need to have a few.\nKendo Literature # The Detroit Kendo Dojo has prepared a short manual with some of our terms explained. Click the button below to download it: Kendo Vocabulary The Kingston Kendo Club has generously created resources for both kendo beginners and advanced practitioners. Both of the documents below are excellent resources and are freely distributed under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.\nThe documents are for reference only and are not official instruction from the Detroit Kendo Dojo. In the event of differences in instruction between the documents and the instruction at Detroit Kendo Dojo events always defer to the sensei at the dojo.\nA Beginner's Guide to Kendo (55MB) Nihon Kendo no Kata \u0026 Kihon Bokuto Waza(395MB) Rank # There are ranks in Kendo ranging from the first 6-KYU throught the highest 8-DAN. After earning the 1-DAN rank applicants must wait and train more between tests for the next rank. The formula for the waiting period is: Previous DAN Rank * YEAR(s) For example, if you earn the 2-DAN rank you need to wait 2 years to test for the next rank, 3-DAN.\nKendo instruction is provided in English and Japanese but there are many terms that may not be familiar to you.\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_kendo/kendo_equipment_and_overview/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Kendo Equipment and Overview","type":"pages"},{"content":" ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/kurita_sensei_promotion/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Kurita-sensei Promoted to 6-DAN","type":"pages"},{"content":"Please complete the form below.\nNote - you do not need to sign in to Google to complete this form. Loading… ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/liability_photo_video_waiver_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Liability and Photo/Video Waiver Form","type":"pages"},{"content":"\nPLEASE REGULARLY REVIEW OUR PRACTICE CALENDAR UPDATES!!　普段から稽古場所・時間の確認をPractice Calendarでして下さい。 Click Here to Contact Us With Any Questions ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/pw_protect/member_practice_calendar/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Member Practice Calendar","type":"pages"},{"content":" Click the button below to begin your membership application (opens in a new tab): Membership Application Form 1.a Note if you haven\u0026rsquo;t yet completed both the Concussion Acknowledgement Form and the Liability and Photo Video Waiver Form please submit them as well. Trial Members have already completed these forms.\nConcussion Acknowledgement Form Liability and Photo Waiver Form Members must also register for the All United States Kendo Federation by creating a profile and completing their online registration at this website: AUSKF Kendo Federation Registration Application For all members registration/renewal is due every April. MWKF/AUSKF membership is required to take advantage of our national insurance policy and is also needed to participate in:\nPromotion tests Seminars and training camps Tournaments Rank Testing # As you progress at the dojo you will earn ranks. We are a member of the Midwest Kendo Federation which holds multiple rank testing events throughout the year. The Instructors will coordinate with you when they think you are prepared to test for your next rank. Further information can be found by clicking the links below.\n6-KYU Through 4-DAN Testing # The MWKF coordinates testing for 4-Dan and below. Information can be found at their website.\nMWKF Promotion Testing Information 5-DAN and Above Testing # The AUSKF manages testing for 5-Dan and above. Information can be found at their website.\nAUSKF Promotion Testing Information ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/membership/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Membership","type":"pages"},{"content":" ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_kendo/modern_kendo/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Modern Kendo","type":"pages"},{"content":"","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"News","type":"pages"},{"content":"We have 3 practice sessions (called keiko / 稽古) per week. Saturday is usually the best day for first-time members to come and start a trial session.\nMonday An unstructured one-hour training session for dojo veterans. Ask the instructors if this will be a good fit for you Wednesday A two hour session that typically consists of: A warm up with the whole group Short fundamentals training All members based on the instructor\u0026rsquo;s plan train together Saturday These are two-hour sessions that typically consist of: A warm up with the whole group Short fundamentals training Split off into group based on rank for instructor-led training Starting Keiko # At the beginning of practice someone will call out \u0026ldquo;Shuugo!\u0026rdquo; (集合) which means \u0026ldquo;gather up\u0026rdquo;. We all either line up (Wednesday / Monday) or make a big circle (Saturday) around the person that will take us through the first portion of our practice. If you\u0026rsquo;re unsure what to do, just watch the group and you\u0026rsquo;ll see.\nThe leader will call out the following:\n\u0026ldquo;Ki wo tsuke!\u0026rdquo; / (気をつけ)　\u0026ldquo;Stand at attention!\u0026rdquo; Stand up straight with your heels together in a 45 degree angle. Shinai should be held in the left hand with the guard above your thumb, tip-angled down with the string at the back of the shinai (弦) facing up. \u0026ldquo;Rei\u0026rdquo; (礼) \u0026ldquo;Bow forward at a 30 degree angle.\u0026rdquo; When bowing the motion stops at the hips and your eyes look down as well. Typically you will respond with \u0026ldquo;Onegaishimasu!\u0026rdquo; / (お願いします！) Meaning \u0026ldquo;Please instruct me / Please train with me.\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;Taitou\u0026rdquo; (帯刀) \u0026ldquo;Place your shinai at your hip.\u0026rdquo; Take the shinai and place it at your hip to simulate removing it from a scabbard or obi. \u0026ldquo;Nukitou\u0026rdquo; (抜き刀)　\u0026ldquo;Draw your shinai.\u0026rdquo; With the right hand reach across your body and draw the shinai forward. Remove your left hand and rotate your right hand so it is palm-up. Take your left hand and and grip the shinai below the right. Grip the shinai so that the crease of your thumbs make a diamond shape along the hilt. Try not to grip from the side. \u0026ldquo;Sonkyo\u0026rdquo; (蹲踞)　A formal squat used at the beginning and end of matches. While holding your shinai squat down then rise up. Don\u0026rsquo;t let your rear end move out and keep your shoulders above your hips. \u0026ldquo;Shinai wo oitte\u0026rdquo; (竹刀を置いって) \u0026ldquo;Place your shinai on the floor\u0026rdquo; Place the shinai front of you with the tip facing outward. \u0026ldquo;Jyunbi taisou\u0026rdquo; (準備体操) which means \u0026ldquo;prep-movements / stretching\u0026rdquo; and then calls out the specific stretches. We go through them to warm up our bodies. The leader counts \u0026ldquo;Ichi, ni, san, shi!\u0026rdquo; / \u0026ldquo;1,2,3,4\u0026rdquo; for the first four reps and the rest ouf the group counts back \u0026ldquo;Go, roku, shichi, hachi!\u0026rdquo; / \u0026ldquo;5,6,7,8\u0026rdquo; in a loud voice \u0026ldquo;Shinai wo motte!\u0026rdquo; / (竹刀を持って) \u0026ldquo;Pick up your shinai\u0026rdquo;. We do sonkyo again and pick up our shinai. From there various warm-up exercises are called out based on the instructor\u0026rsquo;s preferences for the group. The leader will demonstrate them before the group. The leader also calls out how many times to do the drill.\nAfter Warm-Up # The leader will tell everyone to line up. Children and beginners should be in the first line and more experienced people take the back. An instructor will take over demonstrating and explaining various drills. Once that is complete they will call a short break to get some water. During that time we gather our gear and get ready to line up.\nLining up for Practice # Someone will call out \u0026ldquo;Men wo motte, seiretsu!\u0026rdquo; / (面を持って、整列) \u0026ldquo;Everyone grab your men and line up!\u0026rdquo;. The instructors will line up facing the students. The order of the line is generally:\nFrom the student\u0026rsquo;s perspective the highest rank instructor faces them on the far left The students line up facing the instructors with 3-DAN participants first in line from the left. 2-DAN, then 1-DAN then 1-KYU members line up to the right of each other down the line. We try to make a symmetrical line with the instructors in the center. If there isn\u0026rsquo;t enough space then members with no rank yet or lower rank members will make a additional line behind the first. In any additional line the members should be directly behind the person in front of them. When everyone has lined up the instructors will sit while the participants continue to stand. The instructors will sit in \u0026ldquo;seiza\u0026rdquo; 正座, where you kneel down then fold your feet so the tops are on floor, then sit onto your heels. A 3-DAN member will call out the following for the group: \u0026ldquo;Chakuza!\u0026rdquo; / (着座) All of the participants sit down in seiza while placing their shinai and gear down on the floor. Shinai should be on the left side of each person. Take care not to make a loud noise when placing the shinai down. \u0026ldquo;Shisei wo tadashite, mokusou!\u0026rdquo; / (姿勢を正して、黙想) Everyone folds their hands in their laps and does a short meditation. Your eyes should be half-closed and you should consider why you came to training today. \u0026ldquo;Shomen ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (正面に礼) Everyone rises up in seiza to their knees then turns toward the American and Japanese flags. We bow toward the flags by placing our hands in front of us in a triangle shape then fold from kneeling down. Take care to bow with your nose inside the triangle shape of your hands. Your head should not touch the floor and your rear end shouldn\u0026rsquo;t rise up during the bow. After you bow, as a group we rise up and return to our position facing each other. \u0026ldquo;Senseigata ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (先生方に礼) In the same way as before, bow to the instructors in front of you. \u0026ldquo;Otagai ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (お互いに礼) In the same way as before, bow in place. This is as respect to the other participants. \u0026ldquo;Mentsuke!\u0026rdquo; / (面付け) - Participants that are wearing full protective gear will put on their 面 (men), the main head protection in kendo. Participants that aren\u0026rsquo;t at that point should wait patiently. Once one of the people that is wearing men rises, anyone else is free to stand up. Practice Begins # Depending on the day and the instructors, practice will be started once everyone is wearing their men. Listen to the instructors and make sure to focus on your form and safety, as well as the safety of others.\nPractice Ends # In the same way as before, we will line up to end practice. The order of bowing is different but everything else is roughly the same:\nA 3-DAN member will call out the following for the group: \u0026ldquo;Chakuza!\u0026rdquo; / (着座) All of the participants sit down in seiza while placing their shinai and gear down on the floor. Shinai should be on the left side of each person. Take care not to make a loud noise when placing the shinai down. \u0026ldquo;Men wo tore!\u0026rdquo; / (面を取れ) - Participants that are wearing full protective gear will remove their men. Participants that aren\u0026rsquo;t at that point should wait patiently. \u0026ldquo;Shisei wo tadashite, mokusou!\u0026rdquo; / (姿勢を正して、黙想) Everyone folds their hands in their laps and does a short meditation. Your eyes should be half-closed and you should consider how your training went today. \u0026ldquo;Otagai ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (お互いに礼！) In the same way as before, bow in place. This is as respect to the other participants. \u0026ldquo;Senseigata ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (先生方に礼) In the same way as before, bow to the instructors in front of you. \u0026ldquo;Shomen ni, rei!\u0026rdquo; / (正面に礼) Everyone rises up in seiza to their knees then turns toward the American and Japanese flags. We bow toward the flags by placing our hands in front of us in a triangle shape then fold from kneeling down. Take care to bow with your nose inside the triangle shape of your hands. Your head should not touch the floor and your rear end shouldn\u0026rsquo;t rise up during the bow. After you bow, as a group we rise up and return to our position facing each other. The instructors will say that practice for today is over and thank everyone for coming. You can stand up, collect your shinai and leave the dojo. ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_us/practice_specifics/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Practice Specifics","type":"pages"},{"content":" Who we are # We are the Detroit Kendo Dojo, a non-profit martial arts organization with the mission to advance the study of Kendo in and around Metro-Detroit, Michigan USA. Our website address is: https://detroitkendodojo.com\nWhat personal data we collect and why we collect it # Comments # When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.\nAn anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.\nMedia # If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.\nCookies # If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.\nIf you visit our login page, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.\nWhen you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.\nIf you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.\nEmbedded content from other websites # Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.\nThese websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website. How long we retain your data\nIf you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.\nFor users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.\nWhat rights you have over your data # If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.\nWhere we send your data # Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service. We collect information about visitors who comment via the Akismet anti-spam service. The information typically includes the commenter’s IP address, user agent, referrer, and Site URL (along with other information directly provided by the commenter such as their name, username, email address, and the comment itself).\nContact information # Questions / Feedback? Click the button below: Contact us via email ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/privacy_policy/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Privacy Policy","type":"pages"},{"content":"Here is an example of our usual weekly schedule. For more detailed information contact us by clicking the button below. Click Here to Contact Us With Any Questions ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/sample_practice_calendar/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Sample Practice Calendar","type":"pages"},{"content":"We were invited to perform a Kendo demonstration at the Next Community Center in Birmingham Michigan on Sep 4 2025. Thank you very much to all the attendees that came to watch us perform and talk about Kendo.\nThere were a lot of great questions and we really enjoyed showing you our practice.\n","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/2025_sep_next_demo/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"September 2025 NEXT Community Center Demonstration","type":"pages"},{"content":"Please complete the form below.\nNote - you do not need to sign in to Google to complete this form. Loading… ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/traveling_kenshi_participation_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Traveling Kenshi Participation Form","type":"pages"},{"content":"Please complete the form below.\nNote - you do not need to sign in to Google to complete this form. Loading… ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/forms/trial_member_survey_form/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Trial Member Survey Form","type":"pages"},{"content":" Current Monthly Tuition Rates # Individual $40 / Month Family 1st Family Member $40 / Month 2nd Family Member $35 / Month Additional Family Members $30 / Month (each) Tuition is billed every three months: (January / April / July / October) Cash, check and Zelle payments are accepted. Checks need to be addressed to the Detroit Kendo Corporation.\nOur fiscal year is from April through March. All current members have until March 31st of each fiscal year to complete their registrations and pay dues for the upcoming fiscal year. Membership administration will e-mail existing members to notify them when the registration system is ready. New members should complete their registration and pay dues when they join the Detroit Kendo Dojo for the current year. Click Here to Contact Us With Any Questions ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/tuition_rates/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Tuition Rates","type":"pages"},{"content":"Kendo, meaning \u0026ldquo;Way of the Sword,\u0026rdquo; is a modern Japanese martial art descended from samurai swordsmanship, focusing on character development through, discipline, and mental fortitude. Practitioners use bamboo swords called shinai and protective armor called bogu to strike designated targets, combining intense physical activity with traditional spiritual values.\nReihou (Etiquette) # Kendo places great emphasis on respect even within the context of competitive matches. Practitioners demonstrate their mutual respect—both in spirit and in form—and express their gratitude for the opportunity to cross swords with one another. In Kendo, Reiho refers to the etiquette and manner of bowing, which is a essential aspect of the practice that emphasizes mutual respect, gratitude, and character development.\nTo commence practice, a brief meditation is followed by three ceremonial bows. The first bow is directed toward the \u0026ldquo;Shomen-ni”; this gesture expresses gratitude for the opportunity to practice and is typically performed facing the national flag displayed in the gym. The second bow is directed toward the \u0026ldquo;senseigata-ni\u0026rdquo; signifying respect for the instructors and mentors. Finally, the third bow is directed \u0026ldquo;otagai-ni\u0026rdquo; expressing both gratitude and respect for one\u0026rsquo;s practicing partners. Upon the conclusion of training, the same sequence is observed—beginning with a brief meditation—and these three bows are performed in reverse order.\nRihou (Rational Principles and Methods) # In Kendo, ri-hou refers to the \u0026ldquo;rational principles\u0026rdquo; that govern the use of the sword. It is the logical foundation that explains why a particular movement, timing, or distance is effective. Kendo waza (techniques) culminate in rational, effective strikes that harmonize spirit/shout, proper sword movements, and proper body posture and movements. While waza is the physical execution, riai is the underlying logic of that technique. It involves understanding the proper maai (distance), timing, and the opponent\u0026rsquo;s psychological state. The Constituent Elements of Rihou\nShinpou (Mental Discipline): The mental state of maintaining a correct mindset when confronting an opponent, seizing the opportune moment without fail, and executing one\u0026rsquo;s techniques. Touhou (Sword Technique): Based on the fundamental principles of the shinken (actual blade), this encompasses the correct handling of the shinai (bamboo sword), as well as the understanding and manipulation of hasuji (the blade\u0026rsquo;s edge), shinogi (ridge), and monouchi (striking point). Shinpou (Body Mechanics): The physical utilization of the body—centering on the abdomen and hips to maintain a stable posture—including sabaki (body movement) and agile footwork. ","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/about_kendo/what_is_kendo/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"What Is Kendo?","type":"pages"},{"content":"","date":"15 August 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/about/","section":"","summary":"","title":"About","type":"page"},{"content":" ","date":"1 January 2025","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/pages/news/happy_new_year_2025/","section":"Pages","summary":"","title":"Happy New Year 2025","type":"pages"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/authors/","section":"Authors","summary":"","title":"Authors","type":"authors"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/categories/","section":"Categories","summary":"","title":"Categories","type":"categories"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/series/","section":"Series","summary":"","title":"Series","type":"series"},{"content":"","externalUrl":null,"permalink":"/tags/","section":"Tags","summary":"","title":"Tags","type":"tags"}]