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News 2022
April 2022 | Spring is coming!
Great News! For a few weeks our senior members have been conducting practices at Vanier College. The purpose of these practices are to examine the possibility of having Vanier as our potential new location. So far, the feedback has been very positive! During the summer we will be conducting practices at Vanier on Saturdays and at the Concordia Loyola Chapel on Wednesdays. After 2 long year of shutdowns, we will finally be welcoming new students. Looking forward to the new season! - We will keep you posted, stay tuned!
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Jun 12 2021 | Training continues
As the province eases restrictions Shidokan kendo students gather behind the dojo for some intense suburi and basics practice. Trying our best to maintain our technique and spirit. Looking forward to getting back to the dojo very soon.
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Jan 2021 | A new beginning
There's no argue 2020 has been quite a challenging period in our journey together. And there are still more obstacles ahead. As it is known, "It is always darkest just before the dawn"
We are confident and optimistic in this new year, looking forward to day we can train together again.
We must maintain our strong spirit 志 and never succumb to despair.
Happy 2021! Stay Safe!
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March 07 2020 | CKF Iaido Seminar
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On the first weekend of March, Shidokan hosted a wonderful iaido seminar led by Stephen Cruise Sensei, 7th dan Kyoshi. Besides being one of the most experienced iaido instructors in north-america, Cruise Sensei is the CKF Chief examiner and has been a mentor and friend to our dojo for many decades.
It was a productive Seminar, we worked through all the 12 Seitei Kata. Cruise Sensei emphazised the importance of constantly review and strengthen our iaido foundation 'kihon' (the basic principles). We can't thank Cruise Sensei enough for his devotion and we hope we can host another seminar very soon. |
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Dec 2019 | 2019 comes to an End
Another year of Kendo & Iaido comes to an end at Shidokan 志 New recruits have bolstered our ranks, and we look forward to seeing them improve in their practice. Let's heal our injuries and come back next session with great fire within! Thank you for all the lessons, all the friendships, the victories & defeats. Enjoy your holidays, see you all very soon!
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Nov 09 2019 | JCCC Senior tournament
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On the weekend of Nov 09, a Shidokan contingent travalled travelled to Toronto ON to participate at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center (JCCC) Senior Kendo tournament, as usual an exciting experience. The team was reinforced with our friend Ryan Choi from Detroit Kendo Club – Thank you Ryan! On the day after, some of our Shidokan members took part in the kendo grading also hosted by the JCCC. Congratulations to Benjamin, Juan-Francisco and Eric for achieving their next ranks, great job! |
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Oct 26 2019 | Kiwada Daiki sensei Seminar in Montreal
Daiki Kiwada Sensei -Renshi 7th Dan, 2012 All Japan Champion, 2009 & 2012 World Champion team member, Member of Osaka Prefecture Police- has visited Canada various times in the last few years. This past October Kiwada sensei visited Montreal for a very special three-day seminar accompanied by Shigemitsu Kamata sensei from Etobicoke Kendo & iaido Club.
Throughout the 3 days Kiwada Sensei shared his way of training, the drills he likes to practice and his approach towards the proper mindset during shiai. It was an opportunity of a lifetime to be exposed to such kendo level.
He is eager to visit us again and teach his style of kendo to all kenshi in Montreal and surroundings.
- Thank you very much Kiwada Sensei, See you again soon!
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Sep 11 2019 | New Fall Season 2019
The start of the Fall semester means it is yet again time to say welcome to our new recruits. The road ahead is difficult, but we look forward to your company as we walk the path together!
We hope you can find the patience and dedication within yourselves to overcome every obstacle you may encounter in this new path. We promise you hard work and lots of fun! Welcome to the 志道館 !
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Sep 08 2019 | Team Canada Practice in QC
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On September 8th, Team Canada prospects -including Shidokan’s Gabriel Schor- travelled to Quebec City for the next team practice. This time the focus was on the proper form of the wrist during strikes (tenouchi). As usual the practice concluded with a godokeiko session open to everybody |
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August 29 2019 | Summer Session ends, Farewell Minh!
Our intense Summer session comes to a close. The high temperatures inside our gym proved yet again to be quite a challenge for our training. We are sure the sacrifice and effort have made us stronger and we can’t wait to dive into the next session.
The summer concludes also with the departure of our dear friend Minh Dao who goes back to B.C. after spending a year with us, becoming a valued brother. - We will miss you Minh! You will always be welcome, come back soon!
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August 02 2019 | Lawrence Tsuji Sensei in Montreal
Our good friend and mentor, Lawrence Tsuji Sensei was in town on the weekend of August 2. We visited our good friends at MKC for Keiko, then went for refreshments afterwards at the new PJs, now called Le Manoir. As always, Tsuji Sensei’s observations and comments were very helpful in better understanding our Kendo. - Thank you for your visit Sensei. Hope to see you again soon!
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August 01 2019 | Summer training with friends
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Our sincere gratitude to Noriko Imaizumi from MKC and Sungkeun Cho from McGill Kendo dojo for joining our summer training. The heat and humidity level at our gym usually reaches its peak around this time of the year. It's great to have the encouragement of friends from other dojos to improve our energy level in these conditions. |
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July 21 2019 | Team Canada Practice in Montreal
The Team Canada preparation sessions for the 18th World Kendo Championship -to be held in France 2021- are well under way with numerous joint practices organized all over the country. On May 25th and 26th the practice was held in Ottawa and everybody present was introduced to the process and purpose of the Team Canada program. We also practiced some of the basic drills that are part of every Team Canada session.
On July 21st and 22nd the practice took place in Montreal. The focus was on form, fitness and hiki-waza (hitting from close range and moving backwards) drills under the close supervision of very high level coaches. We finished the weekend with a godokeiko session open to anybody from Montreal.
-Thank you Shigemitsu Kamata Sensei and Hyo-sung Kim Sensei for leading the practice.
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July 18 2019 | Sungkeun Cho pays us a visit
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As the summer heat dwells stronger in our dojo, our good friend Sungkeun Cho from McGill Kendo dojo, joined us for keiko. |
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July 15 2019 | Patrick Suen Sensei visits Shidokan
We received the visit of our dear friend Patrick Suen Sensei who graciously took the time to share his knowledge and experience in the art with us. Member of Mu Mon Kai dojo in Toronto, Director of Team Canada Iaido Program and member Director of the CKF, Patrick Sensei has been actively contributing to the promotion and development of our budo and martial arts throughout Canada for years.
Two schools, Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu and Muso Shinden ryu, with one heart, united in spirit by the way of the sword since centuries. May this friendship and journey continue for generations to come.
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June 29 2019 | CKF Kendo Grading in Montreal
On July 29th, the summer kendo grading was held at McGill University. Shidokan was present with a group of 6 practitioners that were challenging the ikkyu and shodan grades. Thanks to their training and determination, all kendokas were successful in completing their respective grading. Congratulations!
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May 31 2019 | Toida Family visits from Sao Paulo, Brazil
We had the wonderful opportunity to practice with our good friend: Kenji Toida Sensei’s father, visiting all the way from Sao Paolo, Brazil. It was a masterful class that we will certainly remember. Thank you to our friends from MKC for hosting this practice.
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May 04 2019 | Quebec Provincial Championships at Granby
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On May 4th, Shidokan sent determined kendoka to Granby to participate in the provincial tournament. With a strong display of technique and spirit, members brought back some awards. In particular, we would like to congratulate the following: Kyu-Shodan division
2dan/3dan divison
Women's division
4dan division
Team division
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The Granby taikai is a fantastic opportunity to measure one's kendo in a friendly, competitive environment. We are very proud of what our members accomplished, and are sure they will use this experience as yet another stepping stone towards improving their kendo.
Thanks to Santoso Sensei and our Captain Michael Kim for your patience and dedication, and last but not least, thank you to our volunteers who came all the way to cheer us on, and to the Club de Kendo de Granby for hosting the event. See you at the next event!
April 26 2019 | Last week of the winter session
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After rigorous training throughout the winter, summer is right around the corner, and with it the chance to practice kendo in stuffy Montreal weather. We are confident in everyone's ability to surpass themselves in these rough conditions. Here is to another successful semester! |
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April 07 2019 | Quebec Shinpan Clinic
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On Sunday, April 07 Shidokan hosted a Quebec Shinpan Clinic led by Junko Ariyama Sensei. The objective of the seminar was to examine the protocols and rules related to judging an official kendo match. An important topic of study for all kendoka: judges and shia-sha (combatants). |
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Thank you very much to everybody who participated in the Clinic, special thanks to Junko Ariyama Sensei for her patience and devotion to helping all quebec kendo grow. Many lessons to remember, we hope to do it again soon!
March 20 2019 | A visit from Peru
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On March 20th we received a very special visit, all the way from the Shidokan dojo in Lima, Peru. Kensei Guillen Aoki, a devoted kenshi joined us for keiko and biru-geiko. The Shidokan-Peru dojo has been active for quite a few years now and their efforts are clearly showing. We wish them many more years of good kendo! |
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Thank you Kensei Guillen Aoki, you are always welcome!
March 10 2019 | 2nd Jodan seminar lead by Kataoka Sensei
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The Garden State Kendo dojo, in New Jersey, graciously hosted two Jodan Seminars. The first was given on November 4th and the second on March 10th; both taught by Noboru Kataoka-sensei, 7 dan. Braving a 7-hour drive each way, and perilous weather, two of our members attended both sessions. The first session focused on training techniques and kote helping to dispel many misconceptions about Jodan training. |
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Kataoka Sensei also expertly demonstrated how kote can be scored no matter how hard the opponent is trying to cover this target. The second session covered kote, kamae but also allowed for shiai and keiko training. Ample time was given for keiko allowing the opportunity to exchange different styles of kendo from all over the East Coast. Jodan Seminars are a rare occurrence and we are very grateful to the GSK dojo and to Kataoka-sensei for giving this seminar and for staying after the event to answer all of our questions.
March 02 2019 | Montreal Iaido Seminar
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As it is tradition, Shidokan hosted the annual iaido Seminar led by Goyo Ohmi Sensei (Kyoshi 7th dan) and Stephen Cruise Sensei (Renshi 7th dan). We covered all the series of Seitei kata focusing on the basics and important details. Lots of focus and energy, a wonderful seminar. |
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Our sincere gratitude to Ohmi Sensei and Cruise Sensei for leading such a great seminar. Thanks to all the participants for filling our dojo with your spirit and to our volunteers for offering such great support. We hope to see all of you again soon!
Feb 17 2019 | 2019 East Coast Iaido Taikai
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Congratulations to Team Canada Iaido for making our country proud by showing great competitive spirit and camaraderie at the 2019 East Coast Iaido Taikai. All-in-all, Canadians were able to bring home quite a bit of hardware: Team Canada Members
Team Canada Prospects
Other Canadians
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Thank you to our Shidokan representatives Carolina Merizalde and Sandy Lee-Gonye, great job!
Feb 09 2019 | 1st Montréal Kendo mini Open at McGill
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On February 9th, the McGill University Kendo Club hosted the first Mini Montreal Taikai. Teams of three participants were split into age divisions (young/veteran), with a final match between the winners of each group. A jigeiko session was held following the tournament. This was a great opportunity for three of our members to practice their skills against fellow local kendoka, as well as to receive advice from participating sensei. Gabriel Schor, Francis Petrin, and Minh-Tri Nguyen displayed great spirit and fought hard to win the first place for the both the Veteran Division and Team Division Final. |
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We would like to extend our gratitude to D’Orangeville sensei and the McGill University Kendo Club for hosting this great event!
Jan 31 2019 | McGill members visits Shidokan
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On January 31st, members from McGill Kendo Club visited Shidokan. Spirits were as high as our numbers, and it was a great occasion to enjoy keiko together. We also took the opportunity to wish our friend Andrew Wong the best before his move to Singapore during a well-deserved second practice. |
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Farewell, Andrew, and thank you for stopping by! You will always be welcome at Shidokan.
Jan 05 2019 | Annual Shidokan Gathering at Kanda
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This year started off with our annual Shidokan dinner. We gathered at Kanda for sake, sushi, and celebration. As always, it was a time to reflect upon our accomplishments and growth from the previous year, and to set our sights on some new goals. In classic Shidokan fashion, everyone got a chance to share some words of their experience and hopes for the future. |
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We also celebrated the birthdays of our dear Santoso-Sensei and a few others from amongst our ranks. Let’s make 2019 another great year!
Jan 05 2019 | Keijo Hajime!
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A new year, a new beginning! Shidokan kicks off 2019 with great expectation and fully motivated to keep learning and improving together. |
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Let's make of 2019 another succesful year!
Dec 29 2018 | Last Godokeiko of the year at Isshin
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Our sincere gratitude to Isshin Kendo Club for Organizing this special last practice of 2018 with all the dojos from Quebec. It was great seeing all our friends and we definitely enjoyed a very good practice to close the year in high note. |
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Dec 19 2018 | Another great year comes to an End
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Shidokan ends the year 2018 on a bright note, with a high grading pass rate and great results at various competitions in both kendo and iaido. New recruits have also bolstered our ranks, and we look forward to seeing them improve in their practice. Our members have created a solid foundation from which we hope to see the club grow into next year. After a short hiatus to enjoy the holidays with friends and family, we will get back to work towards even greater results! |
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Dec 04 2018 | Special practice with Team Korea
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On Dec 04, Christian D'Orangeville Sensei and McGill Kendo Club hosted a very special practice with 2 members of the Korean Kendo National team: Byung Hoon Park 박병훈 and Hyun Jun Yoo 유형준, both of whom participated in the 17th World Kendo Championship in Incheon, Korea (Sep 2018) It was a rare opportunity for all kendo practitioners in Quebec to experience such level of kendo. We were also lucky to practice with high ranking kendoka from Toronto such as Jin Whan Lee Sensei (JungKo Dojo). |
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It was an interesting experience and it definitely gave us a new perspective about how to conduct our training. We are very grateful for this opportunity, we hope many more arise in the future. Gratitude to D'Orangeville Sensei and McGill Kendo Club.
Nov 24 & Dec 01, 02 2018 | CKF Kendo & Iaido Grading
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On the weekend of Nov 24th a Shidokan contingent traveled to Toronto, ON to participate in the senior JCCC tournament and to challenge Kendo grading. Congratulations to our Gabriel Schor, Bronze medal in his (now) old division at the JCCC Senior tournament! Through diligent training and perserverance all Shidokan members passed their kendo exam, great job everybody! New milestones, new goals! おめでとうございます
The following weekend - Dec 1st - a Shidokan contingent traveled to Etobicoke, ON to participate in the very first North American Partnership Iaido Seminar/Grading as well as the very first Pan American Iaido Goodwill Taikai. |
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October 2018 | MKC visits Shidokan
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Our friends from Montreal Kendo Club visited us on October 12th. We shared a great practice together, full of spirited keiko, which left our throats parched and ready for second practice... Please come again anytime! |
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Sep 29, 2018 | Lawrence Tsuji Sensei visits Shidokan
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On September 29th, Lawrence Tsuji Sensei visited us to hold a practice centered on kihon (basics). We reviewed footwork drills and tenouchi exercises while ensuring our posture remains proper. With grading on the horizon, this was a good reminder to keep working on basics at all stages of our kendo practice. Finally, we enjoyed keiko together, and each received welcome guidance from a both a mentor and a good friend. We would like to thank Tsuji Sensei once more for his much appreciated visit. We look forward to our next practice together! |
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September 2018 | Our new recruits
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The start of the Fall semester means it’s yet again time to say welcome to our new recruits. The road ahead is difficult, but we look forward to your company as we walk the path together!
We hope you can find the patience and dedication within yourselves to overcome every obstacle you may encounter in this new path.
We promise you hard work and lots of fun ! |
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Sep 2018 | A new semester begins
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The new semester started just as warm as the summer had been. With grading right around the corner, it was time to review the way we practice and refresh our mind with basics. With renewed spirit, we pushed through and trained on, ready to tackle the challenges of the fall. |
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Sep 2018 | Shidokan at the Concordia Student Union Fair
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A big Thank you!! to our dear volunteers spreading the good word of kendo around Concordia University at the beginning of the Semester. Recruiting with sharp skill and timbits. We truly appreciate it! 志 |
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August 2018 | Summer training draws to an end
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After an intense Summer Season, Shidokan now wraps up training for a couple of weeks, healing injuries and getting ready for the new Semester. We are looking forward to welcoming new members and sharing the joy of kendo & iaido training together. Thanks to our friend Yves Coté for joining our practice. |
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August 17,18 & 19 2018 | Shidokamping 2018!
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As it is tradition in mid August, a Shidokan contingent adventured into a fun camping trip. Our destination was a Wildlife Reserve, in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. It was a joyful experience since the first moment we arrived to set camp in front of a majestic lake. |
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We had the opportunity to practice suburi outdoors, swim across the lake, test our 'ax skills' chopping wood and of course build amazing campfires while sharing great music, stories and drinks. Our sincere gratitude to our Francis Petrin & Alysha Hum for the fantastic organization!
