News

The 2010 Baltimore-Annapolis Kendo Tournament was held August 14, 2010 to great success.  The level of excitement was high, and everyone showed their best kendo.  The official results are as follows:

Mudansha Division

• 3rd: Alexander Suh (Northern VA Budokai)
• 3rd: Chelhong Jang (South Pole Kendo Club)
• 2nd: Anildey Pillala (Ken Wa Kan)
• 1st: Christine Ku (Northern VA Budokai)
• Kantosho: Alexander Suh (Northern VA Budokai)

Women's Division

• 3rd: Christine Ku (Northern VA Budokai)
• 3rd: Hiromi Robinson (Northern VA Budokai)
• 2nd: Yatsuki Hoang (Koryo Kendo Dojo)
• 1st: Satomi Kitabayashi (Charlotte Kendo Club)
• Kantosho: Yuko Nishida (Ken Wa Kan)

Senior Division

• 3rd: Alexis Tchoumak (Shudokan Kendo USA)
• 3rd: Don Seto (Baltimore Annapolis Kendo)
• 2nd: Gerard Eatman (Ken Zen Dojo)
• 1st: Shuji Corey (Triangle Kendo & Iaido)
• Kantosho: Don Seto (Baltimore Annapolis Kendo)

Shodan/Nidan Division

• 3rd: Jae Kwan Cha (Shudokan Kendo USA)
• 3rd: Ivan Tchoumak (Shudokan Kendo USA)
• 2nd: David Daniels (Shu Do Kan Dojo)
• 1st: Pete Burkart (Baltimore Annapolis Kendo)
• Kantosho: Ivan Tchoumak (Shudokan Kendo USA)

Sandan and Up Division

• 3rd: Eric Dycus (Ken Wa Kan)
• 3rd: Satomi Kitabayashi (Charlotte Kendo Club)
• 2nd: James Kim (Triangle Kendo & Iaido)
• 1st: Henry Lee (E-mudo)
• Kantosho: Bruce Gingrich (Ken Wa Kan)

Team Division

• 3rd: Charlotte Kendo Club
• 3rd: Shu Do Kan Dojo
• 2nd: Baltimore Annapolis Kendo "A" team
• 1st: Ken Wa Kan "A" team

Bob Eitel sensei celebrated his birthday last week with a special keiko session.  Several current and former students practiced hard and gave him a good workout.  Eitel sensei celebrated his 15th birthday for the 39th time.  He looks forward to prom next year.

May 1, 2010: We congratulate Shozo Kato-sensei of Shidogakuin for achieving the rank of Kendo 8th dan Kyoshi!!!   For many years, Kato-sensei has given selflessly to advance the level of kendo and iaido in the United States.  For his efforts we are very grateful.  Kato-sensi also holds the rank of Iaido 7th dan Kyoshi.  Congratulations Kato-sensei!

February 15: Due to the snow heading our way this afternoon and evening, practice is CANCELLED for today.  See you all Wednesday.

February 14, 2010:  It's time to renew our individual Federation Memberships.  $60 for adults and $40 for 17 and younger.  You must be registered 30 days prior to  taking a promotional exam.  See Bob for details.

February 10, 2010: The College of William & Mary Tournament and Promotional will be held In Williamsburg, VA on March 27 & 28.  The GNEUSKF Championships and Promotional will be held in Cleveland, OH on March 20 & 21.  

February 1, 2010:  Congratulations to Phil Van Den Berghe for achieving the rank of 2 dan Iaido and to Dmitry Muraschick for acieving the rank of 2 kyu Iaido at the East Coast Iaido Seminar. 

November 1, 2009:  Congratulations to all at Baltimore-Annapolis Kendo & Northern Virginia Budokai for hosting the 2009 Southeastern United States Kendo Federation Championships.  In tournament action one of our teams (Pete Burkart, Phillip VanDenBerghe, David Gage, Sean Klipple and Mike Lent) advanced to the quarterfinals eventually losing in a tight match to Hong Moo Kwan.  Bob Eitel finished third in the seniors division.

The following members of Baltimore-Annapolis Kendo were successful in the promotional exam: Sean Sweetman 5 kyu, Bryan Allen 4 kyu, Sean Klipple 1kyu. David Gage 1dan, Mike Lent 1dan, and Pete Burkart 2 dan.  For more results visit www.SEUSKF2009.com

If you have not already done so, please send in your registrations now!   The registration cut-off date is very soon.  We cannot accept late registrations!

Scheduled events:

2010 AUSKF Iaido summer camp update:   Camp will be hold this year in San Antonio, TX from June 10 to June 13.  For more information visit  http://www.rivercityiaido.com/2010%20Summer%20Camp/index.html .   See Bob if you are interested in participating.  Early registration ends May 24.

2010 B-A Kendo tournament update: Our annual invitational kendo tournament will be held on Saturday, August 14 at the Severna Park Community Center.  Registration forms and other information will be posted soon. 

Recent events:

May 1, 2010: We congratulate Shozo Kato-sensei of Shidogakuin for achieving the rank of Kendo 8th dan Kyoshi!!!   For many years, Kato-sensei has given selflessly to advance the level of kendo and iaido in the United States.  For his efforts we are very grateful.  Kato-sensi also holds the rank of Iaido 7th dan Kyoshi.  Congratulations Kato-sensei!

April 2010: B-A Kendo participated in the EUSKF kendo championships in West Chester, PA.

March 2010: B-A Kendo participated in the William & Mary Kendo Tournament in Williamsburg, VA.

February 1, 2010:  Congratulations to Phil Van Den Berghe for achieving the rank of 2 dan Iaido and to Dmitry Muraschick for achieving the rank of 2 kyu Iaido at the East Coast Iaido Seminar. 

Congratulations to Arras Wiedorn for taking third place in the 3kyu and below division at the 2nd Annual Friendly-Match Tournament on April 18, 2009 at the University of Delaware.

Congratulations to the following people for passing their kendo shinsa at William and Mary on Sunday March 29th, 2009:

• Arras Wiedorn (3 Kyu)
• Paul Letso (3 Kyu)
• Sean Klipple (3 Kyu)
• Charles Johnson (4 Kyu)

Congratulations also to Khris Vouvounas for taking 3rd place in the Shodan/Nidan division at the 2009 William and Mary Tournament.

The Community Center is closed this evening and the temperature is heading into the teens tonight. Classes will not be held this evening. See you Wednesday! Bob

Congratulations to the following people for passing their iaido shinsa at the 2009 Iaido Seminar:

• Ronnii Taylor (1 Dan)
• Phil Van Den Berghe (1 Dan)
• Arras Wiedorn (3 Kyu)
• Dmitry Murashchik (3 Kyu)
• Russell Eutsler (3 Kyu)
• Joseph Williamson (3 Kyu)

Our beginner classes will continue on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:15 p.m. to 8:00. This is an opportunity for newcomers to learn the basics of kendo with more individual attention than coming to the general practice.

If you are interested in kendo, come check it out!

Our sensei, Don Seto, and Ernie Lissabet of Northern Virginia Budokai, have written an article for Kendo World Magazine about the history of Kendo in the Washington D.C. area. Check it out if you get Kendo World!

Our longtime member James Konrad (the topic of at least one recent news item) has moved away to New York. We all wish him well and a good kendo school wherever he eventually ends up. Good luck James!

Congratulations to James Konrad for passing his iaido shodan shinsa on June 9th at the AUSKF National Seminar!

Congratulations to James Konrad, Khris Vouvounas, Raven Russell, and Kevin Dement for passing their kendo shodan shinsa on March 30th at William and Mary!

Congratulations to Phil Van Den Berghe for passing his 1kyu iaido shinsa on January 27, 2008 at the East Coast Iaido Seminar held in Jersey City, NJ.

Congratulations to Phil Van Den Berghe for passing his nidan exam on Sunday, October 7th.

We are pleased to announce that, after the Labor Day weekend, we will be adding a new youth/beginner practice from 6:15 to 7:00. Please see our Schedule Page for more information.

Unfortunately, the annual Annapolis Kendo Tournament has been canceled. They are looking to reschedule.

Congratulations to Veronica Taylor for passing her iaido ikkyu examination on Sunday, July 29th. Great job!

Congratulations also to Robert Eitel for placing third in the shodan/nidan division of the AUSKF Summer Camp Tournament!

The date for our first tournament, November 3rd, has been confirmed! See our events page for more details.

We have a new look and a new logo! So, our website is almost done. Please enjoy our basic content and let us know if there is anything we can add (see contact information).

Congratulations to the following members for passing the AUSKF Iaido examination:
James Konrad - 1 kyu
Phil VanDenBerghe - 2kyu
Veronica Taylor - 2 kyu

Congratulations to the following members for passing the AUSKF
Kendo examination:
Robert Eitel - 3 dan
Kevin Dement - 1 kyu
James Konrad - 1 kyu

Congratulations to Veronica Taylor for being named KantoSho at the William & Mary Kendo Tournament in March 2007

We now have the core of our website up and running. Please be patient while we continue working to improve its content and appearance.