Starting in 2016, SCKF will host a Memorial Tournament every three years, in the year following the Mori Hai Tournament and preceding the Kubota Memorial Tournament. This is also the first time SCKF is hosting an open event, where all dojo in the AUSKF are invited to participate (see invitation and application form below).

Takeshi Yamaguchi 4/15/38 - 10/5/12 see photo gallery by Dennis Ralutin

Ichiro Murakami 12/23/29 - 1/14/15 see photo galleries by Dennis Ralutin and Noriko Horii

The inaugural Memorial Tournament will honor the memory of Takeshi Yamaguchi sensei and Ichiro Murakami sensei, both of whom were instrumental in the development of kendo in the United States and in Southern California, as well as abroad. We hope to have a large turn out to pay tribute to Yamaguchi sensei and Murakami sensei.

Both sensei were also instrumental in the development of iaido in the United States. We would like to invite yudansha iaidoka to participate in an embu of seitei iai during the opening ceremony. If you are interested, please contact Dennis Ralutin.

We will also observe the recent passing of Fukawa Koji sensei and Asai Henry sensei.

Koji Fukawa 11/16/26 - 12/21/15

Henry Asai 1/1/20 - 12/24/15

Tournament information

• invitation (doc)
• application (xls), deadline 1/10/16
• program
• results

• Wilson Park map and directions
• things to do in Los Angeles (doc)

Invited guests (note: not all may be able to attend)

• Memorial guests
  Yamaguchi family
  Murakami family
  Sgt Tony Calton
  Fukawa family
  Asai family
• Budokan of Los Angeles
  Mike Murase
  Chris Aihara
  Kimberly Kawasaki
• other guests
  George Nakano

• sign-in 8:00am
  note: sign in will be closed at 8:30am for all divisions
• court duty: xlsx, pdf

• divisions (see application form for details)
  note: a kenshi can only participate in one division
  • 0-6 kyu (12 and under)
  • 5-4 kyu (15 and under)
  • 3-1 kyu (17 and under)
  • girl's kyu (17 and under)
  • adult kyu (18 years and older)
  • women's dan
  • 1-3 dan
  • 4 dan and above
  • senior dan (50 years and older)
• tournament fees
  • all participants: $25
  • bento: $9 (free to shinpan)

• tournament regulations
  • see SCKF Tournament Rules and Regulations for full regulations
    • section 4.b.iii: Limitation of valid points
      1. Tsuki shall not be considered as a valid point for kyu groups.
      2. Kyu groups shall not use any kamae position except the standard chudan kamae. Any point attempted from other kamae positions shall not be considered valid.
      3. Kyu groups shall not use the nito form.
    • as usual, hidari do will be considered a valid point in all divisions (kyu and yudansha)
    • participants are responsible for their own set of mejirushi; SCKF will not be responsible for any loss or damage
  • time limits
    • kyu: 3 min, 2 min extension, hantei (except semifinal and final)
    • dan: 4 min, 2 min extension, hantei (except semifinal and final)

• perpetual trophies
  • Murakami Cup
    • donated by Industry Sheriffs Kendo Dojo
    • playoff between winners of 0-6 kyu, 5-4 kyu, 3-1 kyu, and girls kyu divisions
    • time limit: 3 min, unlimited extension
  • Yamaguchi Cup
    • donated by Costa Mesa Kendo Dojo, Covina Kendo Dojo, and Norwalk Kendo Dojo
    • playoff between winners of women's dan, senior dan, 1-3 dan, and 4 dan and above divisions
    • time limit: 4 min, unlimited extension

0-6 Kyu (12 & Under) 1st: Ariga Taiyo (BTK) 2nd: Shiono Taisho (CM) 3rd: Sakai Kyle (BTK) 3rd: Koines Joshua (BTK) HM: Van Zutphen Zenji (CM) HM: Tajima Zenio (OCB) Adult Kyu 1st: Minamitani Akira (TOR) 2nd: Kim Han Soo (TUC) 3rd: Gamboa Michael (CM) 3rd: Nakashimo Bruce (GED) HM: Kim Sae Hun (OCB) HM: Park Frank (COV) HM: Shin Vincent (TOR) HM: Martinez Roger (CCKF) Senior Dan 1st: Mamiya Seiji (GAR) 2nd: Kato Tomoji (COV) 3rd: Lee Ken Kook Bae (CHU) 3rd: Marsten Curtis (KENT)         Murakami Cup Nam Dave (TOR)

5-4 Kyu (15 & Under) 1st: Nam Dave (TOR) 2nd: Kim Ryan (NOR) 3rd: Yu Naomi (COV) 3rd: Fujinami Ty (IS) HM: Nikaido Mika (STYO) HM: Yamamuro Keisuke (BTK) Girl's Kyu (17 & under) 1st: Tada Jamie (STYO) 2nd: Yamamoto Hana (GAR) 3rd: Ariga Kotone (BTK) 3rd: Taniguchi Haruka (BTK)         1-3 Dan 1st: Mizobe Ken (STYO) 2nd: Kato Yuma (GAR) 3rd: Pruitt David (CM) 3rd: Dirickson Todd (TOR) HM: Ji Daniel (NOR) HM: Offutt Eugene (STYO) HM: Ahn Jason (JCI) HM: Kim Jeremy (ANC) Yamaguchi Cup Mizobe Ken (STYO)

3-1 Kyu (17 & Under) 1st: Suzuki Noah (CM) 2nd: Yamamoto Makato (GAR) 3rd: Lee Geonhyo (ANC) 3rd: Nakashimo Toshiki (GED) HM: Sugiyama Kevin (STYO) HM: Kato Shutaro (GAR) Women's Dan 1st: Sano Asaki (STYO) 2nd: Liu Chia-Wei (STYO) 3rd: Yoon Courtney (NOR) 3rd: Towata Noriko (SFV)         4 Dan and above 1st: Kobayashi Kazunori (CM) 2nd: Imai Hideki (STYO) 3rd: Ono Makoto (SDKB) 3rd: Hsueh Steven (BTK)

HM=honorable mention

Thank you to Mazkiya USA for providing gift certificates for all first place winners.