We require adults to be fully vaccinated for all kendo and
iaido practices
No kiai for youth who are not vaccinated or are untested
We have opened up practice to yudansha from other SCKF dojos who
are fully vaccinated. Email
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
to have your name added to our online sign up announcements (note
that there is a new form emailed out for each practice).
3dan and below: please have the approval of your dojo head
instructor to attend Norwalk practices.
Masking is required for all present at practice (participants and
spectators)
Practice days
Monday: 7:00-08:30pm, beginners end at 8pm
Monday: 9:00-10:00pm iaido
Friday: 7:30-09:00pm first practice, including
kihon kata
Friday: 9:00-09:45pm ato-geiko
You must sign up online in advance to be allowed into the dojo
(contact
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
if you have questions).
If you would like to receive dojo email announcements, please email
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
(be sure to provide your name!).
In order to practice kendo at Norwalk Dojo, you must sign
liability forms for
AUSKF and
SEJSCC,
and parents must sign a
consent for medical treatment
form for minors. Outside kenshi need to sign an
SEJSCC guest liability
form.
Per dojo policy, if you need to take some time off from keiko,
you must notify the dojo in writing before the beginning of the
month
to avoid dues for that month being deducted from your security deposit
(via email to
norwalkkendo@gmail.com and
norwalk.kendo.acctg@gmail.com).
Also, if funds are deducted from your deposit for whatever reason,
you must replenish it as soon as possible.
When paying by check, the payee should be
"Southeast Japanese School", with "Norwalk Kendo Dojo" on the
memo line.
Sheriff's Dept phone number 562-863-8711
The SEJSCC Board recommends not to confront anyone suspicious
loitering on the property; instead call the sheriff's department.
Do not leave valuables unattended, especially in the dressing
rooms or parking lot.
Keep entrance doors closed.
Past Events
Fri 1/6/23: first practice of 2023 Thank you to Tanaka san, Kay, and Courtney for preparing the
delicious zenzai, mochi, and fixings!
Sat 12/10/22: Norwalk Holiday Picnic, potluck 11a-3p CPE
Contact
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
if you have questions. Hope to see you there!
Fri 11/25/22: no practice Have a great Thanksgiving holiday!
Sun 11/13/22: AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa, So Cal
AUSKF shinsa for 5-7dan and shogo ranks. Godo geiko on Sat.
Mon 11/8/22: Welcome Back! Welcome back Lee Caleb and Lee Grace!
Sat 11/5/22: Center Bingo Kendo has toban for food prep thru cleanup, 2-8pm.
Thank you to everyone who came to help, and for the yummy dessert
donations! Extra big thanks to our OG kendo moms Domen san, Yoshimura
san, and Tanaka san!
Mon 10/31/22: Halloween Practice is optional; if you're a kid (or a kid at heart) please
enjoy the holiday and don't eat too much candy at once!
Mon 10/17/22: Welcome New Member! Welcome new iaido member Nakane Mario!
Also, we were very happy to receive a visit from our former iaido head
instructor, Okuno Samuel sensei, who had returned to Japan in 2020.
Sun 10/16/22: SCKF Fall Shinsa, El Rancho HS
Norwalk participants include Park Gabrielle (6k); Liao William,
Song Lia, Song Ian (3k); Quimpo Ed (2k); Tseng George (3D); Liao Steve
(4D); Kariya Yoshijiro (tachiai); Fu Linda, Kodama Jean (officials).
See dojo shinsa page for many
details.
Congratulations to t
Norwalk participants include Park Gabrielle (6k); Liao William,
Song Lia, Song Ian (3k); Quimpo Ed (2k); Tseng George (3D); Liao Steve
Mon 10/10/22: Welcome New Members! Welcome new members Oh Jin Won (James) and Oh Elizabeth!
Fri-Sun 10/7-9/22: PNKF Iaido Seminar and Shinsa, Seattle
Kodama Jean and Sukiassyan Levon are attending, plus Kozawa Susie
(Seattle Kendo Kai and honorary Norwalk member).
Congratulations to Kozawa Susie and
Kodama Jean for passing iaido 5dan!
Fri-Sat 10/7-8/22: Center Holiday Boutique, NYS Pancake Breakfast
Fri: no kendo practice (gym closed to set up boutique)
Sat: Pancake Breakfast 7-11am
(the dojo has bought tickets; if you are
interested see Brian or Linda)
Sat: Boutique 8am-2pm
see Rafu Shimpo article
Sun 9/25/22: SCKF Team Championships, El Rancho HS
Norwalk participants include Fu Linda (volunteer), Kodama Jean
(shinpan).
Fri 9/9/22: Welcome New Member! Welcome new member Lee Richard!
Mon 9/4/22: Labor Day, no practice
Enjoy the three day weekend!
Mon 8/29/22: Welcome New Member! Welcome new iaido member Chung John!
Fri-Sun 8/26-28/22: AUSKF Summer Camp, Las Vegas
Norwalk participants include Cho In Ho.
Sun 8/21/22: Nikkei Games Budo Tournament, Cypress College
Norwalk participants include Song Ian (adult kyu and 4-1kyu team),
Kim Ryan (1D), Tseng George (2D), Fu Linda (volunteer),
Song Lia (4-1kyu team, with Troung Liem from ALH),
Kariya Yoshijiro (shinpan). Ian and Lia also participated in the
Bokuto ni Yoru Kendo Kihon Waza Keiko Ho demonstration.
Congratulations
to Kim Ryan for taking 3rd place in the 1dan division, and to
Song Ian for kantosho in the team division! For full results see the
SCKF link above.
Mon-Fri 8/5-7/22: NCIA Iaido Seminar, Palo Alto
Instructor Ito Tomoharu sensei from Japan, see
flyer.
More details are at the
NCIA website, including
online sign up form and
map.
Early sign up for NCKF and SCKF ends 5/25.
Attendees include Kodama Jean and Sukiassyan Levon.
Sun 7/17/22: SCKF Kata Seminar, Hillview MS
Norwalk participants include Tseng George and Kodama Jean.
Mon 7/11/22: Welcome New Iaidoka! Sia Alyssa started kendo with us in January, and from tonight has
just started iaido!
Mon 7/4/22: Independence Day, no practice
Have a safe and sane 4th of July!
Mon-Fri 6/27-7/01/22: SEJSCC Camp Hanabi, Center
Scaled back to 5-8 year olds, 9am-noon.
Kendo session Tuesday 10:15-11:45am. Thank you so much to Quimpo Ed,
Kim Ryan, Fu Linda, Kariya Yoshijiro, and Kodama Jean for putting on
the demo and teaching all the little kids!
Sun 6/26/22: SCKF Indiv Championships, El Rancho HS
Norwalk participants include Fu Linda (women's championship);
Kariya Yoshijiro (shinpan).
Mon 6/20/22: Welcome New Members! Welcome new iaido members Yan Hao and Yan Pam!
SEJSCC Cultural Festival, 2nd weekend in June
(new annual schedule)
Click images below for festival and raffle flyers
Raffle prize additions include
a free night stay at Sheraton Cerritos Hotel,
$50 gasoline gift cards,
$100 voucher for Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts,
and a PlayStation 5 $800 bundle
Kendo schedule for all members and parents:
Fri 6/10: food and booth prep
no practice, but everyone please come help at 7pm
Sat 6/11: 1st day of carnival
please sign up
for booth duty (see
norwalkkendo email)
Sun 6/12: 2nd day of carnival
please sign up for booth duty (see
norwalkkendo email)
kendo demonstration 2:30pm
Mon 6/13: recovery
no practice, see note below. Thank you to everyone who stayed
extra late last night to put everything back into storage!
Info and reminders for Sat/Sun
Please park in the neighborhood outside the dojo. It may take
a little time to find parking, but please be patient, there
will be a space. Also there is a pedestrian gate for a shortcut
at the end of Harvest Avenue, if you park on that side of the
neighborhood.
If you will be cooking or serving food (basically all adults),
please bring a head cover (hat, bandana, etc.), face mask, and
apron (if you have one).
Everyone please bring a water bottle, thermos, or other
reusable drinking container. We will provide drinks, but it
would help to not use disposable cups if possible.
Dinner will be provided.
You may want to bring some cash to patronize the other booths.
Thank you to all those that came out to help on Friday,
Saturday
and Sunday for our cultural festival. We definitely could not have
pulled it off without you. Despite the hard work and heat, we hope you
enjoyed meeting new people, each other's company, and the yummy food.
Fri 6/3/22: Welcome New Member! Welcome new member Chang Anderson!
Restricted parking Mondays 5/16 thru 6/6 Ondo practice for the cultural festival will be conducted in
the front parking lot on Mondays and Thursdays from mid-May through
early June from 7:30pm.
For Monday keiko, please do not park in the area by the ondo circle,
and be careful of the ondo participants, especially small children.
Mon 5/30/22: Memorial Day weekend, no practice
Have a great holiday weekend!
Sun 5/1/22: Nisei Week Tournament, Terasaki Budokan
Norwalk participants include Song Ian (adult 0-4kyu), Song Lia
(women's kyu), Kariya Yoshijiro and Hamamura Andy (shinpan), Fu Linda
(tournament staff).
Sat, 4/9/22: Center Recognition Dinner, 6pm
Kendo to prepare fruit platters. Please save the afternoon to
come help, starting at 2pm (let Linda know).
Thank you to Domen san, Tanaka san, Mr and Mrs Yoshimura, Fu Linda,
Kariya Yoshijiro, Kodama Jean, and Quimpo Ed for volunteering!
Sun 4/3/22: SCKF Spring Shinsa, El Rancho HS
Volunteers: Kodama Jean, Fu Linda, Kariya Yoshijiro, Hamamura Yu.
Congratulations to Quimpo Ed (3kyu), and Liao William, Song Ian, and
Song Lia (4kyu) for ranking up!
Fri, 4/1/22: NYS using classrooms #2/3 These are the rooms we normally use for changing. We can open up
other classroooms to use instead.
Sun, 3/27/22: Center Spring Clean Up, 9am-noon
Kendo's tasks: clean painted portion of gym walls, dry mop gym
floor, vacuum stage curtains. See
doc.
Thank you to everyone who came out to help: Fu Linda, Domen san, Song
Ian and Lia, Quimpo Ed, Kodama Jean, Kariya Yoshijiro, Yoon Brian,
Tanaka san. Thank you so much!
Fri, 3/25/22: Kihon Kata Mock exam We will hold a mock examination during practice to qualify for
the April shinsa.
Sun 3/20/22: SCKF Shinpan Seminar, Terasaki Budokan
Kodama Jean and Kariya Yoshijiro attended.
Please pay your
AUSKF and SCKF federation dues Federation dues are by age:
17 and under: $44,
18 and over: $86.
Deadline is Fri Mar 18.
If you cannot bring payment to the dojo by this date please email
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
so we can at least get you signed up. Let us know if you qualify for
the full-time student discount.
Note: please sign up now even if you don't think you'll be able to
participate regularly until later in the year. There is no benefit
to delaying (federation dues are not prorated, so they are the same
whether you join now or in December).
For returning yudansha, your membership will be continuous from
last year and you will be eligible for the SCKF Championship
tournaments in June and September.
We need new members, please contact your
friends and family. And all former members are welcome back!
If you know anyone who is "missing in action", please contact
them to let them know.
Sun, 3/13/22: SCKF Godo Geiko, Sho Tokyo La Habra
9-11am, masks and vaccination required. You must sign up
online (deadline 3/9).
Kodama Jean attended.
Fri 2/4/22: restart dojo practices LAC COVID numbers are finally coming down, so we are resuming
practices at the dojo. We'll take extra precautions (eg no kiai during
keiko) until
COVID ICU numbers
come down to a safer level.
Sun 1/9/22: Center closed due to COVID surge On 1/7 the Center announced it will be closed from 1/9 through
1/31/22, so we have suspended dojo practices.
See email announcements for zoom practice information.
We will practice suburi and focus on
kihon kata
(full name "bokuto ni yoru kendo kihon waza keiko ho").
For iaido, we will focus on beginners.
Sat 1/8/22: SEJSCC Bingo (canceled 1/5/22)
Kendo would have had toban.
Fri 1/7/22: Norwalk Dojo first kendo practice of 2022, 7:30pm
First session (no-contact) practice only.
Welcome new member Sia Alyssa!
Many thanks to Mrs Domen and Kay and Brian Yoon for making fresh
an mochi and zenzai, and on top of that packaging it to go so we
could enjoy it safely. Thanks also to Mr Park for taking our group
photo!
Mon 1/3/22: Norwalk Dojo first iaido practice of 2022, 9:00pm
Fri 12/17/21: Norwalk Dojo photo and games practice, 7:30pm
Everyone please come so we have a nice turnout for this practice.
Mon 12/6/21: Welcome New Member! Welcome new iaido member Drobyshevskaya Svetlana!
Sun 12/5/21: Norwalk Dojo Holiday Picnic, Cerritos
Open to all current dojo members. Please check email for details.
Hope to see you there!
Fri 11/26/21: Thanksgiving Friday, no practice
Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday!
Sun 11/21/21: Shoraku sensei farewell keiko, Tustin
Location Tustin Boys and Girls Club, 580 W 6th St, Tustin CA 92780.
Time 9:30-11:30am. See 11/2 email for more information.
Limited to 3dan and above.
Norwalk participants include Fu Linda, Hamamura Yu, Kariya Yoshijiro.
Mon 11/15/21: no practice Taking a break after the kodansha shinsa
Sun 11/14/21: AUSKF Kodansha Shinsa, Torrance
AUSKF shinsa for 5-7dan and shogo ranks.
Godo geiko on Sat 11/13 (online sign up required, see link above)
Congratulations to Hamamura Andy sensei for passing 5dan!
Fri 11/5/21: Welcome New Member! Welcome new member Park Elliot!
Sun 10/17/21: SCKF Seminar: Bokuto ni Yoru Kendo Kihon Waza Keiko Ho,
Terasaki Budokan
"Training the trainers" seminar on kihon kata, for vaccinated
yudansha. This replaces the SCKF
Fall Shinsa, normally held the third Sunday of Octember.
Norwalk participants include Kodama Jean and Kariya Yoshijiro.
Mon 10/14/21: Norwalk Iaido practices resume See dojo announcement.
Note: we suspended practices 9/26.
Sun 9/26/21: SCKF Youth Practice, Terasaki Budokan
Keiko for fully vaccinated youth aged 12-18. This replaces the SCKF
Team Championships, normally held the last Sunday of September.
Mon 7/12/21: Monday kendo keiko resumes!
7:30pm
As we continue to reopen, we are adding back Monday practices.
Like the Friday practice, the schedule will be modified: it will also
be only one hour, and for now will start at 7:30pm. So, just like on
Fridays, please arrive by 7pm to finish screening and help with dojo
setup. Iaido will move to 9pm (instead of 8:30pm).
Mon 7/5/21: Independence Day (observed), no keiko
Have a safe and sane Fourth of July holiday weekend!
Sat 6/26/21: SEJSCC Recognition
Dinner, 5:30pm
Honorees include our own Fu Linda (outstanding service) and
Cho Daniel (Nerio Scholarship); congratulations!
Attendees include Fu Linda, Keith Nick,
Cho Daniel, Cho Ryan, Kim Minyoung,
Yoon Brian, Yoon Kay, Yoon Courtney,
Kodama Jean, Esperitu Derex, Kanase Daijiro, Kariya Yoshijiro,
Domen san, Tanaka san, Tanaka Timothy.
If you are interested in attending virtually via zoom,
email your name, email
address, and zoom screen name by 2pm Fri 6/25 (see
link for details, including FAQs).
Fri 6/11/21: we start wearing men! At this practice, you may optionally wear your men.
Before Friday, please practice putting on and taking off your men, and
most importantly, figure out how to wear an effective mask inside your
men (no gaiters or bandanas).
Fri 5/28/21: starting phase 2 At this practice, you may optionally wear hakama/keikogi
and bogu (do, tare, kote; no men yet).
Before Friday, please practice putting all these on, as well as taking
them off and properly folding them/putting them away.
Dojo Reopening, Phase 2 Summary
Practice days
Iaido: Mondays at 8:30pm
Kendo: Fridays at 7:30pm
You must sign up online in advance to be allowed into the dojo
If you are interested in joining Norwalk Dojo, please see the
NEW MEMBERS page (link is also at the left)
On 5/21/21 we started transitioning to phase 2 of kendo reopening
Sun 4/23/21: SCKF Youth Suburi Together final practice SCKF conducted zoom suburi sessions for youth kenshi, led by youth
kenshi, from 6/14/20 through 5/23/21.
See link for the past schedule of leaders and practice themes.
Fri 4/16/20: Norwalk kendo first practice, 7:30-8:30pm
Online sign up link has been sent to current dojo members
(you must sign up online to participate)
please come early (7:15pm or earlier) to ensure plenty of time to
get through the COVID screening process, which will be more
stringent than last week's outdoor practice
if this is your first time back, please bring your signed
AUSKF
and
Center
waiver forms to turn in at sign up
you may wear workout clothes for this practice;
if you wear keikogi/hakama, please arrive dressed
you must sign up online; NO DROP INS ALLOWED
Hope to see you there!
Mon 4/12/20: Norwalk iaido first practice, 8:30pm
Online sign up link has been sent to current dojo members
(you must be registered to participate).
This will be a dojo reopening pilot run, so please arrive early to
help with set up, sign in, and screening.
Dojo Phase 1 Reopening As of 4/12/21, we are back in the dojo at a phase 1 level
Dojo Reopening After suspending activities last year on 3/12/20, the Center has
announced it will reopen for indoor activities (with restrictions) on
April 10th,
providing LA County is in the orange tier of the California blueprint.
Upcoming Norwalk Dojo milestones:
Fr 4/09/21 7:00-8:00pm: outdoor suburi
M 4/12/21 8:30-9:30pm: iaido first practice
Fr 4/16/21 7:30-8:30pm: kendo first practice (phase 1)
For details see the preliminary Norwalk Dojo
reopening plan.
Norwalk Zoom Iaido Starting 8/24/20, we will have iaido practice every Monday at
8:30pm via zoom. Last session 4/5/21.
Zoom details have been emailed to the Norwalk iaido community
Norwalk Zoom Suburi Starting 8/7/20, we will have kendo suburi practice every Friday
at 6pm via zoom. Last session 4/2/21.
Zoom details have been emailed to current dojo members
Happy Holidays!
Norwalk Zoom Suburi Every Friday at 7pm via zoom.
Meeting details have been emailed to current dojo members
Note: no zoom suburi on 11/27/20
(day after Thanksgiving), 12/25 (Christmas), 1/1 (New Year's Day)
SCKF Summer Suburi Mondays 7/27/20-8/31/20 from 7:30pm via zoom.
See link for schedule and practice leaders.
Meeting details have been emailed to current dojo members.
Norwalk tournament participants would have included
Liao William (10 and under);
Chu Ellise, Chu Lawrence (11-13); Kim Ryan, Chu Michael (1-3dan);
Chang Jeffrey, Hamamura Yu, Nguyen Emil (4dan and above);
Kodama Jean (senior); Chang Jeffrey, Kariya Yoshijijro, Kodama Jean
(shinpan).
Coronavirus notes Starting 3/12/20, we have suspended regular practices at the dojo
until further notice. See the above link for all dojo announcements
and information about COVID-19,
and also the SCKF website.
Now collecting 2020
AUSKF and SCKF federation dues Federation dues are by age:
17 and under: $44,
18 and over: $86.
Deadline is Fri Mar 6.
Please email
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
asap so we can get you signed up.
Note: please sign up now even if you don't think you'll be able to
participate regularly until later in the year. There is no benefit
to delaying (federation dues are not prorated, so they are the same
whether you join now or in December).
For returning yudansha, your membership will be continuous from
last year and you will be eligible for the SCKF Championship
tournaments in June and September.
We need new members, please contact your
friends and family. And of course we welcome back all former members!
If you know anyone who has been away for a while, please contact them
to let them know.
Sun 3/1/20: SEJSCC clean up, 9am-noon
We need all hands on deck to help clean up our storeroom,
changing rooms, and kitchen.
Thank you to everyone who came to help out!
Sat 2/29/20: AUSKF Japan Champion Tour, Cypress College
(see link above for gym change and parking notes).
Norwalk participants include Kariya Yoshijiro, Nguyen Emil, Chang
Jeffrey, Hamamura Yu, Liao Steve, Liao William.
Mon 2/24/20:
monthly dojo tournament Congratulations to monthly tournament winners
Chu Ellise (youth kyu),
Espiritu Derex (adult kyu),
and Chu Michael (yudansha).
Sun 2/23/20: SCKF Shinpan Seminar, El Rancho HS
Norwalk participants include Liao Steve, Fu Linda, Kariya Yoshijiro.
Written goals for 2020 due Mon 2/3/20 Please turn in your personal written goals for kendo in 2020
by tonight. These will be reviewed by the Norwalk Dojo sensei.
Use the SMART
mnemonic as an aid to creating your goals; also see
Groundhog Day resolutions notes. You may find the
2020 Norwalk compact
calendar (with kendo events noted) useful for planning your year.
Congratulations to
Tseng George,
Kariya Yoshijiro,
Kodama Jean
for achieving perfect attendance in January!
Excellent attendance:
Choi Sean,
Choi James
Good attendance:
Ehecatl Chicuei,
Choi Colin,
Laio William,
Laio Steve,
Fu Linda
Fri 1/31/20:
monthly dojo tournament Congratulations to monthly tournament winners
Yun Olivia (youth kyu),
Espiritu Derex (adult kyu),
and Kim Ryan (yudansha).
Sun 1/26/20: Team SCKF Training, Norwalk 8am
Bi-monthly training will be conducted
from Aug'19 through Jul'20 to help prepare Team SCKF for the
AUSKF championships in Detroit in 2020. The last practice each month
will be hosted by Norwalk Dojo.
Sun 1/19/20: Kubota Memorial Tournament, Wilson Park
Norwalk participants include Liao William, Choi Sean, Choi Colin
(10 and under); Chu Ellise, Chu Lawrence, Lee Caleb (11-13);
Choi James (adult); Fu Linda (women's); Chu Michael (1-3 dan);
Chang Jeffrey, Hamamura Andy, Nguyen Emil, Kariya Yoshijiro (4dan and
above); Kodama Jean (senior); Kariya Yoshijiro, Nguyen Emil,
Yoon Brian, Hamamura Andy, Kodama Jean (shinpan).
All participants: see link above for tournament details (match time,
etc) as well as
court schedule.
Also be sure to review all the notes on the
dojo shiai page.
Congratulations to
Liao William (3rd place 10 and under),
Hamamura Andy (2nd place 4dan and above), and
Chang Jeffrey (1st place 4dan and above)!
Extra awesome: in a thrilling final match with Andy Hamamura,
Chang Jeffrey won the perpetual trophy for yudansha.
Good job to everyone, especially our first timers, and those
who made it to the quarterfinals (Nguyen sensei, Kariya sensei,
Kodama sensei).
Sun 1/12/20: SCKF New Year's Party,
Almansor Court, Alhambra
Kodama Jean, Yoon Brian, and Kariya Yoshijiro will be attending.
Bokuto Group Purchase We will be organizing a group purchase of bokuto (wooden swords)
for those who wish to join in. If so, email
norwalkkendo@gmail.com
with how many adult size and kid size bokuto you want to order.
Everyone, including beginners, will need a bokuto for our
monthly kihon kata practice.
Bokuto were purchased and handed out Friday 2/7. Thank you to Fu Linda
and Yoon Brian for taking care of it!
Fri 1/3/20: first keiko of 2020 Come one, come all to join in our first keiko of 2020.
Per tradition, we will end at 9pm to enjoy zenzai and freshly
made mochi to ring in the new year.
Thank you so much to the parents (Mr and Mrs Yoshimura, Mrs Tanaka,
Kay) for preparing the wonderful feast!
