The Kendo Club at University of Washington (UW) is a sports club sponsored by the Department of Recreational Sports Programs. We’re open to currently enrolled UW students and faculty/staff that have purchased a quarterly or annual IMA Membership Card.

We are a member dojo of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation (KNKF) and the All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF). Members of the club are eligible to become members in good standing of both federations and are entitled to all privileges of the same.

The History

March 17, 1905 – The first appearance of kendo at UW

 At the biggest, for the first time, athletic exhibition ever given in the Pacific Northwest. Two kenshi from Kyoto, Kawakami Sensei and Sugihara Sensei, thrilled the crowd of some 1,500 people at the UW gymnasium

Early 1972 – Kendo Club at University of Washington formed

 The five founding charter members were Jeffrey Marsten, Peter Mizuki, Luke Shindo, John Sullivan, and Denny Wong. Practices were held in a handball court in the Hec Ed Pavilion.

January 5, 1973 – Official constitution was filed

 Officers were listed as John Sullivan, captain (president) and Koichi Ito, co – captain (vice president). The faculty advisor was Hitoshi Mohri, MD, a pioneer in open-heart surgery of infants with the UW Medical Center.

May 24, 1973 – The first UW Kendo Taikai

 It had a round robin format, and the results were:
– 1st place: Koichi Ito
– 2nd place: John Sullivan
– 3rd place: Peter Mizuki
– 4th place: Denny Wong
– 5th place: Jeffrey Marsten
– 6th place: Luke Shindo
Since then, the Taikai has been held annually except for 1988, 1990, and 2008.

1974 – Major role in WSKF and host on campus

 Members of the Club played a major role in the 1974 founding of the Washington State Kendo Federation (since 1991 known as the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation), and hosted the first WSKF Tournament on UW campus.

1984 – The Third United States Kendo Championships

 Thanks to the club’s standing as a UW Recreational sports club, the championships was held in the Hec Ed Addition Gym, dorms, and supporting facilities, with the then President of the WSKF, David S.Yotsuuye, and Vicki (Yotsuuye) Marsten, UW Club President, in charge of all the arrangements.

Now – Great impact on kendo development and leadership

 The Kendo Club at UW has had a regional, national, and international impact on Kendo development and leadership far beyond the proportion mere numbers might suggest. Kendo Club at UW alumni have gone on to such world – class offices as President of the All – United States Kendo Federation and Director of the International Kendo Federation. Countless of great kenshi from far and wide have come under Seattle and UW’s enchantment, to return again and again.