ABOUT THE RIVONIA KENDO CLUB (RKC)

 
 
 
 

The Rivonia Kendo Club (RKC) was founded in 2015 by Warren HO (5th Dan) and Andrew WHITTAKER(3rd Dan), with the intentions of bringing their combined knowledge and unique aspirations to the greater Kendo community.

As past students of the original San Kawa Kendo Dojo (SKKD) that was then headed up by the original founder of SKKD, Tony Hughes sensei (6th Dan, Renshi), it was both Warren and Andrew’s intention to use much of their SKKD experiences in the formation of the RKC.

To pay homage to this history and tradition, Tony Hughes Sensei was elected as the lifetime honorary head sensei of the RKC.

Both Warren and Andrew had also been members of the South African National Kendo Team, and had represented their country at several European Kendo Championships (EKC) and World Kendo Championships (WKC). Both have earned their National Sports Colours in Kendo.

Furthermore, between the 2 of them, they have over 20 years of experience working at a national level, as they have both served as executive committee members of the South African Kendo Federation (SAKF), the national governing body of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo in South Africa.

Lastly, both Warren and Andrew had completed their Martial Arts South Africa (MASA) Coaching Certification (NQF3), as well as both having had attended the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) Foreign Leaders’ Kendo Training Camp in Kitamoto, Japan. Warren had also attended the European Kendo Federation’s Shimpan/Referee Seminar twice to further his knowledge of Kendo and Kendo refereeing.

To reflect the aspirations of its founders, the RKC set forth to accomplish three major objectives, namely to:
1) ...FOCUS on helping ALL their members develop good Kendo...
2) ...Whilst still having FUN during their time of training and socializing together...
3) ...Resulting in lifelong relationships that make them feel a part of the Kendo-FAMILY.

The RKC has adopted the Kendo proverb of "Kō Ken Chi Ai" (交剣知愛) , “the desire to achieve mutual understanding and betterment of humanity through sword training”, to help guide its members on their lifelong persuit of Kendo.

UPDATE:
As from January 2020, the RKC had ceased to be a non-profit entity, and had opted to become a professional martial arts institution.

Furthermore, "Iaido", the art of drawing and cutting with a sword, was added as an additional Japanese swords-based martial art that is offered at the RKC.  Cedric JACQUES (5th Dan Kendo), who had also joined the RKC, has been appointed as the head instructor for Iaido.     

The RKC is a professional martial arts institution that offers world-class training in traditional Japanese martial arts of KENDO ("The Art of the Sword"), IAIDO ("The art of Drawing the Sword"), and JODO ("The art of the Short Staff").

The RKC is a member of the South African Kendo Federation (SAKF), Martial Arts South Africa (MASA), the European Kendo Federation (EKF) and the International Kendo Federation (FIK).

For more info on the Rivonia Kendo Club, please visit out website at www.rivoniakendo.co.za.

We are also active on social media:

INSTAGRAM: @rivonia_kendo_club

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RivoniaKendo