Toronto / Vancouver

[Confound]

I'm looking for a potential training spot in Toronto and one in Vancouver. I already know my dismal options if I get trapped into going to grad school in Halifax.

I'd prefer to train somewhere with a sensei of at least go-dan level, if that sounds snobby, tough luck, I am snobby about that. It doesn't make sense to me to pay to join a club unless the instruction will be given by someone with adequate experience.

Secondly, I have recently begun iaidou, and would like to continue studying that as well. That said, I'd prefer a dojo with at least one person who s tudies iaidou at the san dan level or above. (I'm not yet ranked at all, so a lower level of instruction is alright.)

Maybe you think this sonds haughty, and you'd rather not have me train at 'your' dojo. Well, think of it this way: If I'm going to spend a big chunk of money to join the Canadian Kendo Federation (I'm still peeved about that), and then pay an exorbirant amount of money for exams, I want to make sure that I'll be able to pass them.

confound

[kendokamax]

the big chunk of money you are refering to is.........15$ per year WOW

there is jccc kendo dojo in toronto they have the highest ranked sensei out there in canada. and they have iaido too.

www.jccckendo.com

there is many other good clubs in toronto.

the money for exam is like 40$ for shodan .......

and exams if you fail them you get your money back .........

[Alex]

Anybody who complains about that pittance of a federation fee is more likely a LIABILITY to any club they join. I don't know how you guys in Canada operate on such little income.

[cklin]

Alex: Canadian dollars are worth more? :D

U of Toronto has a kendo club. Hana Ariga and Matthew Raymond (who were on the 11th WKC Team Canada and are also on the 12th WKC team) were/are members, I believe.

U of Waterloo also has a kendo club. They're an enthusiastic bunch.

As mentioned above, JCCC also has a really good reputation. I think they had a few people on Team Canada last year.

[AlexM]

cklin:

In Toronto (a hellish place on the whole for most things ;) ) the best dojo is probably Etobicoke (it's just outside Toronto). I think three guys from that (smallish) dojo made the national squad this year (and I get to fight them on Saturday... YIPEE!), plus their team beat everybody at the nationals in July.

Their kendo is really nice: Inventive, active, skillfull, relaxed and fun to watch (that can't be said for all dojos...).
I had the pleasure of seeing them in action at the University of Waterloo tournament and they were awesome. One guy (I think it was Kamata...one of the Kamatas) got a one handed men (yuko-men I think). Anyway, I'm rambling on like a schoolgirl about N'Sync. :silly:

Also check out Jung-ko: a new Korean dojo. The guys were good (at the afore mentionned U of W tournament) and really friendly.

As for Confound's complaining: the less said the better.

[Tato]

After reading the choices you have, I'm realy envious! I would like that Madrid had so many choices. I would like to have a job that allowed me to travel to Toronto, to visit those dojos!.

By the way, CKF is cheaper than Spain's.

Rei

[R A Sosnowski]

For information about Kendo in Canada, go to http://www.kendo-canada.com/ckf_dojoadr.htm . There is a lot of contact info. there.

JCCC Kendo in Toronto is a fine place to train as is the Etobicoke Dojo. As far as I know, there is also Iaido at both Dojo with a Nanadan at JCCC and a Rokudan at Etobicoke.

Matthew Raymond at U. Toronto is one of the few Nito Kendo players that I have seen, and quite good at that. I watched his last two promotion gradings.

HTH,
Raymond Sosnowski

[Jerry Wellbrock]

High Dan Rank does not necessarily equate with "Good" Instructor......I know many "high ranking" instructors in many different martial arts that can not teach very well.....I know many extremely talented martial artists who consistantly perform beautifully and they can not teach very well......I know some wonderful teachers who are not necessarily the best competitors or the highest ranking instructors in their respective dojos but they seem to be able to help the students more than others....What makes a good instructor is different for each of us as we may be looking for something different in an instructor....just be careful not to judge a dojo because it doesn't have a large group of high ranking instructors......it may be that smaller dojo has an instructor who cares more about teaching and motivating the students......it may be possible to advance your kendo more with the guidance of a highly motivated...caring..."low ranking" instructor....than with the indifference of some(certainly not all) "high" ranking instructors.....good luck with your search for that right dojo for you and remember the old saying......"When the student is ready the teacher will appear"

[KhawMengLee]

Agreed. Great coaches may not have been great players. and great players may not make the best coaches eg. George Best, Maradona..etc

[Confound]

AlexM, I have heard about those fellows. It would be really cool to practice at that dojo, however, I am a flea compared to them.

Meng et al. I am aware that just because someone has a high dan level, it doesn't make them a splendid teacher; however placing that restriction rules out suggestions for training in places where there are no senseis. Admittedly, I'm a bit of a snob.

About fees: I was lead to believe (in my ignorance, I'll also admit to being TOTALLY ignorant of fees of any sort for kendou) that membership fees and grading fees were high. After reading Minshi's thread, it seemed like people were paying through the nose. I am happily wrong about that. (It has been my experience that when fees are not disclosed, they're enough to leave your wallet gasping. However, it's niceto be wrong on that score.)

c

[JSchmidt]

I'm currently learning alot of my kendo from a japanese 3rd dan. I also practice with 6th and 7th dans, but that doesn't stop the 3rd dan from being an extremly good teacher. Grade can be irrelevant when it comes to teaching. The ability to teach doesnt necesarrily means high grade.

Jakob

[Confound]

Jakob,

At the risk of stating the obvious, I've discovered that people who have studied longer are generally excellent individuals from whom to learn. A Japanese san-dan has most likely studied longer than someone of a higher grade in North America, simply by virtue of having better access to places to train, and opportunuities to study kendou in school.

That said, I asked about dan levels because it's the fastest way to find out who has studied for a while. It would be highly unusual if I had asked about the amount of years people studied, and to be honest, it's not information that is as readily available as one's dan level. Besides, if I'd asked that question, it would have just opened up a whole new can of worms, from those who sit around just waiting to send me hate mail. (Incidentally, I like hate mail, it is excellent humourous material.) People would be saying, "But what about someone who studied for X number of years but keeps failing their X-level exam, as compared to someone who has studied less time, practiced more often and passed their exams?" It's all about hypothetical reasoning. I'm ordinarily all for it, but lately time has been a bit short.

c


ps - Thanks very much to those who suggested potential training places. I appreciate your help, and will look into them when I move back to Canada. There is a very big gap between having a list of potential places to train and actually having knowledge that comes from people much closer to the area. My thanks.

c

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by Confound
It would be really cool to practice at that dojo, however, I am a flea compared to them.

Lets hope the training in Canada blows the bug out !

[munenmuso]

BTW, you expect so much about your sensei but what will your sensei expect from you?

I understand that some or most sensei don't receive even a single cent we pay because they voluntarily teach for free as in "pro bono". That most of our money goes for the maintenance of the club's politics.So I guess if you don't get your money's worth it's better if you vent your ire to the club your in cause the wasted money will not go into the pockets of those dedicated teacher.

Blame the club again not the sensei.

Round two, fight.

[Confound]

Sounds reasonably, Munen. I'll take it under consideration.

c

[saki_wooah]

For vancouver, I heard Steveston Kendo Club in Steveston, (south of vancouver or somthing like that, and they are the first dojo in Canada, well i think so) is pretty good and social. There is also UBC kendo club and vancouver kendo club.

[KenD'OH]

yup, im in UBC Kendo club. very friendly bunch of folks.

Steveston Kendo Club is the biggest and the best in vancouver i think. they have a 7th Dan and several 6th Dan senseis. there is also Sunrise Club in downtown vancouver

representin' vancouver yo :D