Dojo in Orlando

[Kaira]

Well I've been searching both the yellow pages and the web looking for a kendo dojo in Orlando and I've found absolutely nothing! Can anyone help me out here? Thanks! :D

[R A Sosnowski]

If the AUSKF Dojo list http://www.kendo-usa.org/statedojolist.htm is up to date, there are only two listings for Florida:

Meguro Iaido & Kendo Kai of Ft. Myers, FL
Contact: Joe Bass (941) 543-1096

Shidogakuin Miami Kendo Club
http://www.kendoka.org/
3825 County Line Rd.
Pembroke Park, FL
Contact: Mike Meade (305) 584-9082

The second one looks closer to you.

Anyway, I'd give them a call. If there is anyone closer to you, I think that they would know.

Good luck.

[KendoShiai]

Hey Kaira, we are trying to organize here as we speak. I am planning on being down in Kissimmee on Sunday mornings at the Lake Front Park by the KAST Building. Prob. starting next Sunday as I have a visiting Sensei in town this weekend. Bob Elder Sensei will be back on the 19th and has made me promise to look into teaching at his place which will be at the North end of Downtown. I will keep this page updated if you like. I am also trying to organize a couple of renegade Kendo and Kumdo schools around here and get them into the SEUSKF. There are a total of about 6 schools around that I am aware of and at least 4 more that are rumored. If you like email me and I will give you details on how to contact me for add. Info.

[Hagakure]

While I must admit we are quite a bit apart, I study at Shindogakuin's CT school. You should definitely check them out if it's not too much of a hike.

[ShÖgun]

I'm having the same problem, i'm in virginia beach VA studying, and the closest kendo school is almost 2 hrs away. I have been reduced to training by myself, which just does not hold the same excitment than training in a dojo .

[Chengster]

i would be interested if anyone starts one in orlando, I have a good crowd ready to go too I am at the University of Central Florida about 45 minutes from downtown. Please keep me updated as well.

[nodachi]

Aren't there any ways to get funds or a program started by your University. I know some Uni are stingy and don't like spending money, but I went to Boston U. and if you could produce a list of as little as 4 people, they would help get a club running. Minimal help, but if you can show a big interest, there has got to be some way to get your Uni to start something and maybe get some funding too. A little funding is better than no funding at all and maybe they can find you a sensei.

[ufkenshi]

Hey Chengster,
I'm up at UF and we have a kendo club. If you guys are looking to get started I'm sure our Pres would be more than happy to help you out. Of course, if you wanna do kendo as bad as some of the ppl on these forums you could drive the 2 hours sometimes...heh. We have been having practice Mon, Wed, Fri, & Sun. but that might change come Spring semester. But if you want more info or anything just go to:
http://www.recsports.hhp.ufl.edu/sportclubs/clubs/kendo.htm
and email the Pres or VP.

PS. Mr. Miller was up here about a month and a half ago and they still hadn't found a place, so I don't know if that'll be taking shape anytime soon.

[KendoShiai]

Well I have been helping out with a group that practices only outdoors. They go Mondays Wednesdays, and Saturdays, from 11:00am until about 1 or 2 if I get long winded or they are not doing line drills like I want them to :). But seriously I usually am available on Saturdays and am only to happy to show up. If anyone is interested come on up and talk to the club President. We are at Lake Ivanhoe in the park just off Orange Av. We are right across the street from Harmon Photo. I will see if I can locate a map and provide a link here.

Eddie Miller

[Chengster]

hmm that sounds good I have actually seen the UF guys practice I think you guys practice at the reitz union or something like that right? yea we can start a club but what is the point if we don't have a teacher who can teach it?

[ufkenshi]

We practice at the O'dome and at SWRC, but maybe Mr. Miller might be able to help out in that department. He is a Ni-dan if I'm not mistaken. Even if you had a teacher show up like once a week, any other practices you guys had you could work on what was taught until the next time your teacher could show up.

[KendoShiai]

Hey ufkenshi. I am trying to place you. Whats your name?

[ufkenshi]

Hey Mr. Miller,
Name's Derek. I was the one talking with you and Parker Sensei before practice when you made it up here last time. Um, I have the really faded bogu and gi (although I haven't made them that way...they were given to me :) Remember me?..yes no. I can't think of anything else that would make me stand out. Ah well, hopefully one of those two things helps out, but it was a fair while ago. Good luck in your memory search...:)

[KendoShiai]

Oh yes I now remember you..... How goes training up there? Do you have any of thouse beginers in Bogu yet? Tell Jae Sensei I said hi and that I am tring to orgainze a few of our guys here to come up one day in January. Hey know what would be great.... have a small Shiai for the guys. We have about 5 or 6 people here.... would be awsume..... I will have to work on that one

[ufkenshi]

Training goes pretty good, for some of us anyway. With the end of the semester many people weren't able to make practice alot so...end of Nov and then Dec was pretty slow; with the exception of a few of us who still made it most days. Unfortunately, the three beginners who are relatively close to getting bogu, two of them had lots of work to do and the other we think decided karate was more his thing. So, in answer to your question, not just yet. Hopefully by Feb sometime. I will of course tell Jae you said hi, and that would be great if you guys could come up in Jan. In fact, JP is supposed to be back sometime in Jan as well for a visit, so maybe you'll see him as well. A shiai would be awsome! I would definitely want to do that and I know the rest of the guys would too. Just let me know when you were looking to make the trip up, and we can get the gears rollin on that. Well, I'm glad you remember me :) and hopefully we can get a good relationship going between our guys and yours.

[ufkenshi]

PS. Sorry the reply was so long..it got away from me :)

[Chengster]

sorry to change the subject, but are the people interested in starting one in Orlando still around I would love to hear more about it. I am also founding an asian fraternity on the campus of UCF and many of the members are already interested, we may even consider making it one of our requirements to be in the fraternity if someone starts up a good school. Keep me informed! Thanks