Oldest kendo club(s) In Europe?

**Kenshi** · 5th October 2008, 09:26 AM

While doing some research, the above question came to me:

What are the oldest extant kendo clubs in Europe?

The oldest club in the U.K. is Nenriki (1966), followed closely by Mumeishi (68).

What about everybody's respective counties?

**xvikingx** · 5th October 2008, 11:15 AM

I know Obukan in Oregon is pretty old but I'm not sure which dojo is the oldest in the US. Perhaps there are some older clubs in Hawaii?

*EDIT: Not Europe but what the hell...

**Kenshi** · 6th October 2008, 11:34 PM

Wow, no old clubs in Europe. Looks like Obukan gets it!

**Paburo** · 6th October 2008, 11:54 PM

there was kendo in spain even before i was born so my guess it's that it started somewhere around the 70's....?

but i think by at large hawaii has the oldest dojos outside japan with 100+ years anyway....

**Kenshi** · 7th October 2008, 12:04 AM

But im interested in European clubs....

**Obukan_dude** · 7th October 2008, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by xvikingx

I know Obukan in Oregon is pretty old but I'm not sure which dojo is the oldest in the US. Perhaps there are some older clubs in Hawaii?

*EDIT: Not Europe but what the hell...

Originally Posted by Kenshi

Wow, no old clubs in Europe. Looks like Obukan gets it!

Aw, all of Obukan is blushing right now...

I second Paburo; there are probably some older clubs in Washington State or Hawaii.

**Kenshi** · 7th October 2008, 12:47 AM

The oldest club I practise at here is about 70 years old... xvikingx is at a dojo (not a club) thats preeeettttty old though, about 220 years (sorry Obukan, sorry Hawaii).

(for the 3rd time) I am interested in European dojo though.

**dwez** · 7th October 2008, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by Kenshi

Wow, no old clubs in Europe. Looks like Obukan gets it!

Whilst doing the Kendo Clubs of Itay Google map there was one Italian dojo website that seemed to have something akin to 'teaching kendo since...' on one of it's pages.

I don't recall the date but as you mention it something in the back of my mind recalls a moment where I went 'wow that been going a while'. I started to look at the sites to see if I could find it but gave up in the end as I'm right busy doing work for a change! you're more than welcome to check to see if I was right in my thinking...

**kurisu** · 7th October 2008, 02:29 AM

This 2 vids doesn't give a date, but I would guess late 60's early 70s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXIFHWqlyHY (they still are doing takedowns....)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsBxx5ShLtE

Here's vid in London, the players are from London Budokwai in 1937.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=admqVs8vbqM

**Moose** · 7th October 2008, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Kenshi

The oldest club in the U.K. is Nenriki (1966), followed closely by Mumeishi (68).

The BKA was founded in 1964 ...... does this mean that none of the original clubs are around anymore?

Or did they go to the Renmei?

**Kenshi** · 7th October 2008, 10:35 AM

There are clubs that have dissapeared over the years including one in Vauxhall.

Id like to find out more about the history of Lidstone (for the UK).

**hugo** · 7th October 2008, 12:08 PM

It was my understanding that the Oakland dojo is the oldest dojo in the continental US.

**xvikingx** · 7th October 2008, 12:21 PM

Oakland, CA???
Not exactly where I would have imagined it to be.

**JoonShik** · 7th October 2008, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by hugo

It was my understanding that the Oakland dojo is the oldest dojo in the continental US.

It has been stated (well, at least according to the US Championship booklet) that the oldest dojos would be either in Hawaii or Southern California since late 1800's to early 1900's.

Oakland Dojo was established in 1953, probably the oldest in the NCKF.