Norfolk VA

Ostrak · 17th January 2003, 12:17 AM

Hello everyone. I'm interested in studying the art of Kendo and have no experience. I live in Newport News Virginia, USA (close to Norfolk VA) and am looking for a dojo near there. The closest dojo I have been able to find is in Richmond, based upon the information from http://www.kendo-usa.org/ Does anyone know of a dojo closer to Newport News/Norfolk (Reading some of the posts on here I realize that a 90 minute drive may not be that much of a commute to practice but thought it doesn't hurt to ask)? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

**KendoShiai** · 17th January 2003, 09:32 AM

Hey Ostrak, I dont know of any others in VA but I personally do know Phong that teaches there in Richmond. He is a great person and Sensei. His wife and I fought in both of our first Shiai's together. Of course she went on to win the tournamet. She is now a Sandan and I belive Phong is a Yondan. The Virgina area is covered by the South East United States Kendo Federation. The gentalman to email about if there are any renigade Dojo around there though is Dr. James Parker Sensei. He is our Reginal President for the SEUSKF. jimyuko@alltel.net is his email. Also Phong's email is pkhoang@msn.com. You would enjoy working with him though.

Ostrak · 17th January 2003, 06:34 PM

Sounds good. Thanks for your help.

**ShÖgun** · 20th January 2003, 08:13 AM

waz going on ostrak??

I'm in Virginia Beach right now study, an i too have been looking for ah kendo club and the closest one is the same on KendoShiai
spoke of here is some more info:

Northern Virginia Kendo Club
Contact: Ernest Lissabet (703)352-0768

Koryo Dojo
10960-F Three Chopt Rd
Richmond, VA
W 7:00-8:30pm Sa 1:00-2:30pm
Contact: Phuong K. Hoang (804)553-1912

I have not gotten around to going up there, cause i'm just to busy, some day i will head up there.

latah

Ostrak · 20th January 2003, 08:33 AM

Yeah...I got that info and I sent a request to the dojo for information and haven't heard back yet (just sent request Friday). There's some classes at ODU (I don't go there) in Kendo by a Dan (forget what level) who teaches school in Norfolk so I was hoping there might be a club on that side of the water because I'll be working over there this summer (and hopefully on a regular basis after that) so hoping to go Eastward more than Westward (also a shorter drive to Norfolk area).

**ShÖgun** · 20th January 2003, 09:01 AM

they have it in ODU, hmmmm now theres something new. Can you just go an train or is an actual course you have to do ???

Ostrak · 20th January 2003, 11:01 AM

There's a course/various courses. I think it was broken up into beginner, intermediate and advanced (although I think advanced just means you took beginner and intermediate and of course intermediate just means you took beginner). The instructor is also a dan (once again I don't know the level) in Iaido if you're interested in that but I don't think there's any courses in Iaido there. As far as I can tell ODU doesn't have a club. Although that info might be old (basing my info solely on websites). It would make sense to me that if you have multiple courses in Kendo you might have a club in case some people actually get interested in learning Kendo. Maybe that's just me. I live in Newport News and go to W&M in Williamsburg. W&M has a kendo club listed but I contacted both contacts listed for the club and have yet to hear a response. It could be everyone involved graduated. I don't know. They have a practice time scheduled so I might take a run by the gym Tuesday to check it out. According to their website, the W&M club is supposed to be open to the community. I just don't know if they club is still up and running (if they are and if I get the chance to check it out this week I'll post it on here to let you know).

**ShÖgun** · 20th January 2003, 12:38 PM

yah have me all excited now, I am going to attend ODU in the fall semester coming up. I hope they still doing it

**Jerry Wellbrock** · 24th January 2003, 04:56 AM

The US Hombu for the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai is headed by Hanshi Hamada. Hamada Hanshi is the Chairman of the International Division of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. This group is located at Old Dominion where Hamada Hanshi is on faculty. They practice several martial arts, I believe including some kendo, iaido, aikido, karate, etc., for information you can go to their website. Just look under Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. and the Administrative Secretary is listed. You may either get info from her or she may help stir you in the right direction as far as kendo goes in the Norfolk area. Please be polite and curtious as this is a most serious and traditional organization with a lengthy history.

**ShÖgun** · 31st January 2003, 04:00 AM

thanks,
i sent them a e-mail. hopefully they reply to me.
it's been over a week, if anything i will go odu and see wha they doing

**DanDan** · 18th January 2004, 01:38 AM

his email is actually pkhoang@comcast.net ....

**ShÖgun** · 18th January 2004, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by DanDan

his email is actually pkhoang@comcast.net ....

whose e-mail address is that??Hamada Hanshi ??

**DanDan** · 18th January 2004, 08:48 AM

it's the guy from koryo martial arts center....phoang k. hoang...

kriskras · 20th February 2004, 07:33 AM

Hi everybody,

just sneaking in to this thread for a very short while. I'll be in Norfolk VA at the end of March (21-26) and am wondering whether there's a dojo that I could visit overthere, to catch one or more trainings. I'm an absolute beginner, training in Belgium (http://www.seishinkan.be) in the Leuven Dojo.
I presume taking my bogu might not be easy but doable (did it once to Italy, but that's a short flight of course, in this case I'll probably be flying 9 or 10 hours + waiting time in the airports. Shinai might be a problem for obvious reasons, had to leave it in the bulk baggage room, packed seperately.

Anyway, I've googled a bit for a Norfolk dojo (perhaps connected to the military ?) but wasn't able to locate one. Be my guest to prove me wrong and rookie please ;-)

kr=