Kodokan Kendo Club

Who Are Kodokan.

The guiding influences at Kodokan are:

Masatake Sumi Sensei, Hanshi Hachidan (8th Dan), Emeritus Professor of Physical Education, Fukuoka University of Education, Kyushu, Japan. One of the most widely respected and experienced Kendo Masters, renowned not only in Japan but worldwide. He annually leads the famous "Kodokan Kendo Seminar" (aka SSS - Sumi Sensei Seminar).

Highly acclaimed sensei also associated with Kodokan:

Isao Uegaki, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Junichi Tashiro, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Fumio Mori, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Susumu Nagao, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Hiroshi Ozawa, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Yukuo Iwao, Kyoshi Hachidan (8th Dan). Torao Ono, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan). Masayoshi Imasato, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan). Morio Kumamoto, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan). Shoji Enomoto, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan). Hiromi Fujita, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan) - Japanese Ladies Team Coach at the 13WKC in Taipei. Sotaro Honda, Renshi Rokkudan (6th Dan) - Former Chief National Kendo Coach for the British Kendo Association from 2003 to 2007

Paul Budden & Masatake Sumi Sensei

Club Founder: Paul Budden, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan) Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Paul is the Kancho of Kodokan and is qualified in Coaching Studies from the University of Gloucester, a registered NAKMAS senior Instructor, Kendo coach to the Army & Combined Services Martial Arts Associations, Technical Director of the Maltese Kendo Federation and a highly respected International Kendo teacher & referee. He is also the well renowned author of two books to date: Looking at a Far Mountain : A Study of Kendo Kata and Devil's Gloves and the One Cut - An introduction to Ono-ha Itto ryu Kata. He was a member of the British team that won Bronze in Malmo 'EKC 87' and has visted Japan on numerous occasions for study, practice & to Referee. He is also the Championship Co-ordinator ( Official Speaker) for the European Kendo Federation and was Co Organising Director at the 'Acclaimed' 12th World Kendo Championships in Glasgow 2003 for the British Kendo Association. Paul has also worked on many PR & media projects (please see our Promotional Work page) including: LEGO® Star Wars™, Channel 4's 'the Games' and for Nintendo in their Wii promotions.

Special Guest Instructor: Jumpei Matsumoto, Kyoshi Nanadan (7th Dan) Chief National Kendo Coach for the British Kendo Association from 2007 to 2009, having first visited the UK in 1986. A most outstanding Kendo teacher with over 40 years of experience - 'the perfect picture, how you wish your own Kendo could be'..

Club Leader: Kazuyo Matsuda, Renshi Rokkudan (6th Dan) Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Kazuyo is a registered NAKMAS Senior Instructor, a British Kendo Association National Coach and former Great Britain National Ladies Team Coach, she is also an Internationally experienced Referee and is the National Team Coach for the Maltese Kendo Federation. The most senior graded female kendoka in the UK and one of only a handful of listed 6th Dan ladies in Europe. The epitiome of the Kodokan kamon - 'Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee'

Welfare (Child Protection) Officer: Carl Ranger, Yondan (4th Dan) Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Carl is a registered NAKMAS Instructor and a British Kendo Association level 1 registered coach. 'The Lone Ranger' everyone's senpai so never alone
Club Secretary: Adrian Wagstaff, Sandan (3rd Dan) Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Adrian is a registered NAKMAS Instructor and a British Kendo Association level 1 registered coach. 'The nuts and bolts' of Kodokan - making it all run smoothly

Kodokan Junior's Coach: David Young, Shodan (1st Dan) David is a registered NAKMAS Instructor and listed with the British Kendo Association 'Young in name and at heart' - Patience personified


Kodokan Instructors are insured to teach Kendo, hold CRB Enhanced disclosures and First Aid qualifications.

Kodokan 2012 - Kodokan Kendo