There are only 65 days left until the first World Kendo Championship after COVID-19!
Each country's team members have been announced recently!
The Canadian National Kendo Team members have been announced as well.
Looking at the team members now, the lineups are quite different from 7 years ago.
Overall age is younger and 3 players from the men's team, and 6 members are participating at the World Kendo Championship for the first time.
The head coach of Team Canada is Dean Ara Sensei who resides in BC, Canada.
He was the head coach for the last World Kendo Championship and the Women's Team was placed in third place.
We are looking forward to the Women's Team to be successful again this year.
Today, we would like to introduce the past Team Canada players.
Dean Masahiro Ara Sensei
- Resides in British Columbia, Canada.
- Head Instructor of Renbu Kendo Dojo.
- The captain of Team Canada Men's Team in the 13th World Kendo Championship held in Taiwan.
- Women's Coach for 14th World Kendo Championships.
- Current Head Coach of Team Canada for the 17th, 18th, and 19th World Kendo Championship.
Favourite Shinai:
- Koto shinai shinai in order to make the strikes solid by putting weight into it.
- Prefers tsuka to be skinnier to have high mobility to perform various waza. (25mm)
- Click Here to check out Masahiro Shinai
Shigemitsu Albert Kamata Sensei
- Resides in Ontario, Canada.
- Instructor at Etobicoke Olympium Kendo / Iaido Club
- The captain of Team Canada Men's Team in the 16th World Kendo Championship held in Japan.
Favourite Shinai:
- Dobari shinai in order to execute fast, various waza.
- Prefers fatter tsuka to feel the kensaki (tip) to be lighter, and to be able to hit fast. (28mm)
- Click Here to check Shigemitsu Shinai
Ryo Tamaru Sensei:
- Resides in Ontario, Canada.
- Instructor at JCCC Kendo Club.
- Member of Team Canada Men's Team for the 15th and 16th World Kendo Championship.
Favourite Shinai:
- Koto shinai in order to be able to strike sharp and solid hits at the perfect opportunity.
- Prefers fatter tsuka to feel the kensaki (tip) to be lighter, and to be able to hit fast. (28mm)
- Click Here to check Ryo Shinai
Kyle Eunseob Lee Sensei
- Resides in Alberta, Canada
- Head Instructor of Chinook Kendo Club
- The captain of Team Canada Men's Team in the 17th World Kendo Championship held in Korea.
Favourite Shinai:
- Koto shinai in order to get the center and reduce unnecessary strikes.
- 26mm tsuka to be able to have balanced executions of waza.
- Click Here to check Kyle Shinai
Tsuyoshi John Hamanaka
- Resides in British Columbia, Canada.
- Head Instructor of Tozenji Kendo Club.
- Head Instructor of University of British Columbia Kendo Club.
- Director of Budogu Zen.
- Member of Team Canada Men's Team for the 15th and 16th World Kendo Championship.
Favourite Shinai:
- Dobari shinai in order to execute fast, various waza.
- Uses dobari skinny tip, fat & short tsuka to hold tsuka short with high mobility.
- Click Here to check Tsuyoshi Shinai
Although, we have so many more players that we would like to introduce, this is it for today.
We are looking forward to Team Canada's success in the upcoming 19th World Kendo Championship!