Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club

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"Shidokan" - Heritage and Pride

A Brief History of Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club
-- Heritage and Pride --

Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club was founded by Mr. Douglas T. Funamoto (7th Dan Kyoshi) in 1974. It was started as a part of Shidokan International, formerly known as Shidokan Academy, which was founded by Judo instructor Mr. Nakamura in 1968. Since then, Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club has produced many Kendo players in Quebec.
After the retirement of Mr. Funamoto in 1991, his students continued practicing together under the supervision of Funamoto Sensei, actively participating in tournaments.

The physical location of Shidokan has changed through the years from the old place on De Maisonneuve st. to the Tri-Star gym on Jean Talon and nowadays with lots of efforts Shidokan takes home at Concordia's Loyola campus as the main core of Kendo and Iaido Instruction and also at John Abbot College (for Iaido Instruction)

During the time at the Tri-star gym in the 90's, our brothers from the Montreal Kendo Club joined for practice led by their founder and valued friend of Shidokan: Ono Sensei. Until this day Shidokan holds great respect for Ono Sensei and keeps great relations with the MKC (Nowadays under the guidance of Junko Ariyama Sensei) often visiting each other and enjoying Kendo together as brothers.

Shidokan is now under the instruction of Santoso Hanitijo, Robert Miller and Dean Jolly.

Founder of Shidokan, Mr. Douglas T. Funamoto

Mr. Douglas T. Funamoto passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2001. In the Canadian kendo community, though he practiced kendo in Vancouver before world war two, he will be mostly remembered for helping to introduce kendo in Quebec and founding the Shidokan Kendo & Iaido Club in Montreal and the Vieille Capitale Dojo in Quebec city.

His dedication to teaching kendo was tremendous, and his humble nature will be remembered fondly. On a personal note, Funamoto-Sensei was my first kendo Sensei. He was a very patient teacher, and he instilled in me the importance of kendo basics and gentlemanly play. These are things which I will always carry with me. Thank you, Sensei.

-Lawrence Tsuji

History in the making

We would like to express our gratitude to Santoso Hanitijo Sensei and Lawrence Tsuji Sensei for granting us access to this graphic material. These photos are truly a treasure for every Shidokan member.

Arigato Santoso Sensei, Arigato Tsuji Sensei !

For many years to come, Funamoto Sensei and Okimura Sensei's legacy will live on in his students and his teachings will always be Shidokan's most valued treasure.

Shidokan Memorabilia

Thanks to Lawrence Tsuji Sensei: Old Shidokan flyers

Alma Mater

October 2011 | Legends: Shidokan warriors come back home.

On October 15th we received the visit of two amazing Sensei born at Shidokan: Lawrence Tsuji Sensei and Yutaro Matsuura Sensei. Together with Santoso Sensei they are among the few remaining active kendoka to have trained directly under Funamoto Sensei, the founder of our Dojo.

The current era of Shidokan students had the privilege to practice with all three Sensei and experience the traditional Shidokan spirit magnified by the energy of our original members.

The practice was long and intense. In the tradition of our Dojo we dedicated most of the time to practicing the basics, as any solid building needs a good foundation. In the same tradition, we also aimed to strengthen existing friendships and forge new ones, through good spirits and crossing swords together.

It was an honour and a delight for the current members of our Dojo to connect with the past of Shidokan, and we sincerely hope that both Tsuji Sensei and Matsuura Sensei continue to stay involved in our present.

It was a very special visit, and you could feel it in the air; all members displayed a heightened level of energy and will. Let's make sure that in the future we maintain the intensity we had on this special day, and continue to push that level with each day we train.

A Message from Matsuura Sensei :
"Please reflect upon this past Saturday and the great things that we did together. Lessons and memories last only as long as we let them. Funamoto Sensei still lives because people like Hanitijo Sensei, Tsuji Sensei and myself have not let him be forgotten. Strike Men with precision and correct positioning like Tsuji Sensei told you to and do it with all your breath and power like I told you to and never giving up until the waza is completed. I feel a special relationship with each and every one of you not only because you are all my Kohai, but because we all have a bond under Shidokan. You are all always welcome to come and see me as Mike, Adam and Gabriel did. I look forward to seeing you all again."

Full Article "Homecoming"

A Message from Tsuji Sensei :
"To all the Shidokan members, I would like to say thank you for helping to make the event so special. It is as much about Yutaro and I visiting as it is about all the Shidokan members being fully engaged and giving their best. Thanks also for the after-practice get-together. It was very nice to enjoy the meal, drinks and conversation (just as important as the practice itself!). This brings me to my final note: I will repeat what I had said at the end of the practice, which was to continue to practice kendo following these three principles:
tadashiku (correctly/properly), tanoshiku (with fun/enjoyment) and nakayoku (in harmony with others).
I look forward to practicing with you again. "

Full Article "Tadashiku, tanoshiku, nakayoku..."

Our inmense gratitude to Matsuura Sensei and Tsuji Sensei !!!
Please come back soon !!

Aug 2011 | Shidokan visits Yutaro Matsuura Sensei !

One of the first students of Funamoto Sensei was Yutaro Matsuura Sensei and several of the Shidokan members had the privilege to visit him in Battle Creek this summer. Matsura Sensei has been practicing kendo for more than 25 years and he has achieved the rank of 6th dan. We were fortunate to practice with him and Mack Sensei and team USA member Travis Hill.

We listened carefully to his advice and tried to apply it the best we could. One of the most important recommendations that we received and that we will incorporate in all our future practices is to come to the dojo with a personal plan, an objective to work on, and follow up with that through the whole practice starting with suburi and finishing with ji-keiko.

Thank you very much for your generosity Matsuura Sensei, we will try to follow your example and be generous towards our fellow kendoka wherever we meet them.

Arigato Matsuura Sensei !

Feb 16th 2010 | Gilles Valiquette Sensei visits Shidokan

When Funamoto Sensei founded Shidokan, the first student who knocked that door was Gilles Valiquette...
Having been practicing Kendo for 35 years and being considered the most Senior Kendoka in Quebec, Valiquette Sensei keeps alive the Spirit and teachings of his master and last February 16th he honored us by joining and leading our Tuesday training.
Valiquette Sensei emphasized the importance of solid basics and gave the us a great opportunity to practice his approach to more advanced techniques.

During Ji-Geiko he definitely showed us his experience and how his training has made him a strong and unpredictably fast Kendo master. We would like to thank Valiquette Sensei for his kindness and his teachings. Shidokan doors will always welcome him to his Alma Mater and all our fellow kenshi to join us in this journey.

Arigato Valiquette Sensei !

Jan 16th 2010 | Lawrence Tsuji Sensei visits Shidokan

We want to express our gratitude to Lawrence Tsuji Sensei (Toronto JCCC), who was kind enough to lead a special class for our club. Tsuji Sensei, Santoso Sensei and Dean Senpai trained together at Shidokan under the guidance of Funamoto Sensei many years ago and for us is an honor that a former member of our club comes to visit us and help us improve in our Kendo. Tsuji Sensei shared some important thoughts with us :

" Thanks to Santoso-Sensei and to all the Shidokan members for the practice on Saturday, January 16th. It was a pleasure to be at Shidokan after so many years. The physical location does not matter so much (the old place on de Maisonneuve to the Tri-Star gym on Jean Talon and now at Concordia's Loyola campus); the spirit of the club is with its members and the collective passion for kendo. I cannot express enough how happy I am to see the Shidokan kendo club doing so well. I especially liked the enthusiasm shown by everyone during the practice.

At this time, please allow me to make three main comments:
1. Practicing sincerely and pushing yourself to do your best are key in improving not only your personal kendo but also the dojo as a whole.
2. Please continue to work on good kihon (basics): footwork, posture and striking. Strong kendo starts with strong basics.
3. Please continue to watch out for each other and support each other. This can mean things like keeping an eye out for each other regarding wearing the uniform and bogu properly , being good motodachi for your partner and pointing out bad kendo habits. Of course, please always follow the guidance of Santoso-Sensei.

The final thought that I would like to leave with everyone is something that I heard from another Sensei many years ago. There is a saying that can apply to kendo. In Japanese, it is Tadashiku, Tanoshiku, Nakayoku. Loosely translated in English, it means: With correctness/properly, With enjoyment, By working together/getting along. I stressed some aspects of kendo etiquette at the end of Saturday's class because it is important to remember that kendo is a martial art and not just stick fighting. Further to that, the proper kendo manner is meant to foster the respect and understanding between individuals so that kendo practice has meaning. Most importantly though: Have Fun! I hope to see everyone again soon."

Best regards,
Lawrence Tsuji

Stories about Shidokan

Shidokan legends Yutaro Matsuura Sensei and Lawrence Tsuji Sensei have shared their thoughts and amazing stories about Shidokan with the new generation. Our immense gratitude for their kindness.

Arigato Dear Sensei !

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