The University of Wollongong Kendo Club is a non profit club open to both members of the campus community and to the general public that provides training in the Japanese martial arts of Kendo, Iaido and Jodo.

2: Training

Currently the club trains in Kendo twice a week on the campus of the University of Wollongong.

The University of Wollongong Kendo Club exists to encourage the study of the Japanese weapon arts, in particular Kendo (the way of the sword, with an emphasis on armoured free sparring with the Shinai or practice sword), Jodo (the way of the staff, regular practice since 2000) and Iaido (the art of drawing and attacking with the Japanese sword, since 1994). We also engage in occasional Tameshigiri (test cutting, since 2002) and Kenjutsu (classical swordsmanship) sessions.

The club has its' origins in the Buxton Kendo Club of the early 1980s, founded by Sensei Ted Rixon up on the tablelands near Picton, south west of Sydney. In 1983 Sensei Rixon conducted the first class to be held at the University of Wollongong, on a dark night at the then Recreation and Sports Association basketball hall, curious participants using broom handles due to a lack of practice swords. Regular classes at the University followed, with the core of club activity remaining on the tablelands untill the late 1980's, at which point the club affilitated with URAC - the University of Wollongong Recreation and Aquatic Centre (previously the Recreation and Sport Association) for the first time.

In the early 1990's the club disafilliated from the then Recreation and Sport Association, but remained based on campus, training in Faculty of Education facilities, which it continues to utilise. With the advent of Kendo as an unofficial (now official) intervarsity sport, the club re-affiliated. The club hosted the 1995 Intervarsity Kendo competition in Wollongong. It was also host to the 1998 Australian National Kendo Championships, the 2006 Australian National Iaido and Jodo championships together with associated seminar, and from 1997 has hosted the annual NSW Grading and training weekend at Picton each February.

Throughout its history the club has remained affiliated with the NSW Kendo Renmei (NSWKA) , from 1997 to December 2000 providing the President, Treasurer and Secretary of that organisation, and through the NSWKA is affliliated with the Australian Kendo Renmei (AKR) for which the club provided the Chairman of the Kendo Board untill 2003, and currently provides the Secretary of the Iaido Board and Secretary of the Jodo Board. The AKR is in turn an affiliate of the International Kendo Federation (FIK).

Over the years the club has varied in size from two to approximately 30 active members, and has enjoyed considerable sucess in introducing newcomers to the art of the sword. As a university dojo in a small city we lose many students on graduation as they leave the area. Still, in the 1980s the dojo had its first students that had started their Kendo at Wollongong achieve their dan grades, currently the highest grade reached by a student that has trained at Wollongong throughout their career is 4th Dan. The Club has contributed members to NSW Kendo teams for the national championships periodically through the 1980s and every year since 1993, more recently also contributing to the NSW Jodo and Iaido teams each year from 2000 onwards.


Visitors, beginners and spectators are always welcome at any training. The first month of instruction is free, so people can see if they have any calling to the way of the sword. Membership fees vary on the number of arts trained in, and includes New South Wales Kendo Association membership as that is necessary for insurance, to be able to take gradings or compete in tournaments or to visit other dojos. Members doing only the associated arts of Jodo and or Iaido and not engaging in Kendo pay a reduced rate as there is only one training session a week.

A potential new student just needs to turn up at either Sunday or Tuesday, and can either watch or may take part in training dressed in suitable clothing for exercise - kendo is a barefoot art so shoes are not needed. We loan the practice sword for the first couple of sessions. For more on how to join the University of Wollongong Kendo Club go to the fees and training costs page.

We can be seen giving demonstrations at Open Days and other University events such as Japanese cultural expos.

In addition to training in our dojo, members are encouraged to travel to other kendo dojos for further training, in particular to the Sydney Kendo Club for Saturday morning training (10am) at Willoughby.

The club also encourages the study of other traditional Japanese weapon arts. Iaido, the art of drawing the katana, which is encouraged both for its own merits as a sword art and as the study helps kendoka more fully appreciate the nature of the sword which is symbolised by the bamboo shinai has been practiced since 1994. Jodo, the study of the use of short staff against the sword is (relatively) a more recent addition, with weekly practice since January 2000. For advanced Jodo instruction students are encouraged to train with the Shinto Muso Ryu jodo practitioners in Sydney, (8am Saturdays, Willoughby Community Centre Hall) under the direction of senior practitioner and teacher, Paul Maloney Sensei.

We conduct both iaido and jodo practice on Sunday afternoons before Kendo training.

4: Club Mission Statement

The University of Wollongong Kendo Club is the largest significant focus for the study of Japanese sword arts in the area between Sydney, Canberra and the Victorian border.

The club exists to provide training that molds the mind and body, cultivates a vigourous spirit, and through correct and rigid training strives for improvement in the art of kendo.

As such the goals of the University of Wollongong Kendo Club are to:

(a) Promote interest in the Japanese weapon arts, in particular the arts of kendo, iaido and jodo both within the University of Wollongong community, and throughout the South Coast and Southern Highlands; and

(b) educate, train and coach members in kendo, iaido and jodo and promote good fellowship among them; and

(c) support the aims, objectives and interests of the University of Wollongong Recreation and Sports Association; and

(d) support the aims, objectives and interests of the Australian Kendo Renmei and affiliated bodies; and

(e) represent University of Wollongong kendo exponents in their dealings with Government, state and nation-wide kendo, iaido and jodo bodies; and

(f) to organise and support the conduct of, and participation in, kendo, iaido and jodo tournaments and seminars by members.


5: Club Mon

The mon or crest of the University of Wollongong Kendo Club represents the mountains running down to the sea, the defining features of the Illawarra. The mon was designed by one of our members Robert Brown when the club hosted the 1998 Kendo Nationals and appeared on the commemorative tenegui. Most recently it featured as the design of the comemmorative tsuba presented to participants when the club hosted the 2006 Iaido and Jodo Nationals. Red is the traditional colour of the Illawarra comming from the flowers of the Illawarra flame tree.

Wollongong is a small city of some 180,000 people strung out along some 30km of coastline in a narrow coastal plain, at the foot of the great dividing range, 80km south of Sydney, Australia. (see map)


7: Club Management

The University of Wollongong Kendo Club is headed by our founder Sensei Ted Rixon (Yondan Kendo). Sensei Rixon is a student of Sensei Kunio Shizawa of Nihon Taiku Daigaku ("Nittaidai" or Japan Physical Education Univ. also known as Nippon Sport Science University). Shizawa Sensei visits Australia every one or two years each time bringing a number of other kendo instructors with him.

Club administration is carried out by club Treasurer; David Bunder and club Secretary Aden Steinke (ph 02 4221 3372 BH). The President for 2009 is Fletcher Thompson.

The UOW squad for the 2001 NSW Kendo Championships held in Sydney.

© 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,2007,2008,2009 aden_steinke@uow.edu.au