Sensei
Andre Coetzer
Andre Sensei, became interested in kendo in 2005 when he first saw kendo at one of the Johannesburg clubs. He trained there until 2007 when he moved to Pretoria to further his studies.
Upon moving to Pretoria he started training at the Mushin Kendo Dojo where he still trains regularly.
Andre sensei attended the 2012 Kitamoto Foreign Leader Camp in Japan and has represented South Africa at two European Kendo Championship events in 2013 (Germany) and 2014 (France).
Mitchell Sensei was Introduced to kendo in1998 by Tony Hughes Sensei (6th Dan) who trained under Teruaki Ishimaru sensei. He too was privileged to train under Ishimaru San (7th Dan) while he was posted in SA on business.
Mitch Sensei has trained with Buster Sefor Sensei (6th Dan) at the Ken Yu Kai Dojo whilst attending the national school of the arts in Braamfontein. He then moved to SanKawa Dojo, resuming his training with Tony Hughes Sensei, where he stayed until 2010.
Mitch Sensei then moved to Pretoria in order to further his studies at the University of Pretoria. Whilst in Pretoria he joined the Mushin Kendo Dojo.
Ray Sensei became interested in kendo when he saw kendoka in action during a martial arts gathering while living in Japan from 1964 to 1966.
Ray Fleming Sensei started practicing kendo in August 1992.
Ray Sensei later represented South Africa at the 9th Kendo World Championships in France in 1994, at the 10th Kendo World Championships in Kyoto, Japan in 1997 and at the 11th Kendo World Championships in Santa Clara, USA in 2000.
He also attended the Foreign Leader’s Training camp in Kitamoto, Japan in 1999 and again in 2002.
Apart from kendo, Ray Sensei also practiced judo.
He earned national colors in judo and took part in the European Judo Championships as part of the British judo team during the sixties.
5th Dan
Mitchell Kyle
Ray Flemming
5th Dan
3rd Dan
"Kendo has opened many, many doors for me and I have had the honour of representing South Africa at numerous international events. The positive contribution that kendo has made to my persona and the influence that my teachers through the years have had on my personal growth has been immeasurable. I consider myself indebted to all the kenshi with whom I have crossed shiniai over my kendo career each and every one of them have taught me something about myself, life and the way of the sword." - Sensei Mitchell Kyle