剣道
🏆 1st Pan American Championships: Team USA wins all three team titlesSee results ↓
–days to go
May 27–30, 2027
Road to the 20th World Kendo Championships • Tokyo 2027

TEAM USA
KENDO
δΈ€ζœŸδΈ€δΌš — ONE CHANCE ONE OPPORTUNITY

Amateur athletes sharing a common dream — to become the best in the world. Dedicating nights, weekends and holidays to represent the United States at the World Kendo Championships.

Meet the Team ↓ Support Our Journey

1970

Competing Since

2nd

Best WKC (×2)

3rd

19th WKC Both Teams

2027

Next WKC — Tokyo

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Our Mission

THE WAY OF
THE SWORD

Team USA Kendo consists solely of amateur athletes who share a common dream — to become the best in the world. Our team trains like our professional competition, dedicating nights, weekends and holidays to practice together.

Under the AUSKF, established in 1994 overseeing 14 regional federations, our athletes pursue excellence while promoting kendo across 49 states.

Team USA is the only country with amateur players to place in the Top 3, maintaining our seeded position for over 23 years since 2003.

Team USA consists of a diverse group of athletes residing across the United States and representing a variety of ethnicities and cultures, much like the population of the US.

ηΎ© GI

Righteousness & Justice

勇 YŪ

Courage & Bravery

η€Ό REI

Respect & Etiquette

θͺ  MAKOTO

Sincerity & Honor

Team USA Kendo
Our Legacy

COMPLETE HISTORY — EVERY WKC SINCE 1970

Full rosters from every World Kendo Championship. Team USA placed 3rd in 2003 (first time in 21 years since 1982), 2nd in 2006 (defeating Japan — their first-ever loss) and 2009. At the 19th WKC, both teams earned 3rd place.

National Team

2026 PROSPECTS & STAFF

Current training camp participants and prospective members for the 20th WKC (Tokyo 2027). Official team selection takes place in 2026.

Competition

OUR TRACK RECORD

The only country with amateur players to consistently finish in the Top 3 at the World Kendo Championships, maintaining our seeded position since 2003.

Team USA athletes and coaches with the 1st place trophy at the 1st Pan American Kendo Championships
Team USA athletes and coaching staff at the 1st Pan American Kendo Championships in Suzano, SΓ£o Paulo.

1st Pan American Kendo Championships

SΓ£o Paulo, Brazil • October 10–11, 2026

Men’s Team — 1st

Julian Williams, Arashi Steele, Damian Williams, Travis Hill, Kaishu Ninomiya, Branden Wang, Taiyo Ariga

Women’s Team — 1st

Ai Matsumoto, Kasey Tada, Betty Park, Kanon Saito, Zidi Allison, Healin Park, Bailey Shinada

Junior Team — 1st

Musashi Yang, Shawn Yang, Ethan Choo, Saiichi Johnson

Men’s Individual

  1. πŸ₯‡Damian Williams
  2. πŸ₯ˆKaishu Ninomiya
  3. πŸ₯‰Branden Wang
  4. Best 8: Travis Hill, Arashi Steele, Taiyo Ariga

Women’s Individual

  1. πŸ₯‡Ai Matsumoto
  2. πŸ₯ˆKanon Saito
  3. πŸ₯‰Healin Park
  4. Kantosho (fighting spirit): Bailey Shinada, Betty Park

Senior Boys

  1. πŸ₯‡Ethan Choo
  2. πŸ₯ˆShawn Yang
  3. πŸ₯‰Saiichi Johnson

Junior Boys

  1. πŸ₯‡Musashi Yang
“While we celebrate this significant milestone, we also recognize that our ultimate goal remains ahead of us: the World Kendo Championships in Tokyo. The Pan American Championships have provided an important measure of our progress and reinforced our confidence that we are moving in the right direction.”Team USA Coaching Staff

19

WKC Appearances

2×

WKC Silver

3rd

19th WKC Both Teams

Top 3

Consistent Finish

YearEventLocationDivisionResult
202419th WKCMilan, ItalyMen's Team3rd Place🥉
202419th WKCMilan, ItalyWomen's Team3rd Place🥉
202419th WKCMilan, ItalyMen's Ind.Julian Williams — Fighting Spirit🔥
202419th WKCMilan, ItalyWomen's Ind.Kasey Tada — Fighting Spirit🔥
201817th WKCIncheon, KoreaMen's Team3rd Place🥉
201817th WKCIncheon, KoreaMen's Ind.Jarrod Hatakeyama & Julian Williams — Fighting Spirit🔥
201817th WKCIncheon, KoreaWomen's TeamYuri Kil — Fighting Spirit🔥
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanMen's Team3rd Place🥉
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanMen's TeamChristopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanMen's Ind.Christopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanWomen's Team3rd Place🥉
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanWomen's TeamNishiki Sano — Fighting Spirit🔥
201516th WKCTokyo, JapanWomen's Ind.Nishiki Sano — Fighting Spirit🔥
201215th WKCNovara, ItalyMen's Team3rd Place🥉
201215th WKCNovara, ItalyMen's TeamChristopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
201215th WKCNovara, ItalyWomen's TeamS. Tamura — Fighting Spirit🔥
201215th WKCNovara, ItalyWomen's Ind.S. Tamura — Fighting Spirit🔥
200914th WKCSão PauloMen's Team2nd Place🥈
200914th WKCSão PauloMen's Ind.Daniel Yang & Jason Brown — Fighting Spirit🔥
200914th WKCSão PauloWomen's Team3rd Place🥉
200914th WKCSão PauloWomen's Ind.Grace Lee — Fighting Spirit🔥
200613th WKCTaipei, TaiwanMen's Team2nd (defeated Japan)🥈
200613th WKCTaipei, TaiwanMen's Ind.Christopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
200613th WKCTaipei, TaiwanWomen's Ind.Shannon Mikuni — Fighting Spirit🔥
200312th WKCGlasgow, ScotlandMen's Team3rd Place🥉
200312th WKCGlasgow, ScotlandMen's Ind.Christopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
200312th WKCGlasgow, ScotlandWomen's TeamKaori Kikunaga — Fighting Spirit🔥
200312th WKCGlasgow, ScotlandWomen's Ind.Shannon Mikuni & E. Marsten — Fighting Spirit🔥
200011th WKCSanta Clara, USAMen's TeamDaniel Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
200011th WKCSanta Clara, USAMen's Ind.Christopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
200011th WKCSanta Clara, USAWomen's Team3rd Place🥉
200011th WKCSanta Clara, USAWomen's Ind.K. Takada — Fighting Spirit🔥
199710th WKCKyoto, JapanWomen's Team3rd Place🥉
199710th WKCKyoto, JapanMen's Ind.Christopher Yang — Fighting Spirit🔥
19825th WKCSão Paulo, BrazilMen's Team3rd Place🥉
19794th WKCSapporo, JapanMen's Team3rd Place🥉
19763rd WKCLondon, EnglandMen's Team3rd Place🥉
19732nd WKCLA & San FranciscoMen's Team3rd Place / Host Nation🥉
19701st WKCTokyo, JapanMen's TeamInaugural
Media

FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY

Follow @teamusakendo on Instagram for the latest updates.

19th WKC

19th WKC • Milan 2024

Men's & Women's — 3rd Place

2026 Prospects

2026

Team USA Prospects Revealed

Camp

Selection

Second Camp Concludes

Training

Training

Today's Dedication, Tomorrow's History

Results

19th WKC

Both Teams Place 3rd

Day 2

WKC Day 2

Men's Defeat Italy

Kasey

Day 1

Kasey Tada — Top 8

Focused

Pre-WKC

Dialed In

Milan

Travel

Arrived in Milan

Depart

Departure

Off to Milan

Team

Training

"None of Us Is As Strong As All of Us"

Countdown

Countdown

1 Week to WKC

Competition

16th WKC

Harada β€” USA in Action

Team Manager

19th WKC

Ready for Battle

Award Ceremony

19th WKC

Kasey Tada β€” Individual Award

Flag Bearer

19th WKC

Team USA β€” Opening Ceremony

Match Action

19th WKC

USA vs France

Close Combat

19th WKC

Intensity at the Tsubazeriai

Julian Williams

19th WKC

Julian Williams β€” Men's Team

Women's Huddle

19th WKC

Women's Team Huddle

Williams vs Italy

19th WKC

Williams vs Italy β€” Men's Semifinal

Women's Team

19th WKC

Women's Team β€” 3rd Place

Women's Match

19th WKC

USA vs Romania β€” Women's

Harada

16th WKC

Harada β€” Focused

@teamusakendo on Instagram →
Upcoming

TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE

Open to all kenshi prepared to train at world-class level. Team selection in 2026.

SEP
20
2025

Training Camp

Sat 8am–5pm & Sun 8am–12pm. $50 registration.

Wilson Park, Torrance, CA
OCT
18
2025

Training Camp

Sat 8am–5pm & Sun 8am–12pm.

Wilson Park, Torrance, CA
JAN
25
2026

Training Camp

Sat 8am–2pm & Sun 8am–12pm.

Wilson Park, Torrance, CA
2026
TBD

Official Team Selection

Drawn from training camp participants.

TBA
MAY
27–30
2027

20th World Kendo Championships

The ultimate goal — Tokyo, Japan.

Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵

Contact: teamusakendo@gmail.com

Gratitude

OUR SUPPORTERS

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Team USA Kendo's journey to Tokyo 2027.

πŸ† Titanium Supporters β€” $2,500+

Marvin Kawabata

πŸ’Ž Diamond Supporters β€” $1,000+
⚑ Platinum Supporters β€” $250+

Kohta Arai | Kenichi Hatakeyama | Noriyuki Reiko Kanda | Daniel Kang

πŸ₯‡ Gold Supporters β€” $100+

Charles Inada | Keita Kasahara

πŸ₯ˆ Silver Supporters β€” $50+

Gary Chu | Agnieszka Nakabayashi | Ayumi Takarabe

Join the Wall β€” Donate Now →

Donors who wish to remain anonymous will be listed as "Anonymous."

JOIN THE FIGHTING SPIRIT

Training updates, results, and the road to Tokyo 2027.

Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Kendo ("the way of the sword") is a modern Japanese martial art based on traditional samurai swordsmanship. Practitioners wear protective armor (bogu) and use bamboo swords (shinai). It is a lifelong discipline rooted in bushido and practiced across 49 U.S. states.
Official selection takes place in 2026, drawn from training camp participants. Camps are open to all kenshi prepared to train at a world-class level. Registration is $50. Contact teamusakendo@gmail.com for details.
Register via the Google Form on the @teamusakendo Instagram. Fee: $50. See the schedule for upcoming camps at Wilson Park, Torrance, CA.
Organized by the FIK every three years since 1970. Features Men's/Women's Individual and Team divisions. The 20th WKC will be May 27–30, 2027 in Tokyo, Japan.
Not currently. The FIK maintains that kendo's spiritual essence could be compromised by Olympic commercialization. The WKC is kendo's premier competitive event.
Donate here to help send Team USA to Tokyo. Follow @teamusakendo on Instagram, share content, and spread the word about kendo in America.