Our History
Berkeley Kendo Dojo was established in 1995 by Yoshinari Miyata (1926-2016), Yuko Gower, Sylvette Orlianges, and Richard Hill.
A Hanshi 8th Dan, Miyata Sensei was born in Los Angeles and moved to Japan, where he began training in kendo in Kagoshima prior to World War II.
Miyata Sensei returned to the US after World War II and was one of the driving forces of the Kendo Federation of the United States of America (KFUSA) under the late Torao Mori Sensei.
Miyata Sensei facilitated the establishment of dojos in the East Bay Area and beyond. The East Bay Kenyukai (Friendship through Swordsmanship Association) now has affiliated dojos in Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, Concord, and Stockton.
![Yoshinari Miyata](img/miyata2.jpeg)
Instructors
![Miyata Sensei](img/miyata.jpeg)
Yoshinari Miyata
Founder
Hanshi 8th Dan
(1926-2016)
![Matsueda Sensei](img/matsueda.jpeg)
Bob Matsueda
Chief Instructor Emeritus / Advisor
Renshi 6th Dan
![Liebschner Sensei](img/dorothee_crop_resize.jpeg)
Dorothee Liebschner
Chief Instructor
Kendo 4th Dan
![Miyamoto Sensei](img/AMiyamoto.jpeg)
Atsushi Miyamoto
Instructor
Kendo 5th Dan
Iaido 5th Dan
![Hill Sensei](img/hill.jpeg)
Richard Hill
Instructor
Kendo 4th Dan
Iaido 4th Dan
![Kwok Sensei](img/kwok_crop.jpeg)
Victor Kwok
Instructor
Kendo 4th Dan
Iaido 4th Dan
![Takami Sensei](img/ATakami2_crop_resize.jpeg)
Ashley Takami
Instructor
Kendo 4th Dan
![Park Sensei](img/JessiePark_crop_resize.jpeg)
Jessie Park
Instructor
Kendo 4th Dan