John Smitka, Dojo-cho, has been training in Kendo since 2002 and teaching since 2007, training in Seitei Iaido since 2006, and training in Seitei Jodo since 2019.

He became interested in martial arts and particularly kendo when he watched national kendo, judo, and sumo tournaments on TV while growing up in Tokyo as a child.

He began training in 2002 in kendo with his father with Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club. He went on to found JMU Kendo. Kendo lead to an interest in iaido, jodo, and aikido.

He is a former kendoka at Kyoshinkan dojo (拱辰館道場), Yukuhashi City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Renshinkan dojo (錬心館道場), Yukuhashi City, Fukuoka Prefecture; and Shutokukan, Iizuka-shi Honami Budojo (修徳館, 飯塚市穂波武道場), Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.

He currently trains under the AUSKF/SEUSKF in Kendo. Under the direction of Peter Boylan sensei, Michigan Koryu Kenkyukai, in Seiteigata Iaido and Seitei Jodo.

Currently he is training under the North American San Shin Kai learning Keshi ryu and Munen ryu to further his studies in iaido.

He has trained with various groups in the United States, Japan, Israel, and Canada.

He also holds conversational Japanese ability level and helps run the Charlottesville Japanese Language and Culture club.

He is also an outside advisor and visiting instructor for VA Tech Kendo/Kumdo Club and a former advisor to UVA Kendo Club.

Currently advises RVA Katana on their production O-katana line of practitioners katana. This line is aimed at balancing kata and tameshigiri. The blades lengths are 29-33″/2.45-2.8 shaku nagasa.

Mike King began training in kendo with the Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club in 1988 and was the assistant instructor there till 2005 when the group closed. He is currently the senior assistant instructor in kendo and iaido at Staunton Kendo, Iaido, & Jodo.

King sensei also trains in Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu iaijutsu (Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai), Kuniba-Ha Mugai ryu iaido, Kuniba-Ha Goshindo, Kuniba-Ha Kobudo, and Kuniba-Ha Shito-ryu Karate, the latter of which he holds the rank of Yondan.

Michael Smitka began training in kendo along with his son in 2002 with the Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club.

While living in Chiba city, Japan he was a kendoka with the Kenwakai, Chiba City Central Community Center (剣和会, 千葉市中央コミュニティセンタ) and also trained in Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu iaijutsu (Dai Nihon Iaido Renmei).

Currently he is an assistant kendo and iaido instructor at Staunton Kendo, Iaido, & Jodo.

He has also previously trained in Kosen Judo while living in Japan and is fluent in Japanese.