Staunton Kendo, Iaido, & Jodo (2018-present) is the continuation of the old Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club (1986-2005) and the defunct JMU Kendo group (2007-2011).
We began offering classes in September of 2018. Originally, classes were offered only in Kendo and Seitei-gata Iaido. In the Fall of 2019, we began offering classes in Seitei Jodo.
In October of 2020, we became members of the regional SEUSKF (South East United States Kendo Federation) and national AUSKF (All United States Kendo Federation).
About Us
We offer classes in Kendo, Seitei-gata Iaido, and Seitei Jodo.
Kendo, Seitei-gata Iaido, and Seittei Jodo encompasses the complete curriculum of the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR)/All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF).
We offer class in Staunton, VA.
You can sign up anytime due to our rolling admission.
Class are open to all.
Please arrive 15 minutes before class starts.
Our History
In December of 2020, we began offering classes in Kendo and Iaido at Edge Effect Fitness/Kanso Dojo in Harrisonburg, VA.
In 2022, we began offering Seitei Jodo classes at our Harrisonburg location.
In August of 2025, we closed our Harrisonburg location to focus on our Staunton group.
Our Kendo Federation Advisor is Peter Boylan, 6th Dan Seitei-gata Iaido, 3rd Dan Judo, Shomokuroku Shinto Muso ryu, & Ju Shihan Shinto Hatakage ryu.
In 2022, we began offering Seitei Jodo classes at our Harrisonburg location.
In August of 2025, we closed our Harrisonburg location to focus on our Staunton group.
Our Kendo Federation Advisor is Peter Boylan, 6th Dan Seitei-gata Iaido, 3rd Dan Judo, Shomokuroku Shinto Muso ryu, & Ju Shihan Shinto Hatakage ryu.
Our logo was designed by Abigail Portnoy, 4th dan kendo ZNRK (All Japan Kendo Federation). Our logo is a tsuba (guard) with a kendo megane (facemask) in the center. In the middle is Kendo, which represents our primary art with Iaido and Jodo on each side representing the secondary arts we teach.
Redesign by Brooke Conwell
Schedule
Garden Center in Gypsy Hill Park, Staunton
Tuesdays
1st & 3rd Weeks: Seiteigata Iaido
6:00pm-7:00pm
6:30pm-7:30pm (Summer)
6:30pm-7:30pm (Summer)
2nd & 4th Weeks: Seitei Jodo
6:00pm-7:00pm
6:30pm-7:30pm (Summer)
6:30pm-7:30pm (Summer)
Kendo
7:00pm-8:50pm
7:15pm-8:50pm (Summer)
7:15pm-8:50pm (Summer)
Fridays
Seiteigata Iaido
7:30pm-8:00pm
Seitei Jodo
8:00pm-8:50pm
Instructors
John Smitka, Dojo-cho
John has been training in Kendo since 2002 and teaching it since 2007. He has trained in Seiteigata Iaido since 2006 and trained in Seitei Jodo since 2019.
His interest in martial arts, particularly Kendo, began when he watched national Kendo, Judo, and Sumo tournaments on TV as a child growing up in Toyko. He took up Kendo in 2002 with his father at the Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club.
His interest in Kendo led to him discovering Iaido, Jodo, and Aikido.
He is a former kendoka at Kyoshinkan dojo (拱辰館道場), 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 Peter Boylan sensei, Michigan Koryu Kenkyukai MWKF, in Seiteigata Iaido and Seitei Jodo.
He is currently training under the the North American San Shin Kai learning Keishi ryu and Munen ryu to further his studies in Iaido.
He is currently training under the North American San Shin Kai learning Kashi ryu and Munen ryu to further his studies in Iaido.
He has trained and visited with various groups in the United States, Japan, Israel, Portugal, and Canada.
He also holds conversational Japanese ability level and helps run the Charlottesville Japanese Language and Culture club.
Michael King, Senior Assistant Kendo & Iaido Instructor
Mink began training in Kendo with the Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club in 1988 and was the assistant instructor there until 2005. He is currently the senior assistant instructor in Kendo and Iaido at Staunton Kendo, Iaido, & Jodo.
King Sensei also trains in Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu iaijutsu and Chikubukai (Kuniba-Ha Goshindo, Kuniba-Ha Kobudo, & Kuniba-Ha Shito-ryu Karate), the latter of which he holds the rank of Yondan.
Michael Smitka, Assistant Kendo & Iaido Instructor
Michael began training in Kendo along with his son in 2002 at the Waynesboro YMCA Kendo Club.
While living in Chiba city, Japan, he was a kendoka with 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). He has also previously trained in Kosen Judo while living in Japan in the 1970s.
He is fluent in Japanese and does various research in the Japanese Automobile Industry.
Joining the Dojo
All classes are $65/month for Staunton residents.
$67/month for everyone else.
Kendo is under Fitness & Wellbeing on the Tyler Park & Rec Registration Software.
If you want to mail your registration:
Class: Kendo
Date & Time: Wednesday, 6:00pm-8:45pm
AUSKF & SEUSKF membership
Equipment Recommendation
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