Tacoma Kendo and Iaido Club (TKIC) is a state and federal registered non-profit organization committed to promoting and teaching the arts and sciences of Kendo and Iaido.  TKIC is a member of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation (PNKF) and the All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF).

TKIC teaches introductory Kendo and Iaido through the Metro Parks Tacoma STAR Center and holds advanced Kendo practice at Curtis Senior High School in University Place.  A TKIC practice begins with Kendo Kata before moving on to kihon drills and keiko.

TKIC History

Kendo has a long history in Tacoma, with some of the earliest reminices by kendo practitioners dating back to the 1930’s.  The Tacoma Kendo Club formally established it roots in 1967 when the Tacoma Buddhist Temple sponsored its first kendo kai.  Rod Omoto served as its first head instructor, assisted by Mas Tanabe and Yosh Tanabe.   In 1987, the club separated from the Tacoma Buddhist Temple and became the Tacoma Kendo and Iaido Club.

For more history about Kendo in Tacoma and the Pacific Northwest, read Knightly Spirit: Ninety-Five Years of Pacific Northwest Kendo.

A group of young kendo practitioners, wearing traditional uniforms, sitting and standing with their instructors in a dojo, black and white photo.

KENDO

The Concept of Kendo

The concept of kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana (sword).

The Purpose of Practicing Kendo


To mold the mind and body,
To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
And through correct and rigid training,
To strive for improvement in the art of kendo,
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honour,
To associate with others with sincerity,
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
This will make one be able:
To love his/her country and society,
To contribute to the development of culture,
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.

A woman in traditional martial arts attire practicing with a sword during a martial arts demonstration or competition, with several onlookers watching.

IAIDO

A man wearing a black martial arts uniform practicing with a katana sword indoors on a wooden floor.

The Concept of Iaido

The concept of iaido is to cultivate the human character through the disciplined practice of drawing the sword.
Through precise movement, calm awareness, and sincere intent, one learns to harmonize mind, body, and spirit.
Iaido is the pursuit of presence in the instant between stillness and action.

The Purpose of Practicing Iaido

The purpose of practicing iaido is to:

Refine the mind through composure and self-control,
Strengthen the body through correct and mindful repetition,
Cultivate dignity, humility, and respect,
Pursue technical excellence without attachment to ego,
Embody awareness in every moment, whether in motion or at rest.

Through disciplined and earnest training, practitioners strive to:

Act with sincerity and integrity,
Value courtesy and mutual respect,
Seek continuous self-improvement throughout life.

In this way, the practice of iaido extends beyond the dojo:

Encouraging harmony within oneself and with others,
Contributing positively to family, community, and society,
And promoting understanding, discipline, and peace among all people.

Two martial artists practicing kendo drills in a spacious indoor room. One man kneeling with a shinai, the other standing in the background with a shinai hanging from his side.
Person practicing martial arts with a sword in a gym or dojo, kneeling on one knee, dressed in traditional black attire.
A sign encouraging hygiene in Japanese and English, showing people in yukata with steam rising, indicating cleanliness, and a note to regularly wash uniforms, with logos at the bottom.
Sign with Japanese and English text reading "Please be respectful" and instructions to neatly fold hakama and gi, featuring illustrations of four people dressed in traditional martial arts uniforms standing in a line.
Illustration of a traditional Japanese martial arts class with students practicing kendo, wearing protective gear and holding bamboo swords. Instructional text in Japanese and English advises to be respectful and not talk during the class.
A safety sign instructing to do repairs and check for weak shinai during Kendo practice, with illustrations of a person checking a broken shinai and a kind of armor or uniform.
A safety sign in Japanese and English instructs to remove splinters from shinai. The sign features a stylized illustration of a person in traditional martial arts attire with a shinai, and a person with a bandaged head and hand. There are also logos at the bottom. 
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