SEI DO KAN Dojo - Dundas Valley is a sports club located in Sydney, Australia. The dojo was established in 2001 and is affiliated with the Australian Battodo Association Inc.
The dojo specialises in Japanese swordsmanship and focuses on practical and battle-proven sword techniques, particularly in the Toyama- and Nakamura Ryu Batto-do styles. The curriculum includes various elements such as kata sword forms, suburi sword swinging, kumi-tachi prearranged sword partner drills, tanren weight training, and batto-giri to develop swift and accurate blade drawing and cutting skills. The aim of the curriculum is to provide students with a detailed understanding of the cultural and spiritual aspects of Japanese sword arts.
Training sessions at SEI DO KAN involve a combination of practise and theory. Sensei Fricke, the head instructor, has extensive experience as a qualified natural therapist and often incorporates discussions on health and fitness into the classes. This holistic approach ensures that students not only develop their sword skills but also maintain good physical health and body posture.
The SEI DO KAN Dojo recently reopened its doors at the Dundas Community Centre in Telopea, NSW. The new location is just a 3-minute drive from the previous location. Classes are held on Wednesdays, with a beginner's class for kyu grades from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and a black-belt class for dan grades from 8:30 to 10:00 pm. Limited onsite parking and ample street parking are available for students.
Classes and kyu gradings are conducted by Ben Chow, an ABA senior-instructor Go-dan, and Abraham Sie, an ABA branch-instructor San-dan. Black-belt dan gradings are led by Hans Fricke, a Kyoshi 8th-dan in Nakamura Ryu Battodo and Kyoshi 7th-dan in Toyama Ryu Battodo. For any inquiries or to contact the dojo, individuals can reach out to japaneseswordsmanship@gmail. Com.
Hans Fricke, the head instructor, has achieved numerous martial arts accolades, including being inducted into the Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (A. M. A. H.
O. F. ) and the World Karate Union (W. K.
U. ) Hall of Fame. He holds the title of Kyoshi 8th-dan in Nakamura Ryu Battodo and Kyoshi 7th-dan in Toyama Ryu Battodo, issued by Soke Nakamura Taizaburo and Nakamura Taizaburo Hanshi 10th-dan Battodo, respectively. He has also received licences in Shinto Ryu Iai Batto-jutsu and Sports Chanbarra.
SEI DO KAN Dojo is a dedicated and reputable sports club that offers comprehensive training in Japanese swordsmanship. Whether one is a beginner or an experienced martial artist, the dojo provides a supportive and enriching environment for individuals to develop their skills and deepen their understanding of Japanese sword arts.