Terry Kondo Sensei has been a member of Steveston Kendo Club for more than 40 years, and was part of Team Canada participating at the World Kendo Championships four times. He is the new head instructor of the club as of January 1, 2025. Ray Murao Sensei was the previous head instructor for 35 years.
Budogu Zen is very honoured to be able to get in touch with the new head instructor of Steveston Kendo Club, Terry Kondo Sensei (6 Dan), and interview him about his new role.
Q. As the new head instructor, how do you plan to preserve the traditions of the dojo while fostering its growth?
A. Preserving the traditions of the dojo will not be difficult as I have many experienced sensei around me that have been with the dojo for many years. I am lucky because although we are like-minded, each sensei has the ability to come up with their own innovative ideas. They are definitely an asset to me in keeping the dojo moving forward as is evident with the number of members we have.
Q. What teachings or values do you consider most important for students learning kendo?
A. I have always believed that respect and discipline are the most important values for students to learn in Kendo. It is a part of the martial art, but also extends into their daily lives. We practice and teach Kendo as a sport, but ultimately it is to make our students better people.
Q. What specific plans do you have regarding the management policies and teaching style of the dojo?
A. I currently don’t have any plans regarding changing the managerial policies or teaching styles of the dojo as I have just recently taken the position. However if the need arises as we move ahead, I will address this with the senseis and make any necessary changes.
Q. As the new head instructor, what changes do you intend to make to the training methods or curriculum moving forward?
A. At this stage I do not have any intentions on changing the current curriculum or training methods. We have a standard format for our practices however when different techniques and methods are brought to my attention, I welcome the opportunity to try them out.
Q. How do you plan to build relationships with the local community and further revitalize the dojo?
A. The Steveston Kendo Club has had a very close relationship with the community for many years. The Martial Arts building was constructed with the help of the many Japanese families that were living in Steveston at the time. Assistance was also received from the Community Centre as well, tying in the relationship between the recreation programming and teaching of the Japanese Martial Art. Although the Steveston Kendo Club program runs through the Community Centre, it continues to attract many people interested from outside of the City of Richmond. Current dojo members include families that come from Vancouver, Coquitlam, Delta, and the Fraser Valley.
Q. What initiatives do you have in mind to pass on the history and traditions of the dojo to the next generation?
A. The world of Kendo has evolved a lot over the last 50 years that I have been practicing. As we move forward I will be looking at ways to pass on the teachings and knowledge that I have gained in a manner that future kenshi will understand and benefit from. This can be challenging with generational differences however having a variety of talented sensei assisting me makes the task much easier.
Q. As the new head instructor, are there any particular aspects of etiquette and discipline within the dojo that you emphasize?
A. I try not to emphasize individual aspects of etiquette or discipline as I believe there is a need to be mindful of all of your actions. But as we gain new students and work with the newer kenshi, we are constantly teaching them the foundations of respect, humility, and self discipline. There should be no difference in your behaviours whether inside the dojo, or out in everyday life.
Q. Through kendo, what kind of personal growth do you hope to inspire in your students?
A. I hope that the students learn that they can grow mentally and physically as they push themselves through each practice. And that there are really no limits to what they can achieve. A very important message I have learned is the amount of friendships that are developed through kendo. Over the past 50 years that I have been involved, I have created and maintained numerous friendships not only locally, but internationally. Kendo is one large family.
Q. Considering modern lifestyles and youth culture, how do you plan to make kendo more appealing?
A. I think youth culture and current lifestyles have made it challenging for many budo arts. For kendo, we have seen historically new members approaching and wanting to learn after watching their most recently seen Star Wars movie. We have always told students that kendo itself is very different from just wielding a lightsaber and taught them there is more to the martial art then what they have seen in the movies. Kendo is a martial art based on repetition. Along with the strict structure of a kendo practice, I think that incorporating fun, competitive drills keeps the students interested, perhaps even pushing themselves harder so that they can improve.
Q. As the new head instructor, please share your aspirations and any messages you wish to convey to the dojo as a whole.
A. My goal is to continue the hard work of Murao-Sensei in keeping the Steveston Kendo Club as relevant and successful in the many years to come. I will endeavour to impart my knowledge and experience to all the kenshi in our dojo. And along the way, continue to improve and learn myself. The desire to maintain the history is very personal to me and goes back to the very early days when the dojo was formed. My great-uncles ( on my father’s side ) Rintaro Hayashi and Masao Hayashi, were members as the club was formed. Rintaro Hayashi went on to become the head instructor of the Steveston Kendo Club in 1920. This inspires me to continue the legacy of those sensei that worked tirelessly to get us to where we are today.
Terry Kondo
Steveston Kendo Club
Jan. 27, 2025