About Washinkan

About Washinkan Kendo Dojo

Washinkan, is a community focused non-profit in the Washington D.C. area. Washinkan instructs all level of kendoka in the martial art of kendo, the way of the sword (also referred to as Japanese fencing). Washinkan’s focus is on teaching traditional kendo to the community at large. Our classes incorporate a wide spectrum of age and skill level. Our class structures allow for tailored instruction to our practitioners. Washinkan promotes the art of kendo to foster a better, stronger, more peaceful community.

About our name. Washinkan can be broken into three parts:

• Wa - Harmony; strive to achieve a harmonious life and being; and achieve harmony with those around us and the community at large.

• Shin - Heart; to achieve harmony with our heart and interact with sincerity

• Kan - Place of practice and improve our characters

Washinkan currently has three dojo locations; at the Herndon Community Center in Herndon, VA, the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean, VA, and Dulles South Rec Center in South Riding, VA. Check back often for more locations.

Kendo has its roots in the samurai tradition of feudal Japan. The purpose of Kendo, as established by the All Japan Kendo Federation in 1975, is:

• 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 honor,

• 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.