(剣道) "sword way" or “the way of the sword" is the art of Japanese fencing.
Our Dojo
East Georgia Kendo Club has been in the Athens area since 2004.
The dojo is part of the South East U.S. Kendo Federation (SEUSKF) and we participate regularly in seminars and tournaments throughout the area.
Shigeru Koyama has practiced kendo for 50 years, and he received the rank of 5th Dan in Kagoshima, Japan in 1992. A successful competitor from 1993-2005, Koyama sensei is licensed as an instructor, examiner and judge.
He has taught kendo for nearly 30 years in both Europe and the United States, and he was the founder of the Louisiana Kendo Association. He has lived in the US since 1989 with his wife and son, using the ancient art of the samurai as a tool to mold the mind while also cultivating character.
Craig Rugh has studied kendo for 29 years, and he holds the rank of 4th Dan. He moved to Athens in 2008 after spending 15 years in Asia, where he taught at an international school.
Mr. Rugh has taught Kendo for 15 years and is married and has 2 daughters. He currently teaches Mathematics and ESOL for the Barrow County School District.