Sunday, February 05, 2017
MUKEN Beginners' Course Information Pack
posted by Tony S at 6:32 pm 
Ben Sheppard Sensei Achieves 6th Dan
MUKEN Life Member and Melbourne University Alumnus Ben Sheppard Sensei (‘90) passed his 6th Dan Kendo Examination at Hachioji City near Tokyo in November 2016. It was his fourth attempt. A significant achievement, Sheppard Sensei is the first MUKEN student to achieve this level, the seventh Victorian, and one of only around 20 Australia-wide.
Due to the nature of the examination, it is only offered in Japan. There were 1612 candidates at the grading and Sheppard Sensei was one of 364 who passed, a pass rate of 22.6%. He had spent one week in Kagoshima to prepare for the examination. Sheppard Sensei noted that on this occasion – his fourth attempt – he felt less over-awed by the occasion and more composed.
“I am indebted to Yakov Macak sensei and the members of MUKEN for their assistance in my Kendo development.”
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| Sheppard Sensei receives guidance from Tajima Makoto sensei (Kyoshi 8 dan), Head of Kendo at Shigakukan University in Kagoshima |
After learning kendo for a year or so as a 14 year old high school student, Sheppard Sensei resumed his Kendo training in 1990 when he saw a notice about the Melbourne University Kendo Club while a student at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Sheppard Sensei then trained with MUKEN for 12 years and became a highly valued member of the Club, representing the Club regularly at Victorian Kendo Championships and the Australian University Games, as well as Victoria at the Australian Kendo Championships.
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| Sheppard Sensei at MUKEN training in 1996 |
After graduating from the VCA, Ben went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Education at Melbourne University and now teaches at Brunswick Secondary College.
In 2002, Sheppard Sensei recognised an opportunity to expand Kendo’s reach in Melbourne and established the Nanseikan Kendo Club, which was the first Kendo club in Victoria specifically focused on teaching children. Sheppard Sensei also initiated a Kendo and Japanese cultural class Brunswick Secondary College. Ben still comes to Kendo training at MUKEN a few times a year - generally during the School holidays!
Sheppard Sensei is highly respected in the Victorian Kendo community, particularly for his leadership in developing the Victorian Kendo Renmei’s (Association) high schools’ program, which has resulted in the creation of four, full-time, school-based Kendo clubs in the last five years.
He is a Life Member of Melbourne University Kendo Club. Melbourne University Kendo Club takes great pride in Ben's achievements since his years with us.
“I see the achievement of passing 6th dan as a part repaying of the debt of gratitude to Macak sensei and the club for their support over many years. I look forward to being associated with the club for as long as I can hold a shinai!" Sheppard Sensei remarked.
posted by Unknown at 12:38 pm
Thursday, February 02, 2017
2017 MUKEN Beginners' Course Information
The course will run for up to ten weeks.
More specific details will be available here in due course. In the meantime, you can view the 2016 Beginners' Course information by clicking here.
posted by Tony S at 9:35 am
