About

The Kendo Sport Club was established in 1996. Befor the Club was arranged, there had been no organized presentation of Kendo, as a trend of Eastern combat art, in Latvia. President and Senior Instructor of the Club since its establishment has been Vladimir Kindzulis.

He was born on March 16, 1969. In 1993 he graduated from the Riga Technical University as an engineer of multi-channel electric communications. In 1993 he became Champion of Latvia in kickboxing in super-heavy weight in the LKA (Latvian Kickboxing Association) version. In 1995, as a member of Latvian National Team on karate, he participated in the European Championship on karate-do WKF (World Karate Federation), which took place in Helsinki (Finland). He is the Judge of International Category on kickboxing WKA (World Kick-boxing Association).

1999 was the year when activities of the Club were started, the first practical trainings on Kendo were arranged.

Initially, the trainings were held in Jurmala. Members of the Club (Vladimir Kindzulis, Vitaly Yudin, Edgar Ragel) were making active initial preparations, in order to pass primary evaluation and to lay foundation for official development of Kendo in Latvia.

2001 was a year of the first results. That spring the Club was visited by Mr. Toufic Kawar (France, 6 dan Karate Shotokan, 2 dan Kendo, 1 dan Ju Jitsu), who provided us with invaluable help, having held a number of practical trainings on Kendo in our Club. We are grateful to Mr. Toufic Kawar for having been providing support to Kendo evolution in Latvia throughout all this time. The same year the Club established contacts with the Finnish Kendo Association (FKA). This allowed us to take part in seminars and competitions arranged by the FKA. Due to this, Kendo establishment in Latvia took place. Our Club appreciates and is grateful to the FKA for this support.

In September 2005 we invited Taron Avakimyants (4 dan Iaido, 3 dan Kendo, 5 dan Karate) to arrange a seminar on Iaido. He is Chairman of the Iaido Committee of the Russian Kendo Federation. His arrival laid the foundation for developing Iaido in Latvia.

In 2005 the Latvian Kendo Federation was established. It develops Kendo, Iaido and Jodo in Latvia. The Sport Club of Kendo has become a full member of this organization.

At present, the Latvian Kendo Federation is an official representative of Latvia in the European Kendo Federation and International Kendo Federation.