Instructors

Instructors

Hirotaka Ara, Kyoshi, 荒　裕高, Kyoshi 7 Dan (AJKF) – President & Founder
1970, 2nd World Kendo Championships (Los Angeles, CA, USA) Men’s National Team member
1973, 3rd World Kendo Championships (Great Britain) Men’s National Team member

Profession: Retired
Hobbies: Horticulture, Japanese arts and culture

Dean Dean Masahiro Ara, 荒　将博, Renshi 7 Dan (AJKF) – Chief Instructor
2000, 11th World Kendo Championships (Santa Clara, CA, USA) Men’s National Team member
2003, 12th World Kendo Championships (Glasgow, Scotland) Men’s National Team member
2006, 13th World Kendo Championships (Taipei, Taiwan) Men’s National Team Captain
2009, 14th World Kendo Championships (Sao Paolo, Brazil), National Team Women’s Coach

2002, 14th Canadian National Championships – Men’s Division, 3rd Place
2005, 15th Canadian National Championships – Men’s Division, 2nd Place
2008, 16th Canadian National Championships – Men’s Division, 2nd Place
2011, 17th Canadian National Championships – Men’s Division, 3rd  Place

2006, 1st Annual BCKF Senior Championships – 1st Place

Profession: Senior software product manager
Hobbies: Food and wine, baseball, golf

Ryuji Kita, 喜多　隆治, 5 dan – Senior Instructor
2010, 4th Annual BCKF Senior Championships – 3rd Place

Profession:  Senior Support Technician
Hobbies: Fixing computers, soccer, cooking

Makiko Ara, 荒　真紀子, 5 Dan – Senior Instructor
1997, 10th World Kendo Championships (Kyoto, Japan) Women’s National Team member
2000, 11th World Kendo Championships (Santa Clara, CA, USA) Women’s National Team member
2003, 12th World Kendo Championships (Glasgow, Scotland) Women’s National Team member
2006, 13th World Kendo Championships (Taipei, Taiwan) Women’s National Team Captain

Profession: Web Developer – Owner, Sweet Lemon Services
Hobbies: Cooking, wine, food

Ben Keisuke Shirahama, 5 dan – Senior Instructor
2006, 13th World Kendo Championships (Taipei, Taiwan) Men’s National Team member

Profession:  Landscaper – Owner
Hobbies: Music, Food, Travelling

June Yuki Hayashi, 林　有紀, 4 dan – Senior Instructor
1997, 10th World Kendo Championships (Kyoto, Japan) Women’s National Team member
2006, 13th World Kendo Championships (Taipei, Taiwan) Women’s National Team member

2011, 17th Canadian National Championships – Women’s Division, 3rd Place

Profession: Hairstylist
Hobbies: Travelling, reading, gourmet cooking

Tomio Fukumura, 福村, 十三郎, 4 dan, Senior Instructor
Profession:  Semi-Retired, Ski instructor – Master’s Program at Whistler
Hobbies: Golf, skiing, Italian chef

George Kita, 喜多　ジョウ治, 3 dan, Associate Instructor
Profession: Sushi chef
Hobbies: Canucks, golf, wine