Ojika NI Kendo Dojo

BELFAST MELA

Hello everyone!
If you're around Belfast Mela today, make sure to pop up to Little Asia at 13:30 and 15:00, as we'll be doing Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo demos!

Thank you very much to the Japan Society of Northern Ireland, we hope to see you there.

Photo Credit: Brodie Hall

-✈️Oni's Travel Blog #02-
Just over a week and a half ago, Oni had the privilege of flying over to attend the Western Seminar 2026 in Bristol, led primarily by Ansell, Ogle and Lam sensei.

Oni accompanied Aidan of Ojika NI, and learnt a whole lot about kihon, the kendo-no-kata, and how to connect it to his shinsa. He also made new friends from right across the kendo-bu, and learnt the traditional way to clean the dojo floor!

Oni also, quietly, cheered Aidan on as he took his Shodan grading (and loudly cheered when he passed! 🥳) The level of kendo on display was astounding, and Oni is fired up and ready to get back to sparring!

Many thanks to the sensei, participants, iaido and jodo demonstrators, Nine Circles and everyone else who made this seminar possible.
Until next time!

⚔️- Ueda Sensei Seminar 2026 -⚔️

Last weekend we were incredibly fortunate to have the honour of hosting Ueda Sensei, Kyoshi Hachidan, here in Belfast for a three-day Jodo seminar. This was Sensei's second visit to the island of Ireland, her having previously visited Dublin in 2023.

We sincerely hope that you enjoyed the seminar, learnt something new, and more than anything felt welcomed here in Belfast!

Thank you to all those who's help and support made this seminar possible, with special thanks of course to Ueda Sensei and Elena West-Vatolina Sensei, to Andy Watson Sensei for his meticulous translations, to our sister dojo and teachers over in Newcastle, Ojika dojo, to our friends and partners in Dublin, Dublin Kendo Kobukai, the members of the grading panel, and those friends who travelled from far and wide to make it.

Congratulations as well to all eight candidates who passed their gradings, from a couple of new ikkyus to a new yondan.

Finally, we hope that you enjoy the pictures taken from the event, the full selection of which can be found in this google drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uIaezd-JDVV6qXrnYCQhgs3xabJZHgYI?usp=drive_link

Thank you once again for coming along, we hope to see you again soon!

-✈️Oni's Travel Blog #01-

Phew! What a long weekend...

We're happy to say that Oni has safely returned from his trip to Daventry, for the annual BKA Jodo Nationals. He proudly accompanied four members of Ojika NI, meeting members from our sister dojo Ojika Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Renyukan - Iaido and Jodo Dojo and right across the Jodo Bu.

Oni cheered all of them on throughout their matches, and he's happy to see that their training paid off!

Without further ado, congratulations to;
Jim Toman : Nidan Gold, Teams Bronze and Asahi Cup Gold.
Jack Gilmour : Nidan Fighting Spirit, Teams Bronze and Asahi Cup Gold.
Aidan Gilmour : Shodan Silver, Asahi Cup Gold.
Will O'Hare : Mudan Silver, Asahi Cup Bronze.

Congratulations also to;
Robert Townson : Yondan Gold, Teams Silver.
Kevin McNeill : Yondan Silver, Yondan Fighting Spirit, Teams Silver.
Pamela Maddison : Nidan Silver.

And to everyone else who attended.

Oni is now taking some well-deserved rest in preparation for Ueda Sensei's visit, and will be back at Jodo training on Friday night.
Stay tuned for next time!

A couple of months ago, we had a new beginner show up at the dojo. Being a bit plushier than everyone else, he wasn't the kind of budoka we'd usually expect...
But he worked hard, threw himself into the training, and is now ready to see where the way will take him.

So who is he?
None other than Oni!

From seminars in Dublin, to taikais in Birmingham, and even across to the Europeans in France, Oni will be travelling far and wide over the coming year.

Stay tuned for his travels!

Update to training times for Jodo. Weekly session now runs on Friday night 18:45 to 20:15.

Iaido remains on Saturdays from 1pm to 2:30pm.

Jodo The Jo is a short staff, 128 cm in length, used against an opponent with a (wooden) sword. Training in Jodo involves learning techniques through solo and paired practice, and then applying them in …

Exciting news
EDIT: Info and Registration form in pinned comment
We will be hosting a Jodo Seminar led by Ueda Sensei in Belfast!
April 18th and 19th 2026
Please share