Motoya Nakamura
Chief Instructor: Kendo 6 dan
Nakamura sensei started practicing Kendo in Nagoya, Japan and continued for six years. After moving to the U.S., he practiced for six years in Virginia. In Oregon, he has been one of the instructors at Obukan and took over the mantle of Chief Instructor in March of 2022.
Steven Uchida
Instructor: Kendo 4 dan
Uchida sensei began his kendo journey at age 12 at Gardena Kendo Club in Gardena, California. He moved to Oregon in 1991 where he joined Obukan under Robert Stroud sensei. After co-founding RenMa Dojo in Portland, he’s back at Obukan with a focus on beginners to “Train hard and have fun!”
Chris Tilt
President: Kendo 4 dan
Tilt sensei started kendo under Stroud sensei at Obukan in 1995 and has also been a member at Ren Ma and Portland Kendo Clubs.
Blake Sprenger
Beginner’s Class Instructor: Kendo 4 dan
Blake began his Kendo journey with Obukan in 2016. Using his experience in Jodan no kamae, he competed in the 2023 AUSKF National Tournament. Since 2022, Blake has been sharing his passion for Kendo through instructing classes for begineers. Outside of Kendo, Blake is an avid potter and horticulturalist.
Shun Wetlesen
Instructor: Kendo 4 dan
Shun is our instructor of our main practice, he is responsible of footwork and tournaments training.