Fudokan Kendo & Iaido
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KENDO & IAIDO
​in the nation’s capital

Fudokan provides expert instruction in kendo and iaido in the Washington DC metro area. 
CONTACT FUDOKAN
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Welcome to Fudokan

Fudokan provides expert instruction in the Japanese martial arts of kendo and iaido for adults and youth in the Washington DC metro area. Our members form a diverse and welcoming community that supports participation in martial arts training. These mind-body disciplines enables people to build confidence, deepen self-awareness, increase determination and improve strength, fitness and coordination.
Founded in 2015 by Rod Faghani Sensei (kendo 6th dan Renshi and iaido 4th dan), Fudokan welcomes youth and adults from beginner through advanced levels.

​We invite anyone interested in the traditional values of swordsmanship to come train with us.
CONTACT US
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Schedule & Locations

KENDO

Monday
6–9 pm
Thursday
6–9 pm
Saturday
11 am –1 pm
KENDO Monday & Thursday
  • 6:00–7:30 pm: New students and youth (up to age 15)  
  • 7:00–7:30 pm: All members group practice (all ages/levels)
  • 7:00–9:00 pm: Adult Intermediate/Advanced

KENDO Saturday
  • 11 am –1 pm: All members group practice (all ages/levels) 

IAIDO

Monday
6–7 pm
​Thursday
6–7 pm
Sidwell Friends Lower School
5100 Edgemoor Ln, Bethesda, MD 20814
​🚙 Our dojo has private parking ​
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Join Fudokan

We welcome members who want to learn kendo and iaido throughout the year. No prior experience is required. For kendo, students must be at least 7 years old and for iaido, 13. Equipment may be borrowed for the first few classes.
Please contact us for permission and visiting instructions. 
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Fudokan is a member of AUSKF, GNEUSKF and affiliated with Shidogakuin.


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DISCOUNTS

Iaido
​Free iaido classes available for all kendo students age 13 and up
Friends & Family
Bring your friends or ​family members and you will all save 20% when paying together
🇺🇸 Armed Forces 🇺🇸
20% individual discount, 40% family discount for active duty & veterans
​Pay Annually
Annual membership discount of 10% payable by check only
CONTACT US FOR MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
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PAYMENT

Membership fees may be paid online or by check, monthly or annually. ​Please contact us for details. 
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FEDERATIONS

AUSKF and GNEUSKF membership dues are required, enabling us access to seminars, tournaments, and certified rank promotion.
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VISITORS

All visitors are welcome.
​Please contact us for permission and visiting instructions.
CONTACT US FOR MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

Follow Fudokan on Instagram

Image of Calligraphy by Shozo Kato Sensei
Calligraphy by Shozo Kato Sensei
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About Fudokan

Fudokan has a very deep meaning, based on Fudoshin — immovable mind. Fudokan represents “The house of immovable minds.”  An immovable mind is one of the most important lessons of any martial art, and in fact, of life. Our immovable minds are not distracted by the acts of others that prevent us from concentrating on our goals.

​Fudokan is built on the commitment of integrity, quality and community. We encourage people of all ages to participate in a healthy activity with centuries of proven results, and become active members of a welcoming community. All of our Fudokan instructors are volunteers.

Fudokan is affiliated with Shidogakuin, and our head instructor is Rod Faghani, kendo 6th Dan Renshi and iaido 4th Dan. Shidogakuin's head instructor, Shozo Kato Sensei, kendo 8th Dan Kyoshi and iaido 7th Dan Kyoshi, provides periodic training seminars to our members, and our members visit affiliate dojos when possible. 
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​Shidogakuin Precepts

first… do not forget the feeling you had when you started.
first… do not tell lies.
first… do not make trouble for others.
first… do not avoid hard effort.
first… do not forget the feeling of gratitude.

Fudokan Instructors

Portrait of Rod Faghani Sensei
Rod Faghani Sensei
Fudokan Founder and Head Instructor
Kendo 6 Dan Renshi, Iaido 4 Dan

​Faghani Sensei's martial arts journey began with Karate in his youth in Tehran, Iran. This journey led him to study Shotokan karate in Japan and to become a member of the Iranian National Karate Team, from 1972–1977.  After moving to the U.S. in 1979, Faghani Sensei continued karate until January 1997 when, in his 40s, he started kendo and iaido. He achieved the rank of kendo 6th Dan in April of 2015. As the founder of Fudokan, his mission is to continue training and to enable people of all ages to learn about the way of the sword and its many mind-body benefits.
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Portrait of Andre Chen Sensei
Andre Chen Sensei
Kendo 5 Dan, Iaido 4 Dan
​Andre started kendo in 1999 and achieved the rank of iaido 4th Dan in 2010, followed by the rank of kendo 5th Dan in 2017. A seasoned kendo and iaido practitioner, some of Andre's competition successes include:
  • AUSKF 2002 Iaido National Mudansha 1st place 
  • AUSKF 2004 Iaido National Yamaguchi Cup Shodan-Nidan 3rd place 
  • Shidogakuian 20th Anniversary Tournament 2004 Shodan-Nidan 1st place 
  • AUSKF 2010 Iaido National Yamaguchi Cup Nidan-Sandan 1st place
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Portrait of Brian Wright Sensei
 Brian Wright Sensei
Iaido 4 Dan, Kendo 3 Dan 
​Brian received his formative martial arts training in taekwondo under Dr. Ken Min at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was also first exposed to iaido. After moving to Washington DC in 1991, he sought out iaido training —and began kendo a few years later— while remaining active in university-based martial arts at the George Washington University. During his 23-year tenure there, he designed and taught several martial arts courses including: Taekwondo; Japanese Swordsmanship; Asian Martial Arts: Origins & Development; Kendo; and, Iaido. He also coordinated instruction for the taekwondo and kendo clubs. Since the summer of 2015, Brian has focused his efforts on creating new martial arts training opportunities for the greater Washington DC community.
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Portrait of Summerlin Walker Sensei
Summerlin Walker Sensei
​Kendo 5 Dan
Summerlin started kendo as a freshman at George Washington University in Washington, DC and officially joined Shidogakuin after graduation in 2004. Kendo has allowed him to make friends with people from a wide range of backgrounds and social groups whom he might not have encountered under other circumstances. He appreciates kendo as a “way of life” and encourages others to try it.
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Portrait of Alistair Faghani Sensei
Alistair Faghani Sensei
​Kendo 4 Dan
Following in his father’s footsteps, Alistair started kendo at age five and has been practicing for almost 20 years. At the last U.S. Championships, Alistair placed 5th in individuals and 2nd in teams. In 2019, Alistair was selected as a member of the U.S. National Kendo Team and is currently training for the next World Kendo Championships. His ultimate goal is to bring up the next generation of Team USA, and introduce as many kids as possible to the martial art that shaped his life.
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Portrait of Takayuki Shirai Sensei
Takayuki Shirai Sensei
Fudokan representative in Tokyo, Japan
Kendo 5 Dan, Iaido 2 Dan

​Takayuki practiced kendo for more than 20 years in Japan. He is a graduate of the University of Tokyo and Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He joined Fudokan in 2016 and achieved the rank of kendo 5th Dan in 2017. He always tries to acquire various ways of scoring points through trial and error. His favorite Japanese proverb is “Mei-mei no kokorozashi” -- this means “Do not stop hard efforts, even if nobody is looking at you.”
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The Way of the Sword

Kato Sensei discusses how timeless notions of stillness and motion come together through the lens of the modern Japanese martial arts of kendo and iaido

Shozo Kato Sensei - Way of the Sword

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Fudokan — Kendo and Iaido in the Nation’s Capital


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Telephone

(240) 406-5363

Email

info@fudokankendo.com
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