The Melbourne University Kendo Club

1989

President: Sofie Macak

Secretary: David Hook

Treasurer: David Aldridge

• Apr 14: Booking for Gym at the Frank Tait Building, approved
• Apr 17: First Training
• May 22: 1st Beginners Course, training now Mondays and Thursdays
• May 23: Opened club bank account
• July 1: Registered as VKR Club, 4 members
• Oct 26: Special General Meeting, 7 members present, adoption of Draft Constitution, election of Office bearers

1990

President: Sofie Macak

Secretary: David Hook

Treasurer: David Aldridge

• Mar 22: 1st Annual General Meeting
• July 15: Kenshikan Dojo opens

1991

President: Scott Dewar

Secretary: David Hook

Treasurer: Monica Murdoch

• Apr 27/28: Weekend Training Camp Gisborne High School
• Apr 29: 2nd AGM - 11 members present, 2 apologies
• July: Eight members registered

1992

President: Scott Dewar

Secretary:

Treasurer:

• April: Weekend Training Camp Gisborne High School
• 3rd AGM

1993

President: Scott Dewar

Secretary: Graeme Currie

Treasurer: Chris Panagopoulos

• Now training in West Stadium
• Apr 28: 4th AGM, 13 members, 2 apologies
• May 29/30: Weekend Training Camp Queenscliff High School.  Monash University Kendo Club members also attend
• July 10/11: University Kendo Championships held at Melbourne University 25 Competitors

1994

President: Nick Hannigan

Secretary: Graeme Currie

Treasurer: Chris Panagopoulos

• Apr 25: 5th AGM, 7 members, 3 apologies
  Name change to University of Melbourne Kendo CLub
• May 29: Sofie Macak, a foundation member and first Club President, passes away after short illness.
• July 9: University Kendo Championship Adelaide, “probationary official University Championships” 27 competitors, 6 Universities represented.Nick Hannigan UMKC selected in a nominal Australian Universities Team

1995

President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

• 6th AGM

1996

President: Chris Panagopoulos

Secretary: Caleb Paul

Treasurer: Graeme Currie

• May 1: 7th AGM
• 28 - 29 Sept Australian Kendo University Championships held at ANU. UMKC represented by Chris Panagopoulos, Caleb Paul, Junko Ito, Katherine Lucy, Kang Yang Lim, Kenji Sugimoto and Norito Komatsu.

1997

President: Chris Panagopoulos

Secretary: Caleb Paul

Treasurer: David Bell

• 8th AGM
• 7 - 8 June Australian Kendo Championships held at University High School Melbourne. Victorian Kyu Team wins gold medal with UMKC members Graeme Currie, Chris Panagopoulos and Caleb Paul.
• Sept: AUG in Melbourne, host Latrobe University, UMKC Kyu Team 2nd place.
• Mumeishi 3's: UMKC 1st place- Kang Yang Lim, Kenji Sugimoto, Daisuke Morohashi.
• Club kyu grade championship winner - Junko Ito.

1998

President: Chris Panagopoulos

Secretary: Graeme Currie

Treasurer: Kenji Sugimoto

• April 29th - 9th AGM, 19 present, three apologies.
• AUG held in Melbourne
• Club kyu grade championship winner - Josh Orth

1999

President: Chris Panagopoulos

Secretary: Kenji Sugimoto

Treasurer: Isaac Kong

• 22nd May - UMKC's 10th anniversary - celebration to commemorate this event including dinner at Nagasaki Japanese Restaurant in Carlton.
• April 28th - 10th AGM, 21 present, one apology
• Club kyu grade championship winner – Kenji Sugimoto
• Victorian Kendo Championships: Kenji Sugimoto 2nd Kyu Individuals, UMKC 2nd Kyu Teams (Chiaki Kobayashi, Isaac Kong, Kang Yang Lim, Kevin Rees, Kenji Sugimoto).
• AUG – Perth 26th Sept – 1st Oct. Kyu individual – 1st Kenji Sugimoto, Open team – 3rd placeKenji Sugimoto, Chris Panagopoulos and Kevin Rees, Green and Gold Selection: Kenji Sugimoto, and Chris Panagopoulos.
• Mumeishi 3's: UMKC 3rd place – Graeme Currie, Chris Panagopoulos, Kenji Sugimoto.

2000

President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

• 26th April 11th AGM
• Victorian Kendo Championships: Kenji 2nd place, Daisuke 3rd place Kyu Individuals.

2001

President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

• 12th AGM
• Club kyu grade championship winner - Kang Yang Lim
• UMKC win the Mumeishi 3's Tournament

2002

President:

Secretary:

Treasurer:

• 13th AGM
• VKC: Kang Yang Lim - 2nd place in the Kyu Individuals
• AKC: Kang Yang Lim - 2nd place in the Kyu Individuals

2003

President: Takeru Stewart

Secretary: Andrew Lam

Treasurer: Poh Poh Lin

• 14th AGM
• AUG Newcastle
• Ben Sheppard opens Nanseikan Youth Kendo Dojo
• Chiaki Kobayashi wins Kyu Individual at the VKC, Kang Yang Lim receives Fighting Spirit award.

2004

President: Lin Wei Chen/Michael Dunn

Secretary: Jimmy Leong

Treasurer:

• 15th AGM
• Ben Sheppard attains godan (5th dan), becomes sensei
• 44 people attend the training camp in Ballarat

2005

President: Michael Dunn

Secretary: Jimmy Leong

Treasurer: Kevin Chin

• 16th AGM
• AUG Brisbane: UMKC Kyu Team 1st, UMKC Open Team 2nd, Avi Ganesan 3rd Kyu Individuals, Green and Gold Team selection - Kevin Chin.
• UMKC Team B win Mumeishi 3's tournament, Team A 2nd.
• Russell Tran and Tom Mendelovits, along with Gary Oliver from Ballarat win the Otsuka Memorial Taikai.
• VKC: UMKC Kyu Team 1st, Kyu Individuals Avi Ganesan 2nd, Jon Teo 3rd.
• Club Championship Results: Senior Kyu - Taiki Matsueda 1st, Avi Ganesan 2nd, Begginers - Viet Hoang 1st, Berkay Ozcelic 2nd.

2006

President: Thomas Mendelovits

Secretary: Viet Hoang

Treasurer: Pei Chin Yau

• Nittaidai University held a training session at UMKC in February.
• Over 100 people attend the Beginner's Course.
• 17th AGM
• Over sixty people attend the Ballarat Training Camp.
• AUG Adelaide: UMKC Kyu Team - 1st Place, UMKC Open Team - 2nd Place, Kyu Individuals - Tom Mendelovits 1st, Ivan Chen 2nd, UMKC win five of the top eight placings.
• Victorian Kendo Championships results: UMKC Kyu Team - 1st, UMKC Dan Grade Team - 2nd, Kevin Wu - 2nd Place Kyu Individuals, Andrew Lam and Chris Panagopoulos - 1st Place Kata Pairs, Janice Tong and Andrew Lam - Fighting Spirit Awards.
• Yakov Macak Sensei receives the title of Renshi at the AKC.
• Chiaki Kobatashi competes at the World Kendo Championships in Glasgow Scotland.

2007

President: Viet Hoang

Secretary: Pei Chin Yau

Treasurer: Natalie Chiang

• Nittaidai University Kendo Club visit for training and seminars.
• 18th AGM
• Kenji Sugimoto attains yondan (4th dan).
• Andrew Lam and Chris Panagopoulos win the VKC Kata Pairs.
• AUG (Gold Coast): UMKC Kyu Team - 1st Place, UMKC Open Team - 2nd Place, Christina Jong - Quarter Finalist in Kyu Individuals.
• Mumeishi 3's Tournament won by UMKC B Team.
• 30 Uni students from the Kanto Gakuren (Kanto Area Students
  Kendo Renmei) visited for training.
• For the first time UMKC has enough dan grade members to hold a dan grade event at our Club Championships.
• Club Championships Results: Dan Grade - 1st Kenji Sugimoto, 2nd Kevin Chin. Senior Kyu Grade - 1st Alex Lee, 2nd Son Nguyen. Beginner Kyu Grade - 1st David Tay, 2nd Zia Atmaja.
• Yakov Sensei received a special certificate of commendation at the the Australian Kendo Championships for his years of service at national level as a President, as Chairman of the Kendo Board and as a competitor and Shinpan.

2008

President: Viet Hoang

Secretary: Peter Huynh

Treasurer: Kin-On Tham

• 19th AGM
• AUG Melbourne (Victoria University), UMKC win both Kyu Teams and Dan Grade Teams events
• Kyu team win VKC
• Club Championships: Dan Grade - 1st Josh Orth, 2nd Kenji Sugimoto. Senior Kyu Grade - 1st Kevin Huong, 2nd Tony Shearer. Beginner Kyu Grade - 1st Alvin Ng, 2nd Richard Loi.
• Kevin Chin receives Full Blue award.
• UMKC receives MUSA Best Club award.

2009

President: Kin-On Tham/David Tay

Secretary: Richard Zhou

Treasurer: Viet Hoang

• April 3rd - MUSA Presentation dinner at the Bayview Eden hotel for Kevin Chin's Full Blue award and UMKC Best Club award for 2008.
• March 29th 1st Kyu - 3rd Dan grading: David Tay and Masa Hasuoka - 1Kyu, Tony Shearer, Andy Meier, Kevin Huong, Viet Hoang - Shodan, Kevin Chin. - Sandan. UMKC's largest representation at a dan grading.
• AKC: UMKC members Kenji Sugimoto, Andrew Lam and Kevin Chin selected for Victorian Open team, Russell Tran in Kyu Grade Team. Open team places 2nd.
• April 22nd - 20th AGM
• Club Championships, held on Nov 31st and Dec 2nd: Junior Kyu Division - 1st Richard T'en, 2nd Takeshi Hartono. Senior Kyu Division - 1st Kin-On Tham, 2nd Alvin Ng. Women's Division - 1st Thuy Vi Dinh, 2nd Nur Farhana. Dan Grade Division - 1st Kenji Sugimoto, 2nd Andrew Lam. Fighting Spirit - Nor Farhana Fauzy, Vi Dinh, Jeffrey Khor.

2010

President: Richard Zhou

Secretary: Jennifer Kuo

Treasurer: Richard T'en

• March 6th - A very successful kyu grading for UMKC members. In total we had two attempt 6th kyu, eleven 5th kyu, two 4th kyu, six 3rd kyu and one 2nd kyu. All passed.
• March 14th - UMKC hosted the first Tournament for Kendo Beginners in Victoria. The event was held at the Kenshikan and considered by all that attended a very enjoyable and successful day. Winner: Richard T'en UMKC, 2nd Place: Nick Chan Monash, Equal 3rd Place: Daniel Huang UMKC and Vincent Lai UMKC, Fighting Spirit: Farhana Fauzy UMKC.
• March 28th - Three UMKC members attempted dan grading. Tony Shearer nidan, Thomas Mendelovits and Michael Dunn sandan. All passed successfully.
• April 3rd & 4th - The 35th AKC was held in Melbourne. A number of club members competed in various events and acted as volunteers and shinpan. Special congratulations to Kevin Chin, a member of the Victorian team, winners of the Open Competition. David Wright, a member of the winning Victorian Men's kyu grade team. Andrew Lam and Kevin Chin, winners of the kata competition.
• June 26th - UMKC 2010 Taikai was held with fifty competitors in three divisions. Results as follows:
  
  6th - 4th Kyu: 1st Viet Luan Le, MBK - 2nd Nicolas Chan, Monash - 3rd: Daniel Wachtel, MBK; Aaron Siah, MBK
  
  3rd - 1st Kyu: 1st Richard Loi, UMKC - 2nd Ryoichi Saito, MBK - 3rd: Mony Sak, Monash; Alvin Ng, UMKC
  
  Dan Grade: 1st: Stan Corrigan, MBK - 2nd Tony Corrigan, MBK - 3rd Reuben Barnett, MBK; Tony Shearer, UMKC
  
  Fighting Spirit Awards: Sara Hwang, UMKC; Mony Sak, Monash; Vi Dinh, UMKC; David Tay, UMKC
  
  Thank you to the competitors, officials, shimpan and volunteers.
• August - Victorian Kendo Championships - notable results:
  
  MUKEN Kyu Team - 2nd place
  Kyu Women’s individuals: Nor Farhana, 2nd
  Kata Pairs: Kevin Chin and Andrew Lam; 2nd
  Veterans': Andy Meier 2nd, Tony Shearer & Yakov Macak equal 3rd.
• September - Australian University Games:
  
  Kyu Division: Takeshi Hartono, 2nd, Vincent Lai, 3rd
  Green and Gold award, Takeshi Hartono
• November 28th - MUKEN Club Championships Results.
  
  Beginners: 1 Daniel Tee, 2 Yan Ling.
  
  Kyu: 1 Takeshi Hartono, 2 Jeffrey Khor, Equal 3 Ben Tran, Forhana Fauzy.
  
  Womens: 1 Forhana Fauzy, 2 Vi Dinh.
  
  Dan 1 Andrew Lam, 2 David Tay.
  
  Fighting Spirit: Joanna Ting, Forhana Fauzy, Alvin Ng.

2011

President: Jeffery Khor

Secretary: Vincent Lai
Interim Secretary: Viet Hoang

Treasurer: Joanna Ting
Interim Treasurer: Kevin Chin

• March 6th - A successful kyu grading for MUKEN members. Nine members graded, all passed.
• March 27th - Six members graded today. Richard Loi and Richard Zhou: 1st Kyu, Jeffrey Khor and Alvin Ng: Shodan, Minsuk Park and Masayuki Hasuoka: Nidan - all were successful.
• April 7th - 22nd AGM
• May 28th - MUKEN Annual Open Taikai results:
  
  Beginner Division - First: Yan Ling (MUKEN) Second: Michael Yeung (MUKEN) Equal Third: Joanna Ting (MUKEN), Andradi Adhiputro (MBK)
  
  Junior Kyu Division (6th to 3rd Kyu)- First: Nicholas Chan (Monash) Second: Takeshi Hartono (MUKEN) Equal Third: Dhanish Dangkomen (MUKEN), Richard T'en (MUKEN)
  
  Senior Kyu Division (2nd to 1st Kyu)- First: Nicholas Chan (Monash) Second: Takeshi Hartono (MUKEN) Equal Third: Jack Waltham (MBK), Ryoichi Saito (MBK)
  
  1st - 2nd Dan Division - First: Liam Jodana (MBK) Second: Keegan Almeida (Fudoshin) Equal Third: Kin On Tham (MUKEN), Takeshi Hartono (MUKEN)
  
  Fighting Spirit Awards - Joanna Ting (MUKEN), Dhanish Dangkomen (MUKEN), Jack Waltham (MBK), Takeshi Hartono (MUKEN)
• Sept 27th - Australian University Games on the Gold Coast.
  Ben Tran: 2nd place Kyu Individuals, MUKEN: 1st place Kyu Teams.
• Nov 26th - MUKEN Club Championships
  
  Beginners - 1 Slavco Jovanovski, 2 Brian La, 3 James Jiang
  
  Womens - 1 Joanna Ting, 2 Meera Chandranath
  
  Kyu Grade - 1 Yan Ling, 2 Richard T'en, 3 Vincent Lai, Takeshi Hartono
  
  Dan Grade - 1 Kenji Sugimoto, 2 Kevin Chin, 3 Thomas Mendelovitz, Andrew Lam
  
  Fighting Spirit - Yan Ling, James Jiang, Thomas Mendelovitz

2012

President: Viet Hoang

Secretary: Takeshi Hartono

Treasurer: Kevin Chin

• March 11th - A successful kyu grading for MUKEN members; Dhanish Dangkomen 2nd kyu, Kevin Starow and Slavco Jovanoski 5th kyu.
• March 25th - 1st kyu to 3rd dan grading. Takeshi Hartono and Richard T'en received 1st kyu and Tony Shearer 3rd dan.
• April 7th to 9th - The Australian Kendo Championships were held in Canberra. The Victorian squad, of which Kenji Sugimoto, Andrew Lam, and Richard T'en were members, saw stunning victories in the Kyu and Open team competitions, finishing first place for both.
  
  Kevin Chin successfully attained his 4th Dan at the AKC gradings.
• April 26th - 23rd AGM