About me:

My kendo story so far:

I was 13 when I started kendo with Spokane Kendo Club, and I still train there today.  After those 11+ years of regular and uninterrupted practice, I’m still a 3 dan apparently.  I’ve competed in many Seattle area Taikai and attended various seminars mostly in the US.   I’ve trained in the PNKF (Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation) regional team training, but never competed on the team.  I’ve taught beginning classes at the Spokane dojo for years.

I speak a kind of conversational-level Japanese.  My mom made sure we speak Japanese around the house.  I grew up watching Doraemon and eating tons of Japanese home cooking.  So basically, I had a perfect childhood.  I also was lucky enough to visit Japan many times as a young American kid trying to practice kendo with the school kids in Ureshino, Saga.  I'm extremely fortunate in this way.  Most of my dojo friends can only dream of this connection to Japan.  I really should be learning how to read/write more.

I take photos and edit videos for my dojo and other fun projects.

Add me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/aaron.james.melton

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