The Sno-King Kendo Club was founded in 2003. The youngest of the three BHS clubs, Sno-King club offers instruction through the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.
Sno-King Kendo Club offers traditional kendo taught for a diverse community. At the time we were founded, there were no kendo clubs serving the north end of King County and the south end of Snohomish County…and that’s how we got our awesome name.
The club serves not only the north Seattle area but Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood and points in between. The classes are located at Broadview-Thomson Elementary School East Gym/Bitter Lake Community Center Annex, 13052 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle. The annex is at the far east end of the parking lot adjacent to the playground area. This is an ideal venue (soft wooden floors!) with easy access from I-5. Aurora Ave N at 130th St NW.
Classes are taught to a set 10 week curriculum with each week consisting of a new unit covering the lesson for that week. The class moves as fast or as slow as the students can manage and class content is adjusted as required. The beginning class is taught by Jeff Marsten Jr, a 5th degree black belt who started kendo at 6 years of age and has trained in Japan for extended periods of time. This experience makes him particularly gifted at making kendo practice fun for children. Additionally there are several other 4th and 5th degree black belt instructors who help to team-teach the beginning class.
During the students’ second quarter they will work with the main class developing their skills and progressing into armor when appropriate skill has been obtained. There is a summer break taken between mid- August and mid-September.