Uichi “Charlie” Tanaka

Uichi Tanaka was born in Yamaguchi, Japan in 1941. Kendo was banned in Japan, but in the countryside the adults in the small town would practice Kendo. When he was 10, watching the adults, Uichi became enamored with the beauty of Kendo, and started to learn Kendo with four of his friends. For six years, he practiced under Nakabara Torataro sensei. He then moved to Stockton, California where he practiced Judo since there were no Kendo dojos. Four years later he moved to Los Angeles where he resumed Kendo, first at Seinan dojo then Chuo dojo for five years. He last move was to San Jose, California where he has been the head instructor at San Jose dojo for almost 40 years. Tanaka sensei emphasizes proper Kendo over competitive techniques to maintain the original art form resisting the modern temptation to “win at all cost.” He also emphasizes the concept of “kokoro hirake,” practicing Kendo with an open mind.Training hard and without compromise, always trying to improve not only his Kendo but himself as a person and developing and fostering relationships and giving back to the community, Tanaka sensei has given his life to promoting Kendo, living according to the concepts and etiquette of the art.In his words …., “ I would like all of the young kids to keep doing Kendo. I know it’s hard, especially when you go to college, and get a job and family, but once you quit Kendo, it is incredibly hard to come back. Kendo is nit easy, but as long as we can continue doing Kendo together, it will grow in the United States.”