About Our Dojo
Information About Toku Bu Kan DojoThe meaning behind Toku Bu Kan
In Kendo, defeating your opponent should not be obtained by ruthlessly over powering your opponent or by actions of trickery or anger towards them. Winning using these things will only create feelings of anger, revenge and unhappiness, however winning by true virtue (Toku) is truly winning. Your opponent will thank you when being defeated by you in this fashion and in the end, you will gain the respect from your opponent for these qualities you uphold during your exchange.
Therefore we use Virtue (Toku 徳) for the Dojo’s first kanji, and for the second kanji we use ( Bu 武) as in Budo (Martial Art). The last kanji is ( Kan 館) as in group.
(徳武館) Tokubukan has a deep meaning and is giving us a goal to strive for every day we train.
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Dojo Motto
“Ken to wa kokoro nari. Kokoro tadashi kereba, sono ken tadashi. Kokoro tadashi karazareba, sono ken mata tadashi karazu. Ken o manaban to suru mono wa subekaraku sono kokoro wo manabe”.
“The sword and the mind (soul) are one. If the mind is right, the sword is right. If the mind is not right, the sword also cannot be right. The person who wishes to study the sword must first study their mind”.
– Shimada Toranosuke
About the Instructors
Moses Becerra
Head Instructor, Rokudan Renshi (6th Dan)
Kendo Background
Becerra Sensei started his kendo training at the young age of 16 years old. He has trained in Kendo in the US and in Japan. Qualified and competed at the 9th International Kendo tournament in Paris France as a member of the USA TEAM. Coached the Venezuelan Kendo team at the 10th International Kendo tournament in Kyoto Japan. Won and placed in top three in many national kendo tournaments throughout the United States. If you ask him about these accomplishments you will find that he is more focused in understanding and teaching good quality Kendo and not on focusing on tournaments only. Sensei established a Kendo Dojo in Long Island New York in 1992. The Long Island Kendo Dojo is now lead by one of Becerra Sensei’s student that is a 4th Dan. He has over 30 years of experience in the Kendo world. In 2013 he moved to Florida and established a new Kendo Dojo in Miami. This new Dojo is growing stronger every day with students that are interested in quality Kendo. He is the highest ranked Kendo Sensei in South Florida at Rokudan Renshi (6th Dan).
Sword Art Polisher Background
At 19 years old started training in Japanese sword polishing, scabbard making and other related sword art work in Japan under professional instructors. Instructors such as Kentaro Yoshikawa, Polisher for the imperial household, T. Okazaki ( Sayashi ) Ichinosesensei ( Tsukamaki ) Kato Yamada/ T. Ando/ A. Mizuno.
Featured in a documentary about the Samurai and the Japanese sword onn the History Channel ( “The Samurai Tradition” ) 1999. Article have been written by Kentaro Yoshikawa in the Nihon To Ken Rekishi about his work.
Also, article written in a Japanese magazine published and distributed in Japan 2000. ( “Japanese Sword polisher in the US trained in Japan” ). He has also been featured on news 12 in LongIsland news. ( “Japanese Kendo Teacher and Art Sword Polisher” ) 2001. For more information please visit Becerra Sensei’s website http://www.nihontoantiques.com
Guillermo Auvert
Assistant Instructor, 5th Dan