The Teams
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Dedication, expertise, and passion define the spirit of the GB Kendo Team. Dedication is shown in the countless hours of disciplined training and personal sacrifice required to compete at events such as the European Kendo Championships and the World Kendo Championships.
Expertise reflects the years of technical study and refinement needed to perform at a highest international level. Passion is the driving force behind it all – a deep commitment to kendo, to representing Great Britain with honour, and to inspiring the next generation through example.
Dez Whitson
Age 49, started Kendo at 29, he has is achieved 6th Dan. Practices Kendo at Edinburgh Kendo club.
Dez has competed with Kendo team GB in the six Nations competition in 2012, Germany.
Barry Straughan
Age 49, started Kendo age 10, he has achieved 7th Dan. Practices Kendo at Kadode (entering a new stage in life).
Baz has competed with Kendo team GB, at the EKC 2007 Portugal, achieving a bronze medal with the men’s team. Also competing at the EKC in 2005 Switzerland and 2010 in Hungary.
Tamon Suto
Age 24, started, Kendo age 4, he has achieved 4th Dan. Tamon practiced Kendo at Kanoya sports University.
Tamon practices Kendo at Bath Kendo club, Bristol Kendo club.
Tamon has competed in the All Japan, University Open taikai.
Munto Takanami
Age 32, started Kendo age 7, he has achieved 4th Dan. Practices Kendo in Japan with Ryujyokan, Tokyo and at Bath Kendo club, Bristol Kendo club .
Muneto competed in a junior competition in Tokyo aged 12.
Kauro Fujita
Age 34, started, Kendo age 6, Kaoru has achieved 6th Dan.
Kaoru practices Kendo at Tora dojo, London and in Japan at Renseikan, Asaka.
Rick Collins – CAPT.
Age 31, started Kendo age 9, Rick has achieved 5th Dan. Rick practices Kendo at Wakaba Kendo London.
He has competed in 7 EKC‘s - 2014 France, 2016 N. Macedonia, 2017 Hungary, 2019 Serbia, 2022 Germany, 2023 France, 2025 Netherlands, and WKC in 2018 South Korea and 2024 Italy.
Ryan Headlam
Age 29, started, Kendo age 18, Ryan has achieved 4th Dan. Ryan practices Kendo at Wakaba Kendo, London. He has competed in EKC - 2022 Germany, 2023 France.
Daniel Alvarado
FS EKC 26
Age 27, started, Kendo age 12, Daniel has achieved 4th Dan. Daniel practices Kendo at Wakaba Kendo, London. Competing in EKC - 2016, N. Macedonia, 2022 Germany, 2023 France.
Konradas Rukas
Konradas Rukas, 25, started kendo at the age of four at Wakaba Kendo Club. He joined the Great Britain squad at 15 years old and has since represented his country at both junior and senior levels across Europe and the world. He is currently 4th Dan and works as a Cyber Security Consultant.
James Wright
GOLD EKC 26
James Wright, 22, started kendo at the age of six at Wakaba Kendo Club. He joined the Great Britain squad at 16 years old and has since represented his country at both junior and senior levels across Europe and the world. He currently holds the grade of 4th Dan and is a Master’s student at UCL.
Noel Cadete
Age 18, started Kendo age 5, Noel has achieved 2nd Dan. Noel practices Kendo at Wakaba Kendo club, London. Noel has competed at the EKC 2025 Netherlands, achieving gold in the teams Junior and bronze in the junior individuals.
Oliver Wright
Age 19, started Kendo age 6, Oliver has achieved 3rd Dan. Oliver practices Kendo at Wakaba Kendo club, London. Oliver has competed at the EKC 2023 France. achieving bronze in the teams Junior and bronze in Junior teams
Kanako Hirai – CAPT.
TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Kanako Hirai, 31, has practiced kendo for 10 years and currently holds the rank of 3rd dan. She started kendo in London and is now a member of Wakaba Kendo Club.
Kanako has represented the GB Team competing in multiple European Kendo Championships since 2019 in Belgrade and most recently at the World Kendo Championships in Milan WKC24.
Rosie Ogle
TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Age 40, started Kendo age 25, Rosie has achieved 5th Dan. Practicing Kendo at Denshikan Kendo club and Akai Ryu Kendo club, Wales.
Rosie has competed in EKC‘s - 2014 France,
2016 N. Macedonia, 2017 Hungary, 2019 Serbia, 2022 Germany achieving silver, 2023 France, 2025 Netherlands. Also WKC 2015 Tokyo, Japan, 2018 Incheon South Korea, 2024 Milan, Italy.
Miyabi Fisher
TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Miyabi is 18 years old and has already achieved a best 8 position and Fighting Spirit at the 19th WKC in Milan, and in 2025 competed in the Gyokuryuki High School Tournament (Japan) achieving best 8.
Currently training at the International Budo University, Chiba, Japan as a 1st year Undergraduate Student specialising in Kendo.
Her goals are to continue to develop her Kendo, and improve on her previous results.
Ophelia To
​TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Ophelia 34, began her kendo journey at the age of 20 with Tora Dojo London, where she continues to train today. She has represented Great Britain at both the 2018 World Kendo Championships (WKC) and the 2019 European Kendo Championships (EKC)
Tatiana Nishizono
TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Tatiana, aged 25, started practicing kendo when she was 11 years old at the Japanese School in London. She became active in national and international competitions during university, and has since won medals at various competitions.
She trains regularly at Wakaba Kendo Club and has represented GB on multiple occasions.
Manami Takahashi
​TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Nanami, age 22, started kendo at university after moving to the UK. She trains at Wakaba Kendo Club, and currently is
2nd Dan grade. She has competed regularly in national and international competitions,
It is Nanami's first time to be on the team, and she is looking forward to work with everyone to bring good results!
Chloe Leigh
TEAM SILVER EKC 26
Age 18, started Kendo age 11, Chloe has achieved 2nd Dan. Chloe is practicing Kendo at Bath Kendo club.
Chloe has competed at the EKC 2025 Netherlands, achieving gold in the teams Junior and silver in the junior individuals.
Nagomi Fisher – CAPT.
BRONZE EKC 26
Nagomi is 16, and this is her first appearance at an EKC. Currently training at Preston Ken Shin Kai Kendo Club and Manchester Kendo Club.Her goals are to to improve the foundations of her Kendo, and to represent GB to the best of her ability.
Piers Lansdell
Age 17, started Kendo age 13. Piers has achieved 2nd Dan. Piers practices Kendo at Canterbury Kendo club
Peirs, and competed for team GB at the EKC 2025 achieving gold in the junior team competition
Sayaka Zewelska
BRONZE EKC 26
Age 17, started Kendo age 5, Sayaka has achieved 2nd Dan. Sayaka practices Kendo at Canterbury Kendo club
Sayaka, competed for team GB at the EKC 2025 Netherlands achieving gold in the junior team competition and bronze in the girls junior individuals