
ASSISTANT COACH TAMON SUTO
Tamon's Biography
Tamon Suto is a dedicated kendo practitioner and accomplished athlete with over 20 years Kendo experience.
Tamon began kendo at the age of four, quickly distinguishing himself by winning various tournaments from an early age.
As a primary school student, he was a member of 16Blocks-winning team in All Japan Boys and Girls Budo Rensei tournament in 2013.
In 2019, Tamon got bronze at the Kanagawa Prefecture Kendo Tournament. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the all Japan national High school Kendo tournament that year was cancelled, limiting further competitive opportunities.
Outside of kendo, Tamon achieved 16th place in the All Japan University Student Bodybuilding Competition in 2024.
After graduating Kanoya university in Mar2025, Tamon moved to UK to become Team GB assistant coach.
His goal is to work with the team to achieve victory at the European Kendo Championships (EKC) and World Kendo Championships (WKC)—not just as a one-time achievement, but as a foundation for ongoing success and the continued growth of UK kendo community for future generations.

Tamon’s biography

COACH MUNETO TAKANAMI
Muneto's Biography
Muneto Takanami is a highly accomplished Kendo instructor and competitor, renowned for blending traditional Japanese Kendo with modern training methodologies. With a foundation rooted in Japan’s most respected Kendo institutions, Takanami has developed a unique approach that emphasises strategic thinking, ma-ai (distance control), and explosive power.
He began Kendo under the influence of his father, a former All Japan Championship competitor, and quickly established himself as a promising talent. As a young athlete, he won the Kyushu and West Japan Championships and secured third place in the National Championships. His competitive career continued at the prestigious National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya (NIFS), where he trained under elite instructors. He went on to compete in the All Japan Student Open Kendo Championship and trained with the Kumamoto Prefectural Police Kendo Team.
Takanami’s expertise extends well beyond competition. He is a specialist in the “Three-Step Training” (3段練習) method developed by Hanshi 9th Dan Yasunori Taniguchi and used by top-tier teams such as the Kanagawa Prefectural Police Tokuren. He incorporates video analysis and reaction time assessments to refine athlete performance and support development.
Internationally, Takanami has played a key role in advancing Kendo. He has coached and adapted training for the Great Britain national team, collaborated on research with UK universities, and worked with a Professor at the University of Hertfordshire to enhance athlete development through scientific performance analysis. He is also involved in organising global training exchanges and securing sponsorships to promote Kendo worldwide.
Muneto’s biography