OUR SENSEI

Torrance Dojo is the only dojo in the United States with over 21 active sensei,
including 4 U.S National Champions and 13 sensei who have represented their country in the World Kendo Championships.

Kendo trains Your body, Mind and heart!

Head Instructor

Christopher Yang 7 dan

Christopher Yang Sensei, Kendo 7th Dan, is the Head Instructor of Torrance Kendo Dojo and has 40 years of experience in kendo. He has trained many national and regional champions and U.S. team members and serves as the Coach of the US National Kendo team.

-WKC Men’s Team Coach (2018 & 2024)
-WKC Men’s Team (1997 – 2015)
-WKC Team Division: Second Place x 2, Third Place x 3
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 7
-AUSKF Nationals Champion (2005)

바른 마음, 바른 검 ~正しい心、正しい剣~

Song Yi Yang 7 dan

Song Yang Sensei, 7th Dan in Kendo, is the highest-ranking woman kendo practitioner in the U.S. With over 37 years of experience, she has represented Korea and coached the U.S. at the World Kendo Championships. She now teaches at Torrance Kendo Dojo and inspires students of all ages.

-WKC Women’s Team Coach (2009,2012,2024)
-WKC Women’s Team Korea (2000,2006)
-WKC Team Division: Second Place (2006)
-AUSKF Women’s National Champion (2008)

Let’s Kendo!

Daniel Yang 7 dan

Danny Yang Sensei, 7th Dan, has over 30 years of kendo experience, training in the U.S. and Japan. A former U.S. National Champion, he represented Team USA at multiple World Championships and now serves as the Men’s Coach and AUSKF Board Member focused on youth development.

-WKC Men’s Team Coach (2018 & 2024)
-WKC Men’s Team (2000–2015)
-WKC Team Division: 2nd Place x 2, 3rd Place x 3
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 1
-AUSKF National Champion (2011)

Kendo is Life.

Jason Brown 7 dan

Jason Brown Sensei, 7th Dan, has over 30 years of kendo experience. A long-time member of the U.S. National Team, he contributed to four World Championship bronze medals and captained the 2018 and 2024 teams. He also led SoCal to gold at the 2017 and 2023 U.S. Nationals.


-WKC Men’s Team (2006–2024)
-WKC Team Division: 3rd Place x 4
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 1

Children are the heart of Kendo’s future.

Chief Advisor

Tim Yuge 7 dan

Tim Yuge Sensei, Kendo 7th Dan Kyoshi, has played a key leadership role in the U.S. kendo community for many years. He has served as President of the Southern California Kendo Federation and as a senior officer of the AUSKF, contributing to the growth and development of kendo across the country.

– WKC Men’s Team Coach (1979)
– WKC Men’s Team (1973)
– Former President of SCKF
– Former President and Secretary of KFUSA

Kendo trains Your body, Mind and heart!

Head Instructor

Christopher Yang 7 dan

Christopher Yang Sensei, Kendo 7th Dan, is the Head Instructor of Torrance Kendo Dojo and has over 32 years of experience. He has trained many national champions and U.S. team members, served as a national coach and AUSKF leader, and works as Chief International Counsel at Toyota Motor North America.


-WKC Men’s Team Coach (2018 & 2024)
-WKC Men’s Team (1997–2015)
-WKC Team Division: Second Place x 2, Third Place x 3
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 7
-AUSKF Nationals Champion (2005)

바른 마음, 바른 검 ~正しい心、正しい剣~

Song Yi Yang 7 dan

Song Yang Sensei, 7th Dan in Kendo, is the highest-ranking woman kendo practitioner in the U.S. With over 37 years of experience, she has represented Korea and coached the U.S. at the World Kendo Championships. She now teaches at Torrance Kendo Dojo and inspires students of all ages.


-WKC Women’s Team Coach (2009,2012,2024)
-WKC Women’s Team Korea (2000,2006)
-WKC Team Division: Second Place (2006)
-AUSKF Women’s National Champion (2008)

Let’s Kendo!

Daniel Yang 7 dan

Danny Yang Sensei, 7th Dan, has over 30 years of kendo experience, training in the U.S. and Japan. A former U.S. National Champion, he represented Team USA at multiple World Championships and now serves as the Men’s Coach and AUSKF Board Member focused on youth development.


-WKC Men’s Team Coach (2018 & 2024)
-WKC Men’s Team (2000–2015)
-WKC Team Division: Second Place x 2, Third Place x 3
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 1
-AUSKF National Champion (2011)

Kendo Is Life.

Jason Brown 7 dan

Jason Brown Sensei, 7th Dan, has over 30 years of kendo experience. A long-time member of the U.S. National Team, he contributed to four World Championship bronze medals and captained the 2018 and 2024 teams. He also led SoCal to gold at the 2017 and 2023 U.S. Nationals.


-WKC Men’s Team (2006–2024)
-WKC Team Division: 3rd Place x 4
-WKC Individual Division: Fighting Spirit Award x 1

Children are the heart of Kendo’s future.

Chief Advisor

Tim Yuge 7 dan

Tim Yuge Sensei, Kendo 7th Dan Kyoshi, has played a key leadership role in the U.S. kendo community for many years. He has served as President of the Southern California Kendo Federation and as a senior officer of the AUSKF, contributing to the growth and development of kendo across the country.


– WKC Men’s Team Coach (1979)
– WKC Men’s Team (1973)
– Former President of SCKF
– Former President and Secretary of KFUSA

7 Dan

Ryoma Tominaga

6 Dan

Dong Jin Huh

AUSKF National Champion (2017)

6 Dan

Hansoo Kim

WKC Men’s Team (2009)

6 Dan

Jarrod Hatakeyama

WKC Men’s Team (2012–2018)

WKC Individual Fighting Spirit

6 Dan

Arashi Steele

WKC Men’s Team (2018-2024)

5 Dan

Simon Yoo

WKC Men’s Team (2006-2012)

5 Dan

Nathan Brown

5 Dan

Julian Williams

WKC Men’s Team (2012–2024)

WKC Individual Fighting Spiritx2

5 Dan

Damian Williams

WKC Men’s Team (2015-2024)

4 Dan

Zidi Allison

WKC Women’s Team (2024)

4 Dan

Tetsuya Iwasaki

4 Dan

Eun Seok Choi

3 Dan

Masashi Kanamori

3 Dan

Masaki Mizuhashi

3 Dan

Dale Steele

WKC Women’s Team (2024)

3 Dan

Joshua Paulsen