About Ojika

Why Ojika?
Ojika means 'stag' in Japanese. There aren't a lot of stags in Newcastle, apart from those drinking in the town centre at weekends, but the origin of the Ojika name comes from Gavin Threipland. Gavin establised the dojo and his highland Scots heritage includes a family crest featuring a stag's head, hence the name.

History Of The Dojo
The origins of Ojika lie in Cullercoats Kendo Club which ran for many years as a purely Kendo dojo. In the mid-1990s Gavin Threipland started an Iaido section at the community centre where we trained and named this Ojika. We also started training in Jodo and competing in both arts under that name, winning a few medals along the way. In 2003 the club relocated nearer to Newcastle city centre and brought Kendo under the Ojika banner. Gavin moved away in 2008 leaving the dojo to be run by the other high grades, but he is still a member and appears when he can.

Who runs the dojo?
There is a core of people who run the dojo and/or teach the arts. All have coaching qualifications with the BKA, hold professional indemnity insurance and are CRB checked.