Patrick Register ~ Kendo 6.dan, Iaido 1.dan

Patrick Register was the first kendo (and iaido) student in Memphis. He is the only current MKA member to have traveled to Japan to train directly with Memphis Kendo's 'grandfather,' Takaaki Nakahama-sensei (Kyoshi, 7.dan), prior to his death.  

He is a 3-time selection to the All-Southeast U.S. Kendo Team, having competed at the All-U.S. Kendo Federation National Championships in 1996 (Cleveland) (Top-16 finisher of the Men's Individual Division), 1999 (Las Vegas), and 2020 (canceled due to COVID).  In 2019, he was selected as a Shinpan for the All-US Kendo Junior National Championships.  In 2023, he was selected as the Head Coach of the All-Southeast US Kendo Federation Junior Team. 

Pat is a professional musician/singer/songwriter, having been on the Memphis music scene for many years with such bands as Come In Berlin, The Lost Boys, Voodoo Village, and Justus Brothers.  He is a regular fixture as a solo artist in many clubs and restaurants around Memphis and continues to tour with bands across the country.  Pat regularly contributes to the music ministries of several local churches, and has toured and worked directly with such music legends as Al Jarreau, Al Green, Kirk Whalum, Rufus Thomas, Toto, and Survivor.  His professional website is http://www.patregister.com/

Kazuto Yasuda ~ Kendo 5.dan

Kazuto Yasuda started Kendo many years ago while still living in Japan, and then after a lengthy break, he joined Memphis Kendo in 1995 when he came to Memphis to do cancer research at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

He received his Ph.D. in pharmacological sciences in December 2009 and continues to do research at St. Jude's.  

"Yaz" was selected as a member of the All-Southeast U.S. Kendo Team in 2002, competing at the All-U.S. Kendo National Championships in Los Angeles.

Rogers Gossett ~ Kendo 4.dan

Rogers Gossett started his Kendo tenure with Memphis Kendo in 1994.

He is a two-time selection to the All-Southeast U.S. Kendo Team, having competed in the All-U.S. Kendo National Championships both in 1996 (Cleveland) and 1999 (Las Vegas).

Outside of Kendo, he is a Labor Relations Advisor in the Contract Administration department of FedEx's Legal Division, dealing with FedEx pilot grievances and arbitrations.

Paul Westblade ~ Kendo 4.dan

Paul first joined Memphis Kendo in 1994 at the club's original location at the Raleigh Community Center.  He currently serves as the official MKA Contact Person for all Association inquiries, maintains the official MKA website, and is responsible as the liason between MKA, the Southeast US Kendo Federation, and the All-United States Kendo Federation.

He is a two-time selection to the All-Southeast US Kendo Federation Team (1996, 2023), where he also competed at the All-US National Championships (Cleveland (1996), Rochester(MI)(2023))

Paul has a very diverse background, having been in the casino business, and owner of several small businesses over the years.  Paul's daughter, Abigail, also started Kendo in 2018!

Tommy Ferguson ~ Kendo 4.dan

Tommy Ferguson-sensei returned to the Memphis area in retirement in early 2020 after being in Chicago under the instruction of Ken Sakamoto-sensei (Kyoshi 7.dan) at the Choyokan Kendo Dojo for many years.  He brings a wealth of experience to the dojo and a different perspective for everyone.  We feel very fortunate to have him!

Shinn Taniguchi ~ Kendo 3.dan

Shinn Taniguchi started Kendo at the age of 10, having earned the rank of 3.dan by age 17, which is the youngest age possible according to time constraint testing rules under the by-laws of the All U.S. Kendo Federation.

Even though his age, until recently, put him in the junior divisions of competition, Shinn has been a regular fixture of the Memphis Kendo 5-man Team for the past several years.  He has taken 1st and 2nd place medals in every junior division in which he has competed, and he was previously selected to the All-Southeast U.S. Kendo Federation Junior Team, both as an individual competitor and 5-man team member, at the All-U.S. Junior National Kendo Championships.

Shinn recently graduated from Christian Brothers University with a major in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics and Packaging.

Walter White ~ Kendo 4.dan (Instructor Emeritus)

Walter White started his Kendo tenure with Memphis Kendo in the mid-1990s at the club's first location at the Raleigh Community Center.  

Walter was selected twice as a member of the All-Southeast US Kendo Federation Team, having competed at the All-US Kendo Federation National Championships in 2011 (Atlanta)(Senior Division - Fighting Spirit Award) and 2014 (San Diego).

He was also selected as an assistant manager of the All-Southeast US Kendo Federation's Women's Team for the All-US Kendo National Championships in 2017 (San Jose).   

In 2020, Walter relocated to Nashville after retiring as head of security for the Memphis Airport Authority.  He then came out of full retirement to become a professional photographer.  Officially, he is currently a member of the Nashville Kendo Club, but he occasionally returns to Memphis for Kendo practice.