BCAF 2025 Kangeiko in Clearwater, BC. Registration Now Open
Kangeiko 2025:
February 14 - 17
The 2025 BCAF Kangeiko will be returning to Clearwater, BC on February 14 - 17, 2025, and will once again be co-hosted by the BCAF, Clearwater Aikikai, and the District of Clearwater.
Kangeiko is the BCAF’s winter training intensive, the parallel objectives of which are to support the varying needs of different host dojos and to encourage the maturation of the BC aikido community through horizontal collaboration at various levels: among dojos, among aikido practitioners, and among local community partners.
The first BCAF Kangeiko, held in February 2023, was hosted in Clearwater just one month after the post-COVID re-opening of Clearwater Aikikai. The event was instrumental in providing the dojo with local recognition and validation, in turn allowing the small dojo to grow and stabilize at about 30 youth members and a few courageous adults.
Kangeiko 2025 will span both Valentine’s Day and the Family Day long weekend, so this time around, the organizers would like to encourage visitors to bring their family members and partners. The Kangeiko schedule will contain over 18 hours of mat time across four days, but it will also allow for time to be spent with loved ones who do not practice aikido. Clearwater is situated at the entrance to Wells Grey Provincial Park and offers a very wide range of winter activities, with guided tours of the numerous frozen waterfalls located within the park, skating and ice fishing on Dutch Lake, cross-country skiing on the Candle Creek trail network, and snowshoeing in the backcountry (https://wellsgray.ca/things-to-do/ski-snow-ice/winter-waterfalls/). Day trips to Sun Peaks (approximately 90 min away) are also a possibility.
What is Kangeiko?
Kangeiko (寒稽古) is Japanese for “mid-winter martial arts training.” Training during adverse conditions, when the world is cold and dark, encourages both an improvement in physical skills and discipline for the mind. Often, the greatest obstacle to going to the dojo to attend class arises there – in the mind. Kangeiko creates the expectation that you WILL go to class, and the resulting sense of accomplishment can provide clarity and bring new direction to your training.
Guest Instructors
Ben Peacock (CAF 6th dan, Dojo-cho, Burloak Aikikai)
Kim Riddick (CAF 5th dan, Dojo-cho, North Delta Aikikai)
Grant Babin (CAF 5th dan, Dojo-cho, Aikidaily International)
Myrna Harrod-Taniguti (3rd dan, Dojo-cho, Clearwater Aikikai)
Phil Kirwin (2nd dan, Vancouver West Aikikai)
Rebecca Sargent (2nd dan, Co-dojo-cho, Kootenay Aikido Collective)
Registration Click here to register!
Schedule (subject to modification)
| Day | Time | Activity |
| Friday, Feb 14 | 7-8:20 pm (80 min) | Ben Peacock |
| Saturday, Feb 15 | 7:00-8:00 am (60 min) | Myrna Harrod-Taniguti |
| 8:00-9:20 (80 min) | Breakfast break | |
| 9:30-10:50 (80 min) | Ben Peacock | |
| 11:00-12:00 YOUTH (60 min) | Phil Kirwin | |
| 12:00-1:50 (110 min) | Lunch break | |
| 1:50-2:50 YOUTH (60 min) | Rebecca Sargent | |
| 3:00-4:00 (60 min) | Kim Riddick | |
| 4:10-5:30 (80 min) | Ben Peacock | |
| 5:30-6:00 | Break | |
| 6:00-8:30 | Sushi Party | |
| Sunday, Feb 16 | 7:00-8:00 am (60 min) | Grant Babin |
| 8:00-9:20 (80 min) | Breakfast break | |
| 9:30-10:50 (80 min) | Ben Peacock | |
| 11:00-12:00 YOUTH (60 min) | Rebecca Sargent | |
| 12:00-1:50 (110 min) | Lunch break | |
| 1:50-2:50 YOUTH (60 min) | Phil Kirwin | |
| 3:00-4:00 (60 min) | Kim Riddick | |
| 4:10-5:30 (80 min) | Ben Peacock | |
| 5:30-6:30 | Break | |
| 6:30-9:00 | Dinner | |
| Monday, Feb. 17 | 6:30-7:30 am (60 min) | Myrna Harrod–Taniguti |
| 7:30-8:50 (80 min) | Breakfast break | |
| 8:50-9:50 (60 min) | Grant Babin | |
| 10:00-11:20 (80 min) | Ben Peacock | |
| 11:20-11:30 (10 min) | Closing thank-you | |
| 11:30-1:30 | Mat clean-up, lunch (bagged lunches available for those who need to leave immediately) |
Venue
Clearwater is located 90 min north of Kamloops on the edge of beautiful Wells Gray Provincial Park, known for its numerous waterfalls, lakes, and waterways, including the Clearwater River. The venue for Kangeiko will be the Dutch Lake Community Centre, located a short distance away from its namesake, Dutch Lake.
Dutch Lake Community Center, 209 Dutch Lake Rd, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N0 (Google maps)
We would like to acknowledge that our event will take place on the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Secwépemc and Simpcw nations. We pay respect to the First Peoples of these territories and extend that acknowledgement and respect to all Indigenous Peoples.
Accommodations
Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodations. There are several motels within a few minutes from the venue. Below are a few recommendations.
Stay Clearwater 20% discount code available - please see registration form
Nakiska Ranch (30 minute drive from venue)
Ride-sharing
Please indicate your interest in ride-sharing in the registration form. Ride-shares with three or more BCAF members will be eligible to apply for the BCAF Travel Bursary (ask your dojo-cho).
Aikidaily has offered to provide ride-sharing options for those traveling from the Greater Vancouver area, Horseshoe Bay, and the Fraser Valley. Seats are limited. Please contact Grant Babin (grant.babin@aikidaily.com) for more information.
Mat Fees
Adult (18+) fees
Full weekend: $150
All-day Saturday: $75
Half-day Saturday: $40
All-day Sunday: $75
Half-day Sunday: $40
Monday morning: $40
U18 fees
Full Weekend: $30
Meal Fees
**Vegan and gluten-free options will be available for all meals. Please let us know of any dietary restrictions on the registration form.**
All meals (Sat to Mon): $240; under 18 years, $100
Breakfast and baked treats available throughout the day: $23/day (Sat, Sun, Mon)
Lunch: $28/day (Sat, Sun, Mon)
Saturday sushi party: $40
Sunday dinner: $47
Contact
Myrna Harrod-Taniguti myrna@clearwateraikikai.ca
Phil Kirwin memberatlarge1@bcaikidofederation.ca