finding a dojo

[OneTrunks]

I'm fifteen and looking into starting kendo. Admittedly, i only learned about it though anime and manga, which, for some reason, seems like a bad sign to me, but my interest has grown alot since my initial "oh, cool!"

besides having some trouble finding a nearbye dojo (CT prefers karate by a ration of about a 100 to one, would be my under educated guess) i am not at all sure about how to get into it.

First and foremost, I'd like to know how I should open communication with a dojo, who I should contact, and what type of things I should do to find out if it is a good place for me to learn.

Just from reading a few posts here it's become pretty clear that kendo is, being a less wide spread art than soemthing like karate, is not taught in a very rigid class structure. A friend of mine that took karate for a little over a year explained it as being taught in a group that was more or elss the same age/skill level and they progressed pretty equally. it seems like kendo is more of a communial, play-it-as-it-comes sor tof training. is that accurate and how do i go about deciding where I can do best?

also, not meaning to spoil the surprise, can anyone give me a rough idea of how thigns get started? obviously, at least, i would expect they don't hand you a sword and a face mask the first day and say 'whack away", but i'm curious as to what's in store.

if anyone can help me out with some of these questions id be very thankful.

[StylophonePet]

How you discovered Kendo doesn't sound that weird or bad to me
I first learned about Kendo in a game on an old Amiga 500 when I was between 10 and 12 years old
Now I am 20 and starting my first training session this thursday, lucky for me my dojo will be 5 miles from my home

I wish you luck on finding a suitable dojo, and I hope you wish me luck on my first training

[kendomushi]

Kendo usually starts with learning the foot work, if you have done any other martial arts you will find kendo foot work very different, and learning to control the shinai. It will be some time before you progress to wearing armor. Just how long depends on how fast you pick it up and your instructor's perception of your progress. Most of our students spend between 4 and 8 months working on basics before being told they are ready to wear armor.

[nodachi]

I would say to just go to the closest dojo you can find, try it out, and if you don't like it, move on til you find an atmosphere and skilled sensei that you feel you enjoy or learn a lot from or preferably both.

Look at the Kendo America website and find a dojo, and just go. I started by walking into a club and simply asked if I could join. They put me right into the practice, asked if I wanted to continue, and I liked it, so I joined. You have the advantage of being able to understand the language of where you are training too, that may help, just ask questions, I had to fumble with my not even good enough to call it poor level of Japanese at the time.

Experience it, and ask questions when you are there, then decide

[OneTrunks]

good luck StylophonePet on your first practice! I'm sure you'll do great. and you're pretty lucky to have the dojo so close. the nearest one to me (I beleive) is a little over a thirty minute drive away...

I havn't done any other martial arts so the footwork would be pretty different to what I know, ie. walking. 4 to 8 months seemd like a long time at first but, thinking it over more, thats not really all that long considering it's a sport you need armor and a sword for ;)

[StylophonePet]

I'm trying not to get to exited because first trainings are always the most "boring"
Like in my short ju jutsu experience, my first lesson I was getting thrown around the mat to learn how to fall, I guess my first Kendo experiences will be a little bit the same.....
We'll see tomorrow......

[OneTrunks]

ha! thats an amuzing thought.

sensai: hello, welcome to our dojo.

everyone else in dojo: BEATDOWN!

okay, not a realsitic thought, but pretty amusing nonethe less. I know what you mean though. but that's good. that way, if you start to feel like quitting in a weke or two it will be getting mroe itneresting. how often are you planning on attending training?

[StylophonePet]

As often as I can, I work nightshifts so I'll have to work something out....
About getting thrown around, it's a funny thought but not so funny when it's YOU they're throwing around! ;o)

[Jerry Wellbrock]

OneTrunks, There is a dojo in Stamford called the Doshinkan that is affiliated with the Shindogakuin headed by Kato Sensei that offers Kendo and Iaido. I personally do not know Kato Sensei but one of my dojo mates has and speaks very highly of him. If that is not convienent for you perhaps they can recommed another dojo for you. There is always the Yale Kendo Club. Seriously just give them a call to find the class schedule and tell them you are interested in visiting and watching a class. Just do it and go from there. It matters not how you found out about kendo just that you are interested. Good Luck. Jerry

[OneTrunks]

I actually did get in touch with the yale kendo club, but, unfortunately, it's cost prohibitive... there's no charge to join the club but I would have to pay for a visitor's pass to yale gym where they practice each time. plus, the acedemic season is coming to a close, so for a time practices are arranged by club members and far outside my range of travel. I'll keep your recomendation in mind, since stamford is starting to look like my last option. :confused:

[StylophonePet]

First training thursday evening:......I.....want......MORE!

[StylophonePet]

Though I don't have any footsoles left from learning the basic footwork.......still I took great joy from first training and can't wait 'till tomorrow

[OneTrunks]

wow. sounds like you had fun! no fot soles... good thing to keep in mind...

[StylophonePet]

Try gliding your feet over wooden floors with speed for about 2 hours and you'll know what I mean...
Have you found a dojo yet OneTrunks?

[OneTrunks]

fraid not... I'm low on options... kendo isn't a big thing in CT, not that i really expected it to be. Yale is close enough, but there's no easy way to get access to the gym (I have to get a seperate vistor's pass each time i come...) and I'd still be fighting against a whole bunch of college or older guys... I knwo that doesn't mean much, but it still seems a little unfair. there's a nother in stamford but thats almsot ninety minutes each way... obviously too far.

anyway, the yale academic season is ending, so I couldn't start until early fall, I guess. which may be good, in the long run. talk about an early test of dedication. if I still want to do it after that long, buying visotr passes shouldn't be too bad.

and yeah, i can see how gliding your feet over hardwood floors for two hours could be bad...

[StylophonePet]

Good idea about testing yourself too see if you really want to do it after waiting for a couple of weeks or months (how long will it be?)
Maybe you can start already and see how you like it, over here the first two lessons are free, and then during "off season" you can train your footwork...

[StylophonePet]

I had to wait almost ten years before I could actually start...ok, I didn't think of Kendo 24/7 but still....

[OneTrunks]

well... actually... there's a seocnd advantage to waiting... (It should be till early august, I would imagine)... I have summer to get into a little bit better shape, which would definately help. I realize that kendo is a very good way for someone to get in shape but still... It would be nice to not go directly from scholar to swordsman.

[StylophonePet]

What better stimuli than doing something you like?
(pardon if my english is not the best)
Most people I know will go to the gym to get in better shape for this and that but most quit after 1 or 3 weeks, coz' it's just plain boring working out by means of fitnessequiptment.
I know I find it boring just as I find running and such boring...
Just as I have said in another post to somebody else,
"don't think too little of your own body"
You're still young so you'll catch up fairly early even if you are in bad shape
Go watch a training session from beginning 'till end and then think about it, a sempai will surely talk to you so ask away.
You have to start some way, remember probably most people start a sport to get in shape whilst doing something they like, if you like it, what's stopping you?

Like Nike say's "Just do it!"
So I shall say to you, don't try to make up excuses for yourself and just go for it! Aaaah who cares if you make some mistakes in the beginning but you have to start somewhere, right?
I hope my post doesn't offend you, I just hope I can inspire you...

[Raiza]

Originally posted by OneTrunks
the yale academic season is ending, so I couldn't start until early fall, I guess. which may be good, in the long run. talk about an early test of dedication. if I still want to do it after that long, buying visotr passes shouldn't be too bad.

Most university dojos are open the entire year. Check with Yale.

[OneTrunks]

actually, i would have thought their dojo was open all year. it was them that told me the wern't open year round. apparently, the mebers either practic eon the own or arange meeting in private over the summer.

and stylophonePet, no offense taken... some confusion...

I know what you're saying though. I'm not really out of shape (better shape than I look, actually) but I still have room for improvement. And I'm not really doing kendo for the fitness. I jsut think kendo is cool beyond beleif... actually, at the moment, about the only thing I can iamgine ending ym run would be having opprotunity to say "If you've got something to say, say it with that sword", but thats jsut me being silly. teehee

[m_french]

"It would be nice to not go directly from scholar to swordsman."



Originally posted by OneTrunks
it was them that told me the wern't open year round.

I'm sorry where did you say you were studying?:beard:

[OneTrunks]

The only local dojo i can get to reutienly is the Yale University Dojo

[StylophonePet]

Originally posted by OneTrunks
I jsut think kendo is cool beyond beleif...

I know Kendo looks cool, but it's more than just cool, don't be somebody who quits shortly after getting their bogu

[OneTrunks]

well, I don't know enough about kendo to even know what a bogu is, so... I don't intend to quit just after getting it... Actually, it was originally a "oh sweet!" attraction but now it's more of a "oh, that would be a physical hobby that I could integrate into my life" sort of thing.

[aru-ma]

Originally posted by StylophonePet
I know Kendo looks cool, but it's more than just cool, don't be somebody who quits shortly after getting their bogu

I've had some of this type of poeple in my club (its a university club), everytime I asked them something about this the reply is usually to busy or something along this line, did they get extra workload AFTER they've gt into bogu? I wonder how true this is, but what concerns me is that if they quit because they cant stand being hit.

[OneTrunks]

uhm... okay... n shame in looking stupid if you learn, right? so... pls... someone... what is bogu? and being hit would be half the fun, what are they talking about. okay, hopefully not actually being hit, but actual compititon. if you learn soemthing and you have a forum in which you can safely and fairly practice it why not?

[aru-ma]

"what is bogu?"

Bogu is the armor you wear in kendo, it consist of a men (face mask), kote (gauntlet), do (chest-stomach protector), and tare (waist protector).
If you want to know how it looks like just go to any on line kendo store or your dojo.
I'm surprised no one answerd this one earlier. I hope this clears things up a bit

[OneTrunks]

ah right. i actually recognize all the names for armor (and what most of it is) but I hadn't heard the name for all of it... and ebsides, why would ppl quit then? I'd think that the people who were only interested ebcause they thought kendo was cool would have to wait till then, since the armor is most of the cool factor, and thsoe that were serious would eagerly anticipate they day they got to practice their art... why leave when it get's good? thats like leaving hunters saftey when they finally give you a gun.

thanks for the answer

[kendomushi]

While bogu does refer to the armor worn in kendo it is also used more generically as a reference to gear used by an individual as in a sport.