Training in a japanese dojo

[Pokie]

Hey guys, anyone experienced training in a japanese dojo before ? How's that like ? Is it more physically and stamina challenging than normal ? Is it awesome ? Must be so good !

[Hongsermeier]

I have trained a few times in Japan while on vacation. It's different. Much less structure where I went. On the other hand much harder. More one on one time with the sensei's. LOTS of keiko. The dojo I go to over there has an amazing floor. Over here I wear a knee brace and heel protector. Over there the floor is so soft I don't wear either one. On the down side, no such thing as AC in the dojo. Very hot and humid. I'm currently trying to transfer my job over there. Then I can stay for 3 years and practice. :cross_eye

[kendokamax]

thing is all dojo are different even in japan..

there is shitty dojo as there is very good dojo.

I train in a University dojo so the sensei here are professionals, so they are quite good!

[Stan]

I have trained in Japan too. It seemed to me that the adult clubs are not as serious as the high schools or universities. They are good though and you can find excellent instruction. If you can take the pace try to train at a high level high school or University club. If you know someone who can help you to get in, you could train at the keishicho (police) dojo (you need to know someone who has connections). That is brutal and super serious. Good luck if you are planning on visiting.

[Stan]

Oh yeah, as Hongsermeier wrote there is no climate control at a lot of these dojos. In the summer it is super hot and humid so make certain you have extra gis. I trained there for 1 month at a high school in the winter and everyday my gi was frozen.

[Jarlaxle]

They close the doors and windows in summer so they turn the air into hell,
Same in winter,all doors and windows are open ..so its more cold..
Like a challenge to whether and human consdition

[nodachi]

My experience was that there was more variety of techniques taught. They weren't concerned about focusing on just a few techniques repeatedly until you have done those few a couple thousand times. We would do a little of everything each practice. Some men, kote, kote men, do, kote men doh, various other combinations, and then whatever special things were to be focused on each day, like suriage, or whatever. I guess they were all about getting a little bit of everything and make corrections as you go so that you don't have a super strong men or kote men, but the rest of your techniques suck kind of situation.

Warm ups involved joge buri, shomen suburi, sayumen going forward and back, sayumen with a kind of side stepping action going on to it, haya suburi, and that deep breathing one which I always forget the name of. Something like shinkokyu...

Always lots of kirikaeshi.

Jigeiko was kept to about 30 minutes (tops) out of a 3 hour practice with kata being done almost every practice.

Winter practices are the best. If you are cold, just work harder so you don't freeze. Great motivator!!!

[kendomushi]

I've only trained here in Japan. And all of what has been said so far is true. How practice runs in each dojo is entirely up to the sensei. One dojo I visit where most of the local sensei go for their training, I've been reprimanded for not taking a break when I obviously needed one, "this isn't school yard kendo" the head instructor said.
Most of the typical Japanese dojo do not seem to put much emphasis on kata. They tend to cram it starting a month or two before shinsa. Though I have seen more emphasis on kata in testing the past couple years for shodan, nidan, and sandan.
Often the toughest part of training here is the lack of climate control. I know it is meant to build our toughness, endurance, and stamina, but it still isn't easy after 10 years of it.

[Yowai]

Air conditioning in a dojo? Hahahaha.
Are such dojos lined with wrestling mats and have a water fountain with a straw attachment in the corner?

[Hyaku]

My first impression was that for Asageiko I had to do nearly an hours Kirikaeshii and Kakari geiko with short breaks in between for four months before I was even allowed to do Jigeiko. Even then Jigeiko was always for the last fifteen minutes I did already have Shodan at that time. But after a year of that I was needless to say well in charge of myself.

Evening sessions were more relaxed with basics from 5:30 to 6:30 then Jigeiko until after 7:30

On climate: This year its has rained on and off for four weeks now. Temperature is around 28c. Add this to putting on a Men for a few hours means lots of sweat that does not dry out.

When it finally stops raining in a few more weeks we can expect temperatures of near 40.

Worst case in winter was when I took the bamboo out of my keikogi and it had frozen stiff. Breaking it up to put on and a few kakari geiko soon thawed it out though.

You could perhaps find a dojo with a less strict regimen but you would only be cheating yourself. Like anything else you get out of it what you put in to it

Hyaku

[arielw]

I've trained only in a Japanese dojo. I wouldn't have started Kendo, most likely, if I hadn't been living here. I taught (contract just ended) at a Japanese high school and trained with their club. This meant that for four months I wasn't even allowed to wear the men.
It was all okiku (big) men, kote, do on either the dummy or just in the air, accompanied by the stepping and leaping exercises. It was 2-3 hours a day, depending on if the teacher decided to work with me or not.
I've also been to the local budo-kan and two other schools for weekends or just invitations by the teachers. Never seen anything but a hard-wood floor anywhere and never EVER caught sight of air or heat. AND, in my experience (Iwate -- Tokohu region) most of the people toned-down or even cancelled trainings VERY often during winter. I'd find I'd show-up and be the only one there or maybe 1 of 3 or 4.
Lately, I've gone to alot of open-trainings with people much much better than me. Usually it's just a line (10-12) instructors at the front of the room and students line-up to keiko, in turn and you go through line as often as you can.

[Kozushi]

Ah! That would be nice: Kendo in Japan!
If only I could!