Online training

[slaitaar]

Greetings all!

I have studied history and, more specifically, historical weapons. I have had a kind of facsination with the katana and samuri for some time but it was until my recent 19th birthday, when I was given a Katana (jsut a regular ~£90 or so display-type one) that I even heard about martial arts like Kendo and Kenjutsu (sp?). I was wondering if anyone here knows of any online materials that I could like at, maybe try teaching myself a few lessons to see if I like it, before wasting my time, a sensei's time and my money going to a dojo. (Assuming there is one in this part of the Uk [Colchester, Essex].)

My thanks in advance.

Matt

[slaitaar]

Ah...just checked the British Kendo Association website and there arent any clubs near me :(

Maybe a lost cause... Any advice is still welcome and encouraged!

[Kaoru]

Hi Matt,

Welcome to the forum!

Ok... Since it is a wallhanger, do not use it to practice with. It isn't safe. It also is unsafe to try to learn swordsmanship with no sensei. Especially with a live blade. Katanas are very sharp, and drawing the blade, you can actually cut fingers off or at least, cut yourself quite good. Same for resheathing it. Without proper instruction, you are putting yourself in danger. The danger of using a wallhanger(a sword meant for display.) is that most often everything is just glued together. So, the fitttings(Including mekugi pin, if it even has one. From what I understand, some blades on this type of sword are just glued in.) can come loose, causing the sword to become an unsafe object to handle. Even when learning cutting techniques,(I don't mean tameshigiri. That's something you should never try without proper instruction.) you can hurt yourself, if you don't know what you are doing. You should only use swords meant for practicing a JSA(Japanese swordart.), and even then, you'd start out with a bokken(wooden sword) or Iaito(blunt edged sword) for a long while until your sensei told you otherwise. In the case of Kendo, a shinai and bokken are all you use.

The best way to find out if you like a swordart, is to go watch a practice, and talk to a sensei. Sometimes, a person has to drive far distances just to get to a dojo to practice. It's common and not unheard of. I travel 2 hours and 20 minutes twice a month for Kendo. There are others I know who cross states just to get to a Kenjutsu or Iaido dojo. Kendo is a bit more common so the distances are usually within a few hours or less. That's here in the states, anyway.

I know there are Koryu arts in England. If you head on over to e-budo.com to the forum there, you can put up a post asking about dojos in your country, if you give them your location. There are people there who are in England who practice a Koryu art(that means Kenjutsu and Iaido.) and Kendo. Be aware that you must state your full name in your post in order to be allowed to post. Here is the URL for e-budo:

http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=16

Also, another forum worth going to for information on the Japanese swordarts is the Samurai Forum at:

http://www.sword.ne.jp

It's smaller, but there are people from all over there too. who know a lot and may be able to help you learn more about JSA. To find a dojo though, e-budo is the best for that.

But no. You can't learn online. I would not recommend it. You will just end up having to relearn everything anyway, because it's hard to get things right without a teacher. There is no substitute for a sensei. Besides, it's safer for you.

By the way, if you still want to mess around, get a bokken. At least then, you can't hurt yourself and others.

Well, I hope this information is of some use to you. I hope you are able to find a dojo so you can practice the art you like. Good luck!

Kaoru

[digitalritual]

Thanks for the advice. When I decided to get a katana, I found out about kendo training. Luckly, I have a dojo 15 minutes from my home.
I just got a bokken to try it out & get the feel of it.
Hopefully, I'll be signed up for training within a week or so.


Hi Matt,

Welcome to the forum!

Ok... Since it is a wallhanger, do not use it to practice with. It isn't safe. It also is unsafe to try to learn swordsmanship with no sensei. Especially with a live blade. Katanas are very sharp, and drawing the blade, you can actually cut fingers off or at least, cut yourself quite good. Same for resheathing it. Without proper instruction, you are putting yourself in danger. The danger of using a wallhanger(a sword meant for display.) is that most often everything is just glued together. So, the fitttings(Including mekugi pin, if it even has one. From what I understand, some blades on this type of sword are just glued in.) can come loose, causing the sword to become an unsafe object to handle. Even when learning cutting techniques,(I don't mean tameshigiri. That's something you should never try without proper instruction.) you can hurt yourself, if you don't know what you are doing. You should only use swords meant for practicing a JSA(Japanese swordart.), and even then, you'd start out with a bokken(wooden sword) or Iaito(blunt edged sword) for a long while until your sensei told you otherwise. In the case of Kendo, a shinai and bokken are all you use.

The best way to find out if you like a swordart, is to go watch a practice, and talk to a sensei. Sometimes, a person has to drive far distances just to get to a dojo to practice. It's common and not unheard of. I travel 2 hours and 20 minutes twice a month for Kendo. There are others I know who cross states just to get to a Kenjutsu or Iaido dojo. Kendo is a bit more common so the distances are usually within a few hours or less. That's here in the states, anyway.

I know there are Koryu arts in England. If you head on over to e-budo.com to the forum there, you can put up a post asking about dojos in your country, if you give them your location. There are people there who are in England who practice a Koryu art(that means Kenjutsu and Iaido.) and Kendo. Be aware that you must state your full name in your post in order to be allowed to post. Here is the URL for e-budo:

http://www.e-budo.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?forumid=16

Also, another forum worth going to for information on the Japanese swordarts is the Samurai Forum at:

http://www.sword.ne.jp

It's smaller, but there are people from all over there too. who know a lot and may be able to help you learn more about JSA. To find a dojo though, e-budo is the best for that.

But no. You can't learn online. I would not recommend it. You will just end up having to relearn everything anyway, because it's hard to get things right without a teacher. There is no substitute for a sensei. Besides, it's safer for you.

By the way, if you still want to mess around, get a bokken. At least then, you can't hurt yourself and others.

Well, I hope this information is of some use to you. I hope you are able to find a dojo so you can practice the art you like. Good luck!

Kaoru

[Ipp-on Ipp-off]

I could like at, maybe try teaching myself a few lessons to see if I like it, before wasting my time, a sensei's time and my money going to a dojo. (Assuming there is one in this part of the Uk [Colchester, Essex].)

I would say the waste is in the first part not in the latter.

[Neil Gendzwill]

People try kendo all the time and quit shortly thereafter. We're not offended, and we don't regard it as a waste of our time, it's just the natural way of things. Visit a dojo, see if it's for you.

[Rob_B]

Growing up a ski racer/cricketer/rugby player..... in rural Norfolk, I feel your pain, but travelling is just part of having a sporting life in the sticks. I'm hoping to go along to Norwich (30 miles) the next time I go home. First time I've been back since starting Kendo at UCL this Autumn.

Nearest Kendo to Colchester:
Tsurugi-Bashi Kendo Kai
St. Lukes School
French's Road
Cambridge (about 40 miles)
01233 301884

According to BKA, there is an Iaido club in Chelmsford. Maybe they have expanded since their last update and worth a call about Kendo.

Alternatively, there are lots of clubs in London (only a 50 minute train ride on One trains).

[Rob_B]

Sorry. Just noticed when original post was. Information still valid though.