new blood needs advice

[Logan]

Hi everyone, just wanted to introduce myself. I am a 19 year old college student and have wanted to practice kendo sience the 7th grade when I saw a tournament at a local high school. I am planning on starting kendo this upcoming january (when the dojo I am looking at allows new members), but was wondering if the dojo I am eye'n is any good. I have a visit scheduled this friday, but I want to do my homework before I go. I was wondering what you guys think of this dojo:

Shidogakuin
www.kendoka.org

from what I have gathered, they are based in New York, but have "affiliated" dojos in Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, and Washington D.C. The dojo is affiliated with the AUSKF and the GNUESKF. The regional head instructor is Shozo Kato. Quarterly dues are $90 for Wed. only attendance, and $135 for Wed. and Fri.
Just looking for everyones two cents on the dojo. Any response is appreciated..thanks! :happy:

[decembersnow6]

which one are you going to go to? the one in NY, NJ or CT?

[Logan]

none of them. I will be going to the one in Washington DC. (Technically it is in Maryland..just north of DC)

[decembersnow6]

oh yeah, duh! not familiar with the one in DC but the head instructor, Kato sensei is awesome.

[Shazzanzzz]

yea, that dojo's good. I practiced with the sensei from there before, he's very good.

[Logan]

awesome..keep feeding me opinions of the dojo :) Does the quarter dojo dues seem fair as well?

[Neil Gendzwill]

I think if you check into other martial arts you'll find the fees dirt cheap. I know the guys at Shidgakuin DC personally, they're good people and I've practiced with them when I've been in DC for business. Kato sensei comes to teach every month or two as I understand it, he's a former US team coach and well-respected. I'd say sign up and have fun.

[Logan]

awesome..thanks neil..well then i hope to one day practice with you :tongue:

[tango]

Yes, they're very good.

And if I'm not mistaken, their iaido is very, very good, too...

[Yowai]

$540 for 2 practices per week is considered to be dirt cheap?
Wow.

[Neil Gendzwill]

OK, well maybe not dirt cheap - the dues are roughly $40/month, which makes them a little more expensive than many kendo dojo but still a lot cheaper than commercial martial arts. On the up-side, they've got a nice big gym with a good floor and shower facilities, which puts them above the church-basement type places.

For comparison, our dues are $25 (CDN) per month, we practice at the local Y.

If our newbie feels that's too steep, he can check into Don Seto's group at GMU (http://www.geocities.com/nvbudokai/kendo.htm). You won't go wrong with Don, although I'm not sure if there are student restrictions there. There was also a group that practices once a week at GWU, led by Shinya Deguchi who also practices with Shidogakuin. Sorry, no details, not even sure if Shinya's still in the country.

[Logan]

Well I guess the main question I have now is:
Where will i revieve the best kendo training?
Eventually I would like to become a competetive player, but I do not want to take short cuts that I have read about and develop only a 'competetion technique'. I will agree that these dues do seem cheap to me..my friends hapkido lessons were 3g's a year! Nonetheless..I have written GMU dojo an e-mail and hope to soon hear a reply. Oh, and what should I look for when I visit a dojo? Thanks.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I think you'd be fine at any of them. When I was there last, Shidogakuin was the biggest but that was 3 years ago, so I'm not sure of what's happening now. Pick the one that best suits your schedule and travel needs.

[SirFingerLickin]

I've practiced with Seto sensei before when he visited San Diego a few months back. He's a very good teacher.

[Shazzanzzz]

If I'm not mistaken, Deguchi went back to Japan already.

What college do you go to?

If you go to GMU, of course, go to the GMU club, probably will be a lot cheaper. But, Shidogakuin is the largest in the DC area, and there is a reason why they're the largest. There is another Shidogakuin dojo in Oakton, Va, if it's closer to you.

[Shazzanzzz]

Oh, there is also a kumdo dojang in northern virginia. I know a few people from there, and it seems like they train very hard, and do good kendo/kumdo whatever.

Sorry, i don't have any contact informations.

[Logan]

Im at the University Of Maryland College Park (Go Terps).
Shazzanzzz...do you go to Virginia Tech?
Isn't the last US Kendo Champ a Shidogakuin student? With that rep, and having the opporutnity to be tought by Kato sensei, I am really leaning towards that dojo. I have a visit scheduled this friday.

Anyone know anything about Taku Kamata and his teaching skills? He is the head instructor of the washington dojo....just doing my homework.

[Shazzanzzz]

Im at the University Of Maryland College Park (Go Terps).
Shazzanzzz...do you go to Virginia Tech?
Isn't the last US Kendo Champ a Shidogakuin student? With that rep, and having the opporutnity to be tought by Kato sensei, I am really leaning towards that dojo. I have a visit scheduled this friday.

Anyone know anything about Taku Kamata and his teaching skills? He is the head instructor of the washington dojo....just doing my homework.


Kamata sensei is very good. He's the highest ranking sensei around DC area, Go-dan.

Yea, I go to tech. You shouldn't be so picky... we don't even have a sensei here...

[Shambler]

Er, I don't believe Kato sensei would be teaching. From what I understand, he started the whole line of Shidogakuin dojos along the east coast. He teaches directly the dojo in NY, NY, but he stops by the other dojos to do seminars.

I currently go to the dojo in Oakton, and we've got a nice group going with a really good teacher.

Furthermore, they don't teach to score points from the get-go. They will have you focus on getting the basics down pat.

If you want more information about the line of dojos, go to www.kendoka.org (http://www.kendoka.org)

Hope this helps!

[Logan]

I wouldn't say I am being 'picky'. Just shopping smart and exploring all of my options