Sothern california newbie

[Petitemonk]

First off this is my first post on this forum, I have been rading for awhile trying to get different info on kendo. I bought kendo sticks abought a year ago and I been playing with them for awhile with my friends and I finally decided I would like to try this for real and after watching the videos I think that It would be fun to learn and practice. So i decided to read some books, The first book I read was the book of five rings, whitch I found facinating, although it is not kendo I got the impression kendo was an easyer style for newer people. So I have been looking around on the internet and I havent been able to find a place in the area and I was hoping maby somsone could point me the direction... I live in riverside California, I am looking for something around riverside, corona, norco, moreno valley, anywhere in those areas or close to those cities. Also about how much would training cost, money isnt a problem, I am just curious. Thx in advance

-Petitemonk

[gUnDaL]

:) im a newbie too... i plan on going to the one in Norwalk, like in febuary or april... i think its about 45 minutes away from riverside?? if you plan on driving that long to norwalk i guess ill see you there

[Ralutin]

Hi,

Actually, there are a couple of Southern California Kendo dojo in the high desert region of Southern California and the next closest one would be in Covina:

http://www.eanet.com/sckf/dojo/hdesert.htm
http://www.eanet.com/sckf/dojo/jt.htm
http://www.eanet.com/sckf/dojo/cov.htm

I would recommend calling these dojo first to let them know that you'd like to visit them and to confirm the days when they have practice. Of course, if you still want to drive all the way out to Norwalk, please be my guest. Steve Yoshimura sensei and his students are among the best and hardest working kendoka in Southern California, if not the whole U.S. You can find more information about the Southern California Kendo Federation (SCKF) by clicking the link in my signature field below.

[Petitemonk]

right on thx alot on the info, Ill have to check these out.

[Petitemonk]

:) im a newbie too... i plan on going to the one in Norwalk, like in febuary or april... i think its about 45 minutes away from riverside?? if you plan on driving that long to norwalk i guess ill see you there
HEH I might, the drive wouldnt be bad if I enjoy the classes.

[Inouye02]

First off this is my first post on this forum, I have been rading for awhile trying to get different info on kendo. I bought kendo sticks abought a year ago and I been playing with them for awhile with my friends and I finally decided I would like to try this for real and after watching the videos I think that It would be fun to learn and practice. So i decided to read some books, The first book I read was the book of five rings, whitch I found facinating, although it is not kendo I got the impression kendo was an easyer style for newer people. So I have been looking around on the internet and I havent been able to find a place in the area and I was hoping maby somsone could point me the direction... I live in riverside California, I am looking for something around riverside, corona, norco, moreno valley, anywhere in those areas or close to those cities. Also about how much would training cost, money isnt a problem, I am just curious. Thx in advance

-Petitemonk

petitemonk, welcome to the forums, firstly if you are gonna go to Norwalk Dojo, you better not be using the term kendo sticks, they're called shinai, don't go there thinking with the attitude that kendo will be fun, kendo is a hard learning process, learning to do the footwork is not easy, you might get frustrated with it , most Dojo's won't let you wear hakama and keiko gi until you have learned proper footwork, and i'm sure Yoshimura Sensei won't let you either, but if you do join the Dojo , i wish you the best of luck in your journey in Kendo ..

[gUnDaL]

:confused2 the norwalk dojo seems scary

[Inouye02]

:confused2 the norwalk dojo seems scary

they're not scary, just serious about their kendo instruction..very nice people , go check them out tonight if you like ...

[m_french]

:confused2 the norwalk dojo seems scary

Norwalk Not scary....Inouye now he's scary, uses a kendo stick in each hand! :beard:

[Inouye02]

Norwalk Not scary....Inouye now he's scary, uses a kendo stick in each hand! :beard:

but i dont know how to use them yet ...

[moocow65]

norwalk eh?? i shall be going there next friday to practice. been over a year since i last went there. should be fun.

[gUnDaL]

heh.. where have you been practicing up until now? if you dont mind me askin :)

[Inouye02]

norwalk eh?? i shall be going there next friday to practice. been over a year since i last went there. should be fun.

hope to see you there moocow, honda and i will be there also, are you gonna join us at the GB afterwards ?

[moocow65]

heh.. where have you been practicing up until now? if you dont mind me askin :)

I graze in the fields of Covina. Moo.

[moocow65]

Sorry Inouye, I have to work for the Mouse at 6 am the next morning. Not even sure if going to Norwalk is such a good idea, because of the lack of sleep I'll be getting. Meh... I guess it'll be okay. I need to practice with some different people for a change.

[Petitemonk]

petitemonk, welcome to the forums, firstly if you are gonna go to Norwalk Dojo, you better not be using the term kendo sticks, they're called shinai, don't go there thinking with the attitude that kendo will be fun, kendo is a hard learning process, learning to do the footwork is not easy, you might get frustrated with it , most Dojo's won't let you wear hakama and keiko gi until you have learned proper footwork, and i'm sure Yoshimura Sensei won't let you either, but if you do join the Dojo , i wish you the best of luck in your journey in Kendo ..HEHEH thx for the tip on the shinai, About the hakama and all that isnt really impoertant to me, although it would be cool. I really want to do this for knowledge with an intest and respect in japanese culture. Also it is somethig to practice outside and try and master. I dont mind difficult as long as its do-able.

[Inouye02]

HEHEH thx for the tip on the shinai, About the hakama and all that isnt really impoertant to me, although it would be cool. I really want to do this for knowledge with an intest and respect in japanese culture. Also it is somethig to practice outside and try and master. I dont mind difficult as long as its do-able.

Petitemonk , if you come to Norwalk on Friday night, maybe i'll see you there ,

[IsahoNaginata]

The Japanese Cultural Centers which are all over the place in SoCal tend to be excellent resources when it comes to arts such as kendo and naginata-do. While I only know of the cultural centers in Pasadena and San Fernando I am sure that there must be something along the same lines where you are.

The other benefit of cultural centers is that lessons tend to be powerfully inexpensive. Whereas some martial arts schools may charge anywhere between $80 and $100 a month most cultural center schools do not charge any more than $10 or $15 a month. Which is great for kendo and naginata-do since the equipment can cost you a good deal of money so long as you are not buying crap. :-)

[Petitemonk]

The Japanese Cultural Centers which are all over the place in SoCal tend to be excellent resources when it comes to arts such as kendo and naginata-do. While I only know of the cultural centers in Pasadena and San Fernando I am sure that there must be something along the same lines where you are.

The other benefit of cultural centers is that lessons tend to be powerfully inexpensive. Whereas some martial arts schools may charge anywhere between $80 and $100 a month most cultural center schools do not charge any more than $10 or $15 a month. Which is great for kendo and naginata-do since the equipment can cost you a good deal of money so long as you are not buying crap. :-)
Hmm this sounds interesting... something that I will look into. thx for info

[GrandCentral9]

don't go there thinking with the attitude that kendo will be fun If kendo isn't fun for you, at least on some level, why would you bother doing it? There's so many different things you could be doing with your time...

[ECM]

I started kendo in L.A., with Miyaraha Maki sensei at the Pasadena Cultural Institute and also the San Fernando Valley dojos. Miyahara sensei is hachi-dan, and is generally regarded as one of the best teachers in the U.S. He's in his 80s, but personally teaches all of the new students -- personal, 1-on-1 attention from someone with his skill and experience is hard to come by, especially for someone just starting out.

I've been practicing kendo in Tokyo for past year, and my kendo holds up fine, so from personal experience, I can say that I received a solid foundation thanks to Miyaraha sensei.