Left-Hand Kendo?

[Kpeer]

I am about to start practicing Kendo based on Sensei George Alexander's video "This is Kendo". At the beginning of the video he says there is no such thing as using the left hand as the forward grip hand. As I am left-handed I am wondering if someone can tell me if this is rule is universal in Kendo and if so, how it came into being.

Also - is there anyone who teaches Kendo within a hundred mile radius of Garberville, California? Garberville is about sixty miles south of Eureka.

One last question: Where is the best place to purchase inexpensive practice armor and is it possible to buy used? Myself and two others are interested.

Many thanks.

[Khabbi]

First of all , dont try to teach yourself kendo from a video or a book , find a dojo if you want to learn , books and videos are just extras for people who have a dojo

The right hand thing is because you draw your sword with your right hand , leftys have always been discriminated in history and back in the day everybody was forced to use your right hand . In kendo you actualy use the bottom hand ( left hand ) more then you think , the left hand is the one thats holding it , the right hand is for guidence , so actualy leftys have a advantage . specialy coz you dont realy do and one handed right handed strikes .

The Dojo you join will be able to hook you up with a Bogu ( armour ) .

Kendo without a Dojo and a Sensei is pointless and imposible

[Halcyon]

Also - is there anyone who teaches Kendo within a hundred mile radius of Garberville, California? Garberville is about sixty miles south of Eureka.
the best place to get most of your questions answered, including your equipment question, is while learning from a qualified teacher. dude, you are so lucky to be living in california. probably the highest concentration of kendo practitioners outside of japan and korea.

check out this web site to find a dojo near you.

http://www.auskf.info/mainpages/schools.htm

[Hai_hai]

I am about to start practicing Kendo based on Sensei George Alexander's video "This is Kendo". At the beginning of the video he says there is no such thing as using the left hand as the forward grip hand. As I am left-handed I am wondering if someone can tell me if this is rule is universal in Kendo and if so, how it came into being.

Also - is there anyone who teaches Kendo within a hundred mile radius of Garberville, California? Garberville is about sixty miles south of Eureka.

One last question: Where is the best place to purchase inexpensive practice armor and is it possible to buy used? Myself and two others are interested.

Many thanks.

1. No one can take a video-taped learned person in kendo seriously. Those video tapes are supplemental instructional tools.

2. There is no explicit rule about switching to a left-handed kendo style but that's the same thing as left-handed Japanese calligraphy.

[kendokamax]

hum I wonder if someone was really training hard and doing kendo with the left hand foward if he could become invicible!?

a bit like left handed pitchers in baseball.

[Hai_hai]

hum I wonder if someone was really training hard and doing kendo with the left hand foward if he could become invicible!?

a bit like left handed pitchers in baseball.

Or become like left-handed boxers and lose all the time.

[ALI G]

Or become like left-handed boxers and lose all the time.

Onz da matz!!! Now Iz rememberz warez Iz seenz youz B-4z.....