When to buy kit ?

[Mark123]

Hi,

I am thinking of starting Kendo, and visited a local dojo yesterday just to sit and watch.

One thing that was mentioned however, was that I must buy Hakama, shinai etc. BEFORE I am allowed to set foot on the arena at all, and this must all be bought from the dojo.

I am kind of cautious of spending upwards of £100 before I have even had a go at the sport. It looks good from a distance and the people were all very welcoming, but until I have actually tried it for myself I cannot be 100% sure. After all, you would not buy a set of golf clubs before having at least a trial hack around your local course, would you ? (Well I wouldn't).

Is this standard practice? To my mind, this up-front cost might put some people off. I would welcome some input, esp. from English practitioners just in case this is an english phenomenon.

Thanks,

[Optomitrist]

This is common in SOME dojos. Some instructors are very strict about what the students wear and the apperence of the dojo. Which is understandable. He might also be making sure that only people willing to shell out about 200 dollars will try it. If you are afraid that you will give him the money and not like it and you want the money back, trust me, you can sell your hakama and kendogi on ebay or to one of us real quick. :wink: (they keep their value, especially if it is barely used.)

[The great I AM]

Dude, although this may happen in some dojos in the states, this is NOT a common thing in ANY british dojo, and to be honest, they should not be saying anything like that, particularly the whole "you have to buy it from us" thing. It should be your choice, not theirs. The only thing you would need to start with is shinai or bokuto, and even then I would expect them to lend you one. If you came to my club thats what we would do. If I were you I would be wary.

Are they a BKA affiliated dojo? Check this, and if not, ask them what insurance they have in place. I know that the BKA definately has the proper stuff in place (hence a membership fee amongst other things). If there is no insurance don't do it, its not worth the risk.

If I were you, personally, I might thing about lloking for another dojo first. They sound a bit like they are after your cash.

Maybe I'm over reacting....

[John Shin]

I think this is pretty uncommon (and bad business practice). In our dojang, prospective students are allowed to attend class several times in their own loose fitting athletic wear to "test the waters" of Kumdo or any other of the art that are taught at our school. Once you join, I can see the logic of ordering your equipment through the instructor, but not before you decide for sure. This is only my opinion, as there are many different customs and traditions followed at different dojangs/dojos. Good luck. I hope you try it out. Kumdo one of the most positive aspects of my life.


Joe Hibbs

[Mark123]

Thanks. It is a BKR dojo, and I didn't really get the impression they were after my cash (they were really nice people) - just that it is a strict rule of theirs, end of story.

I hadn't thought of insurance at all, good point I need to check that aspect out as well I suppose. Not that I am worried or would ever take action on a personal level, it is just that if I need to put in a claim on my own health insurance, no doubt they would be looking for someone to hold responsible.

[The great I AM]

Thanks. It is a BKR dojo, and I didn't really get the impression they were after my cash (they were really nice people) - just that it is a strict rule of theirs, end of story.

I hadn't thought of insurance at all, good point I need to check that aspect out as well I suppose. Not that I am worried or would ever take action on a personal level, it is just that if I need to put in a claim on my own health insurance, no doubt they would be looking for someone to hold responsible.

Well if you feel happy with it and trust them then that is important too I guess, so enjoy the kendo.

The insurance is also if you hurt other people and they decide to claim you know....it works both ways!

[Optomitrist]

Is BKR the kendo affiliation in england? If so, what they mean is that they usually supply some sort of insurance. That is one of the reasons most dojos require you to join the affiliation.

[Neil Gendzwill]

The British Kendo Association (BKA) is the IKF-affiliated organisation in the UK. British Kendo Renmei (BKR) is a different organisation. There may be some politics involved :).

[The great I AM]

The British Kendo Association (BKA) is the IKF-affiliated organisation in the UK. British Kendo Renmei (BKR) is a different organisation. There may be some politics involved :).

Heh! You could say that... I've never met anyone from the BKR (not knowingly anyway) so I couldn't comment, and don't particularly want to, but I have read elsewhere in the forums that BKR people seem to dislike or look down on BKA members. Don't know why. Some historical thing I would guess, from the "split". At the end of the day, if you want an official grade, you have to go with the BKA, because the BKR is not an IKF affiliate. Plus if you're not a BKA member then the number of dojos you can practise at is severly limited, and who wants that?!

Oops, did I just get involved.....?

[sjp]

Hi,

I am thinking of starting Kendo, and visited a local dojo yesterday just to sit and watch.

One thing that was mentioned however, was that I must buy Hakama, shinai etc. BEFORE I am allowed to set foot on the arena at all, and this must all be bought from the dojo.

I am kind of cautious of spending upwards of £100 before I have even had a go at the sport. It looks good from a distance and the people were all very welcoming, but until I have actually tried it for myself I cannot be 100% sure. After all, you would not buy a set of golf clubs before having at least a trial hack around your local course, would you ? (Well I wouldn't).

Is this standard practice? To my mind, this up-front cost might put some people off. I would welcome some input, esp. from English practitioners just in case this is an english phenomenon.

Thanks,

Try the BKA dojo at Portsmouth..
Nice people

[crabbi]

Try the BKA dojo at Portsmouth..
Nice people

sjp-San... you just beat me to it!!

I train at the Portsmouth dojo and in fact I am going this evening.

Mark123-San, the Portsmouth Club is affiliated to the BKA but used to be in the Renmei... I will ask ref your experience to see if this is normal BKR procedure...

I think that I know the Dojo that you went to... Is it the BKR one that I mentioned to you? If it is then it is a very reputable Dojo with highly respected members. They may be a little more formal than BKA and this is confirmed by your experience...

If you want a BKA Dojo nearer to Brighton / Hove I will enquire this evening. I know that one of my teachers lives in Sussex and trains in Horsham regularly...

Don't give up... hang in there... we'll get you sorted out!!

I'll post a note to you after training tonight ...

Cheers

[crabbi]

Hi Mark123-San

Just got back from training in Portsmouth... I live in Bournemouth so it's about an hour's drive...

Anyway, I have a mixed bag of info for you...

1. Insisting that you buy Keikogi / Hakama / Shinai before you start training is not standard BKR practice but it is not unheard of...

2. The BKR are fairly strict with regard to the uniform that you use... Beginners and Kyu grades wear White Keikogi and Indigo Hakama; Dan grades wear all indigo...

2. The uniforms that you would have been offered will probably have been fairly expensive, but my colleagues tell me that they are likely to be very good quality (i.e. Value for Money)... probably better than most of us would buy when we started... But if both you and your Son need to be kitted out (and they do grow quickly from 11 onwards!!) it could become quite expensive...

3. There is no BKA Dojo actually in Brighton, the nearest one is Horsham (which is pretty close) and it has an excellent reputation. I believe that the Sensei there is Sensei Howell (7th Dan Kyoshi and a Senior Coach of the British Kendo Association) who is very well respected. As I mentioned to you before... their Site is at http://www.kendo.org.uk/shinbukan/ (http://www.kendo.org.uk/shinbukan/) and their contact number is 020 86441369.

4. Alternatively, if you fancy a trek to Portsmouth then you'd be very welcome... best day to come is Saturday. Training is at the Southsea Community Centre, St. Paul's Square from 13:00 to 15:00...

Hope this helps ...

Keep us informed...

Cheers

[Mark123]

Thanks for all you have done Crabbi, really appreciate it. I have been abroad on business for a few days, and I have to go again shortly, but once the bank holiday is over I am going to set up a visit to the Horsham dojo.


Hopefully I will be allowed to wield a big stick for half an hour before emptying the piggy bank - even though I won't actually be hitting anything I guess.

[Mark123]

Oh and thanks to the rest of you guys as well, of course ! (bad mannered non-kendoka type, I know).

[crabbi]

Thanks for all you have done Crabbi, really appreciate it. I have been abroad on business for a few days, and I have to go again shortly, but once the bank holiday is over I am going to set up a visit to the Horsham dojo.

Hopefully I will be allowed to wield a big stick for half an hour before emptying the piggy bank - even though I won't actually be hitting anything I guess.

A pleasure Mark123-San...

Any time you want to visit Portsmouth just pop on by...

Also, one of my Instructors (at Portsmouth) attends the Horsham Dojo... let me know when you're going to go and I'll let him know...

Cheers