Curious Questions?

[Perpetrator76]

Hello, I've been looking into Kendo for awhile now and it looks like a fun sport to take up. I was wondering what the requirements are for this sport such as age, weight, physical shape, what kind of equipment to buy, ect. Also what kind of things will I look forward to learning from this experience. I'm very serious about taking Kendo up. If anyone has time to answer my questions I highly appericate it, thanks.

[indigo0086]

I just started and I'm 20. I also started at the same time a 13-15(don't konw his exact age) also started. So I don't think age is a factor in particular.

[Hattori Hanzo]

nah there is no factor in age, equipment you will at least need a Shinai maybe a bokken, and some loose fitting clothes, a few months in you will be in Bogu, but most dojos have club armor you can use if you can't afford your own. Oh and perhaps your own Tanangui(sp) or head towel once you are in Bogu. For starters though equipment costs aren't that bad. Just don't spend a ton of money off the get go.

But the best thing to do is contact the Sensei where you are going to train

[Martin (Wakey)]

I'm 33, been 'doing' Kendo for about three weeks. I'm about 3 stone overweight.

How am I finding it? I love it. I am finding it hard work but I have no intention of quitting.

Want some advice? Get off this forum and get thee to a dojo. It'll be the best thing you've ever done. Unless of course you've won a lottery...

or dated a supermodel.....

or .......

[taganahan]

the youngest in my club is around 6 years old, i think. before you do kendo, take some time to watch their practice so you'll see what you're going into. you'll also know whether it's for you or not.

about the requirements, you'll just need some sweat pants and a shirt for starters. i also forgot that you need a shinai(bamboo sword). a shinai costs around $40, and that from the dojo if they're selling one.

about your built. you don't really need to be fit to do kendo. there are some big guys in our dojo that does kendo. if you're really going to stick with kendo, i recommend you to do some exercises if you have lots of time to waste away.

i think that about it.

~taganahan

[John W]

I'm 33, been 'doing' Kendo for about three weeks. I'm about 3 stone overweight.

How am I finding it? I love it. I am finding it hard work but I have no intention of quitting.

Want some advice? Get off this forum and get thee to a dojo. It'll be the best thing you've ever done. Unless of course you've won a lottery...

or dated a supermodel.....

or .......

One of the best posts on this forum!! Hope you have a great kendo career

[Perpetrator76]

Thank you for the responses some of them helped. Sorry for the late respone, I've been busy lately. I went school/dojo searching the other day in my local aera. I only found one school that offered Kendo but its almost 40miles away. I went and watched a class and I like what I see. I was wondering is it worth the drive since gas prices around here are jumping in an out of the $2 borderline. I found a Hai-Dong Gumbo (Korean swordsmanship) school which is 7 miles away. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Haidong Gumbo. Ive looked online in multiple places but i cant find a good site that tells about it. Thank you for taking the time to read this and possibly answering this lol.

[taganahan]

woah! gas price is $2? it's only 95cents in here....sweet!
anywho, you should check that haido gumdo dojo you found too. it might be more fun for you rather than kendo but i have to tell you that kendo is really fun. i think it's the only martial art where you can go against someone aside from european fencing(is this a martial arts?).

~taganahan

[indigo0086]

bah, gas is 1.98 for regular, but I have a 4 cylinder which gets pretty good gas mileage. Just hate driving in Miami.

[Washington]

If Poker qualifies as an Olympic sport then I’m thinking you can safely call European Fencing a Martial Art

[Perpetrator76]

lol I wish I had a 4cylinder... I have a gas sucking perfect condition 1977 Ford F100 Custom pickup truck that has a 302 V8. lol I live in Northeastern Ohio gas is unreasonable here for some reason.
I set up a appointment for the school that theaches Haidong Gumbo. The school's called Parks Martial Arts, all I know about the instructor is that he was a 3 time world class Tae Kwan Do and 2 time Haidong Gumbo winner, an has over 25 years of teaching experience. (Its a new school, just opened up not to long ago. I take it he just moved here from Souel, Korea or someplace. Since when I talked to him on the phone he had a faily stong accent.)

[Hai_hai]

woah! gas price is $2? it's only 95cents in here....sweet!
anywho, you should check that haido gumdo dojo you found too. it might be more fun for you rather than kendo but i have to tell you that kendo is really fun. i think it's the only martial art where you can go against someone aside from european fencing(is this a martial arts?).

~taganahan

That's $2 US per US gallon, not 95 Canadian cents per liter.