[Hftqdxpm]

I agree, it is worth driving 3 hours if you have to. Your ninjitsu training should help a little bit but don't rely on it as you start out. In some ways I think it's better to approach it as a blank slate. Just FYI, we had a visitor some months ago and he trains in Toronto at a budokan under an individual who has been designated by the Japanese government as a living national treasure in the art of ninjitsu. He trained with both our naginata and kendo clubs and, without knowing a think about naginata, used it in a way that was very very close to the proper techniques. That said, I retract my first statement. Your ninjitsu training will help quite a lot . If you really want to learn kendo, then take the 3 hour drive. It will very much be worth your time.

[FoetAgerhot46]

Yo. Aside from not being able to properly do suburi yet, the best advice I can give ya is to build upon your stamina. But if you can jog like 10 miles without a bead of sweat then not only am I envious but hateful. Lol nah. But yeah, there're plenty of books mentioned here that'll help you get a feeling for what to expect. As to the dojo thing...maybe you could sleep over somewhere...But I dunno the hours so I guess that could be kind of odd....Anyway. Welcome to the forums and welcome to Kendo.

[MediconStop]

Nice to meet you, too. Go read some posts on Waza, and concepts. I found them quite helpful and if you don't understand, just ask Also, if you haven't done so, go pick up "Kendo - Definitive Guide". That'll also a great help. But though, all of us will recommend it's better if you go practice at a dojo if you can. Most of us do it once a week, 3 hours drive worth it all

P.S. - It's "Ohayoo", not "ohiyo"

[imporesweemo]

MOVE OUT OF YOUR HOUSE AND MOVE CLOSER TO THE DOJO. haha. Yea, I think that is the best way to save yourself from having a hassle to drive 3hrs to the dojo. Where do you live? Maybe there's a dojo that you don't know about. I know of a couple dojos that arnt posted on any of the AUSKF affiliated sites.

[ådrrraj]

A great place to look for good, qualified dojo's in your area would be the All US Kendo Federation website. From there you can find your regional federation's website and a list of dojo's with qualified sensei. Now that you mention that this place you've heard about only teaches "basic sword techiniques" I'd be warry of that if I were you. If you can, watch one of their practices and if it looks fishy, talk to the sensei and ask him about his qualifications. I know that it's very irregular to question a sensei about their qualifications but if he hasn't received his rank from either the AUSKF, AJKF (All Japan Kendo Federation), a Korean kendo federation, or the IKF (International Kendo Federation) then don't bother because chances are the guy is a fraud and teaching unsafe methods. And in regards to what to buy first, buy the shinai and get the cheapest one you can find that's your size.

[TeLMgNva]

hi there,
glad to hear that you also want to improve your mind and not just learn how to fight with a shinnai. as they said it is important to have the basics down in order to study with books. having someone look over your training will help see what you need to improve on.

[leijggeds]

Kendo-the definitive guide is a great book. you can usually get it at a Borders nook store and if not, obviously the internet. you cant learn kendo through a book alone though. you have to seek help from a sensei or else, you can create bad habits in your techniques. welcome to the forums
welcome to kendo.

you could probably set up a campground outside of the dojo and live there!

Nice to meet you, too. Go read some posts on Waza, and concepts. I found them quite helpful and if you don't understand, just ask Also, if you haven't done so, go pick up "Kendo - Definitive Guide". That'll also a great help. But though, all of us will recommend it's better if you go practice at a dojo if you can. Most of us do it once a week, 3 hours drive worth it all

P.S. - It's "Ohayoo", not "ohiyo"

[optormtix]

well I'm still a kid so I can't move and if I camp out they might call the police ^_^
I haven't finished reading all the posts but I finished of most of the training and equipment ( it's going to take forever to read them -_-)
the only thing I have close to a kendo dojo is as I said 3 hours away and it doesn't cover kendo it's just basic sword techniques I agree that having a sensei is key but as I said no where near ?_? but I'm not absolutly sure, I'm going to double (quad) check to make sure I didn't miss 1
I need a dojo in fluvanna VA. ?_? it's not looking good
so I'll inform if I find 1 ^_^
in the mean time I'm going to get a bokken/shinai (whichever I am supposed to get first ^_^ can't remember at the moment )
and begin some basic training to start off with (I'll get that book so I know what that basic training is XD)
all in all...joonshik thats the funniest thing I've ever seen. I watched that thing for 5 minutes XD (I'm refering to ur pic ^_^ it's awesome)

[ResuNezily]

My name is Raurik and I really want to get into Kendo but it's a good 3 hour drive to the nearest dojo and they don't actually do kendo swords are just a side thing they do -_- I want to learn the art of kendo and I'm willing to learn. I'm going to go read ALL the treads on the forum then I'll have to see what I'm lost on ^_^ I learn fast but get lost easy ^_^

if any1 can tell me some training tips I would much apriciate it I've done some ninjutsu training (after a couple of days I was hurting and I'm in pretty good phisical shape ) but if those techniques will help I'll start doing them again ^_^ I'll try not to bother u guys with dumb questions but please don't bash me if I ask something stupid the last site I asked questions on 2 guys bashed me hard enough that I retaliated
^_^ I have quite the tounge if I say so my self ^_^

anyways the main purpose that I want to learn Kendo is I want to train my mind, or to better myself -_- I just think it's nessisary in a world where coruption rules supream that u should be able to defeat it -_-

anyways I have my reasons but they aren't important so I wont bore u with them I think this post did that XD

none the less it's nice to meet all of u ^_^