[AccusaJalsBub]

I'm new here and have some questions.

I would like to know where some dojos are around the south east Texas area if any of you know any. It would also be great if someone could tell me how to train to get in shape for the basics of kendo I realy want to learn some basic slashes and techniques and things like that. Also if anyone would tell me what type of excersizes would go good with the traing such as weight lifting and jogging.

Any begginers books and websites would be a great help too.

I know this is not many questions but I also know that I will most likely have so many more to ask later on. Thanks for any help I recieve from ya'll.

Howdy !!!!


Define SE Texas. are we talking golden triangle? I have looked for months, but cannot find one nearer tha Houston. I wish i could help, if you had said something a few wekks ago i might could hav gotten together with you and at least had some practice.

IF you find one, i want to know to( BTW i live out north of Vidor almost to Evadale, were are you from?)

[Swidemaiskikemu]

Skip the weights for now. If you've been inactive up until now, any sort of aerobic exercise would be a good supplement - run, bike, swim, stairmaster, whatever floats your boat, including rowing it. Don't worry about learning any "basic slashes" - just show up for class, and learn them there.

[Hitfaromarf]

Hello!

I understand that footwork is important, but could someone tell me why. I mean like what type of importance does it have to kendo?

Also I know that practicing alone isn't good, but if I have too I'll try. I think I will be able to learn a good bit of the basics on my own but I will not know till I try.]

Don't bother teaching yourself. It's a complete waste of time. You will learn everything all wrong. And, it's a pain to unlearn bad habits.

Trust me. I wouldn't lie about that. Please just attend a dojo. You may think you can learn things on yor own, but you can't. I'm really sorry.

Drizz, ever heard of a little hole in the ground called Winnie, that's where I live. It's not that big of a place but it's okay and I like it, somewhat. The nearest one I know of is also in Houston, but I don't know if I can go that for to make the classes. How far is far? I go to my dojo, and it's 2 hours drive one way. You can too. I right now, can go only once a month... gas prices caused that. WAS going twice a month. So, please don't complain about the drive. Many of us go that far to train. You can too!

Also could anyone give me their kendo practice schedules and about how long they've been doing it to get to where they are. I would like to see what I'll be getting myself into lol. 2 years. Lots of hard work!! No joke.

If I had my computer back, I'd see what I could do about helping you find a dojo. But, I'll have to wait one more week before I can take it to get it fixed. I'm not at home... So, no extra time to hunt for tou right now. I'm really sorry!
Unless you're willing to wait...

Kaoru

[Tribas4u]

If your looking for a dojo, check the link on this thread
http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5430
What exercises would be good?
Strenght: Wieghlifting, basic exercises (pushups, situps, etc)
Stamina: Swimming, distance running,
look under the training forum to get a better idea of what to do

[iroxmxinau]

Hello, welcome!

First of all, you probably want to do some weight lifting for building arms strength, and running to build up stamina... only if you want. I personally feel that once you start Kendo, stamina and so forth comes naturally after a while.

As for a dojo to train, you can go to http://www.auskf.info/ to look up a dojo closest to you. And get a book call "Definitive Guide to Kendo" by Hiroshi Ozawa sensei, almost all of us own a copy of it.

Hope this helps

[DrKirkNoliss]

when you weightlift or do anything strenuos to the muscle, remember to stretch or cool down after. biking is also a good way to build up your stamina if you don't like jogging.

~taganahan

[enasseneiff]

Dang, well I guess I'll have to wait awile before I'll be able to go to a dojo. Oh well...

[herawaq]

I understand that footwork is important, but could someone tell me why. I mean like what type of importance does it have to kendo?

Also I know that practicing alone isn't good, but if I have too I'll try. I think I will be able to learn a good bit of the basics on my own but I will not know till I try.

Drizz, ever heard of a little hole in the ground called Winnie, that's where I live. It's not that big of a place but it's okay and I like it, somewhat. The nearest one I know of is also in Houston, but I don't know if I can go that for to make the classes.

So far I know I should start riding my bike again, pick up a book called "Definitive Guide to Kendo" by Hiroshi Ozawa, and skip the weight lifting for now. I hope I'm not leaving anything out.

Also could anyone give me their kendo practice schedules and about how long they've been doing it to get to where they are. I would like to see what I'll be getting myself into lol.

Again, thanks for the help.

[vipbunter]

I'm new here and have some questions.

I would like to know where some dojos are around the south east Texas area if any of you know any. It would also be great if someone could tell me how to train to get in shape for the basics of kendo I realy want to learn some basic slashes and techniques and things like that. Also if anyone would tell me what type of excersizes would go good with the traing such as weight lifting and jogging.

Any begginers books and websites would be a great help too.

I know this is not many questions but I also know that I will most likely have so many more to ask later on. Thanks for any help I recieve from ya'll.

[Ivanaishere]

Well then what good is buying the book if I can't use it to learn anything on my own, I don't mean slashes our anything I'm talking about like a guide that would show the beggining (sp?) position of the feet or the starting stance, or basic stuff you could learn how to do if you had any common sense what so ever.

The nearest one I found was an hour drive away, to that city, I don't know how far inside the city it is though. Another thing is that I can't drive and will not be able too for about two years. To add to that I don't have a job and probably can't pay for the cost of the training equipment...yet.

I also have a friend that wants to learn too, so maybe we could go at the same time, or train togather after a couple of classes.

[DoctorDulitlBest]

I also have a friend that wants to learn too, so maybe we could go at the same time

Why don't you ask your parents and make your friend ask his/hers to see if there is anyway to attend kendo parctice in Houston?

[Buyingtime]

Hello, welcome!

First of all, you probably want to do some weight lifting for building arms strength, and running to build up stamina... only if you want.

Skip the weightlifting, but do the running.

Jakob

[xanaxonlinexanax]

Also I know that practicing alone isn't good, but if I have too I'll try. I think I will be able to learn a good bit of the basics on my own but I will not know till I try.

NNOOOOO!!!! That is one of the things you ABSOULUTELY DO NOT WANT TO DO!!!! Even if its just the basic stuff, if you practice on your own, without supervision of a sensei/qualified instructor...you WILL develop thousands of bad habits!!!! Trying to learn from a book will only confuse you...and make the bad habits worse. Wait until you join a dojo. Until then, workout/exercise to get into shape & build stamina.

*Edit* Books are good for references..use em to help you learn the terimonolgy & such, but don't use them as a subsititute for a sensei

[diseeKeythilt]

I would like to know where some dojos are around the south east Texas area if any of you know any. It would also be great if someone could tell me how to train to get in shape for the basics of kendo I realy want to learn some basic slashes and techniques and things like that.

Point by point....

Go look here for dojos and then contact people:
AUSKF (national): http://www.auskf.info/mainpages/schools.htm
SWKIF (regional): http://www.dfwkik.org/swkif/index.html

Just start! The initial physical requirements are pretty meager. Don't put off starting because you don't think you're in great condition yet.

As for cutting, don't get ahead of things. Footwork is the foundation layer. In many dojos you will spend several weeks (or months) working on just footwork before you get to cutting. Then you may work only on a single cut for quite some time.

Start, follow instructions, stay focused, and keep working at it over time. It is not a fast path; besides most of the good things in life take a lot of time and effort...

[unlomarma]

Practising at home, on your own with a book? How will you know when you are doing it wrong? Simple answer : you won't.