[LianneForbess]

I was just wondering, because of the rapidly approaching holidays, if Kendo practice is usually stopped over the Winter Holidays. Do most Dojos take a break over the holidays? I was just wondering, because at my dojo, we haven't decided whether or not to continue class over the Break or not.

Thanks.

-Adam

[pobrierce]

Many places close down for the Holidays because either their members are all doing family stuff, going on trips, just taking a break, or the location that facilitates the practices closes so there is no place to practice. If your dojo is considering whether to close or not, just take a poll... if there are enough people who want to practice and who will actually show up, hold the practice. If not, then don't.

I always feel like holidays are better times to hold practice, if not extra practices. Those are the times when people actually have more time to go, instead of the typical rushing in from work or school and squeezing practice into an already busy schedule. I understand that kendo is not life and family is important, but if there is time to practice, then by all means practice.

[QwOpHGyZ]

I think the poll thing is a good idea if you're one of the guys in charge of that.

The dojo here where i'm attending college closes down for the holidays, but the one back home keeps going

more kendo for me!

[DumnEuronoumn]

My college isn't having practice over the holidays. What's the point if nobody will be there? I could keep going at the one back home, but I think I will be quite busy over the holidays this year.

[PNCarl]

The DFWKIK dojo is ending practice on December 18th.

[Voliscietle]

All (3) of my dojo are open, during the holidays; especially during the holidays!
At one, we have a practice on the 31st of December starting at 10:30pm, we stop at 11:50pm or so, meditate to bring in the New Year as the taiko drum is struck. (We can also hear the bells from nearby temples. We can hear the fire works and usually alot of people walking around outside at that time.)Then the highest rank person gives a short speech, and we practice until 1:00 am or so, on Jan. 1st. Two/three years ago it was Kobayashi Hideo Sensei 8th Dan (All Japan Team Coach/Manager )... The place was packed!

After, we party. (I didn't go the last 2 years, but maybe this year)...

In Jan/or Feb. we have kan geiko, when there is practice 7days straight. (It changes)

Also, Noma Dojo in Tokyo is open 365 days (Asa Geiko) a year (I stand to be corrected)!!! I plan to go there again during the break. Went there a couple weeks ago and at 7:00 on a Sunday morning that place was jumping!

BaySun

[saopinax]

No break here. We took one night off for a party, that's it.

[Amomiamup]

Our dojo has a winter break (both iai and kendo). Unfortunually, practicing with a sword at home is not an option. I have a single room apartment. Therefore, when I make a decent swing with my iaito it will be stuck in the couch or in the ceiling. I already have a 10 cm scratch in the ceiling and do not need another one. Therefore, for the next couple of weeks I will be restricted to noto practice and doing the kata without the sword (good for footwork).

[tinetttstation]

We have an "official" break, but those who are still in town during the holiday will of course be practising anyway.

[Mearticbaibre]

thanks for all the replies. I like the idea of extra practices over the holidays. of course, because I am low-rank, I have no say in this...

I guess if practice stops I can still invite some guys over to practice in my yard. It's not like we get much snow in Florida, so that wont be a problem

[beenBinybelia]

thanks for all the replies. I like the idea of extra practices over the holidays. of course, because I am low-rank, I have no say

I don't know about the climate in your club, but couldn't you at least ask your seniors if there are going to be extra practice? I mean, I can't imgaine anyone being upset for someone asking for more practice

[vekiuytyh]

we never stop training. even in summer we go on. I must say I'm very happy with this because I wouldn't know what to do on a tuesday night and saturday morning otherwise. I do know a lot of dojo here in The Netherlands do take a break in summer but I don't know about christmas time.

[blenIgnigeSef]

Our's have a break since it's a school club ... unfortunate. However, the big club of Thailand, Thailand Kendo Club (TKC) still has practises as normal, so I'm obligated to join them for a couple of weeks until school starts again. This also applies for summer, not only winter break. (Eventhough they're probably the best time to do Kendo! No interruptions or worries of work and all ... you have all day) However! Since that's the case our club likes to make Kendo trips. In autumn, there was a week break and our club made a trip up north to Chiang Mai from Bangkok (pretty famous travel destinations, you guys should know 'em), we did that by train and we went to practise with the Chiang Mai club. That was really fun. May be your club could try something like that GoldenShinai? Great way to bond the club and do Kendo at the same time (sometimes not quite sober) ...

[apatteopipt]

last practice december 24th, first practice january 3rth. Just enough to get sober again :P

[sesWaipunsaws]

My dojo only closes on the exact day of the holiday, or when the big karate sensei comes in and they really spit shine the place.

[nickayary]

The dojo I train at closes down for the holidays and will continue in the new year. Kinda sad about it so I'll continue to train at home during the break

[ZIDouglas]

not kendo-but im angry.
they made me work last night when it should have been my last training session before christmas (unless chidokan finds somewhere when im back) and then it turned out that i didnt need to work, but i only found that out at 8.15pm and the lesson starts at 7.30 and i have to catch a train before then to get there. and i stated at 6, so i just had to work through till 1am. and it was a crappy night full of student rock society scum kids. grrr.

personally i dont understand why most clubs close for summer or winter hols, especially if they are full of sprogs-surely thats when they need them most as theres nothing to do.

my aikido club shuts until 6th jan. last session this week, but then we do train on fridays, and its all weekendy this year

[kathy]

personally i dont understand why most clubs close for summer or winter hols

Because those of us who teach would like a break, have a ton of holiday commitments, have wives who would like us around for the holidays and most of the students wouldn't show anyways because they would also like a break, have holiday commitments and occasionally spouses who want them around for the holidays.

We shut down completely across Christmas. In the summer we reduce to one class per week, because everyone is at the lake anyways when they would normally be at our weekend class.

[inhitoemits]

I was just wondering, because of the rapidly approaching holidays, if Kendo practice is usually stopped over the Winter Holidays. Do most Dojos take a break over the holidays? I was just wondering, because at my dojo, we haven't decided whether or not to continue class over the Break or not.

Thanks.

-Adam

The dojo I train at closes down for Christmas and just about any other holiday. But I think That's 'cos it's a uni dojo

[CathBraun]

At both my dojos we take a break from mid-December to mid-January.