[Unrersvar]

I was wondering if you have to be 18 or older to practice? (I'm only 15, so...)
Is there a visual requirement?
Will they not let disabled people practice?
How much does it generally cost to practice in a Dojo?

[papadopul]

ok, that's good to know! ^_^

Will they even let legally blind people like me actually practice?! That would make me soooooooo happy! (if only I could find a Dojo...TT__TT)

see, me practicing Taekwondo got kind of expensive...=_=;;;

[enurneAcourdy]

How "legally blind" are you? Can you see movement? If so, you may be at an early advantage over those who try to look at things . . . hehehe

[Dogxzysl]

I was wondering if you have to be 18 or older to practice? (I'm only 15, so...)
Is there a visual requirement?
Will they not let disabled people practice?
How much does it generally cost to practice in a Dojo?

Depends on where you're at. I'd recommend contacting the dojos in your area. Check out the AUSKF site (http://www.auskf.info/main/schools.htm).

At my dojo there is no "requirement," you just need to sign a waiver and we have kids under 10 practicing. It costs $8 a month plus $5 a year to the Hawaii Kendo Federation, and a one time $10 dojo initiation fee. This varies depending on the dojo. I've heard of other dojos here that charge $25 a month.

[PetrZimin]

Depends on where you're at. I'd recommend contacting the dojos in your area. Check out the AUSKF site (http://www.auskf.info/main/schools.htm).

At my dojo there is no "requirement," you just need to sign a waiver and we have kids under 10 practicing. It costs $8 a month plus $5 a year to the Hawaii Kendo Federation, and a one time $10 dojo initiation fee. This varies depending on the dojo. I've heard of other dojos here that charge $25 a month.

thanks!

How "legally blind" are you? Can you see movement? If so, you may be at an early advantage over those who try to look at things . . . hehehe

20/240 ish in my right eye 20/220 in my left eye...uncorrectable.
On a good day, yes i can see movement. on a bad day, it's all like a watercolor picture, but I sparred in Karate that way.

[Shootohoist]

thanks!

20/240 ish in my right eye 20/220 in my left eye...uncorrectable.
On a good day, yes i can see movement. on a bad day, it's all like a watercolor picture, but I sparred in Karate that way.

I'm 20/50 in my right eye and 20/400 in my left eye (fortunately correctable). I've practice without contacts or glasses once and it wasn't so bad.

[lYVgWWcP]

I'm 20/50 in my right eye and 20/400 in my left eye (fortunately correctable). I've practice without contacts or glasses once and it wasn't so bad.

Wow!
I feel encouraged! (if only there were a dojo around here!!!!!!!!)
My dad has been telling me for about a year that I couldn't do Kendo, because I wouldn't be able to do it with my eyesight, but I finally got him to say I could, but there isn't a dojo around here!!!!!!!

[Vmysobfi]

Wow!
I feel encouraged! (if only there were a dojo around here!!!!!!!!)
My dad has been telling me for about a year that I couldn't do Kendo, because I wouldn't be able to do it with my eyesight, but I finally got him to say I could, but there isn't a dojo around here!!!!!!!

Where is "here?" Nothing matched up from the AUSKF website?

[haudraufwienix]

Where is "here?" Nothing matched up from the AUSKF website?

"Here" is Yorktown, VA and the closest dojo is in Richmand over an hour and a half away. My mom didn't go for that...

[BurdenRobert]

20/240 ish in my right eye 20/220 in my left eye...uncorrectable.

I have similar eyesight and I get by without much trouble.

[DongoSab]

Starting age: 15 is good. My son started at age of 5 years old... He is 7 and still practicing. Hopefully, he can jump trees when he become 15 years old...

Eyesight: Good Eye sight will definitely help.. It is matter of what kind of practice you are pursuing.. One of our student is blind. Yes, he is blind. He has been practicing Kendo for 5 months. He only does Kirikeishi and some Uchikomi drills. But he has such a beautiful forms.. I am sure he will having a hard time to do jigeiko but other than that, he is doing awesome.

Kendo need good physical endurance but what will really help is to have strong mind and will to practice.

good luck...

[N95FzmMw]

I suppose it depends on how impaired your vision but we have people in glasses training. As for your age we have a five year old and two eight year olds in our dojo. So get started before you get too far behind!!!

[lovespellszz]

Try this:
Stand about 6 feet away from someone and look at his/her right hand. Then ask the person to wave that hand and see if you can see it.
If you can, chances are you can see enough to do a kote (wrist) strike.
I am choosing kote because it is the smallest target you would strike.

Mathematically:

Assuming you are roughly 6 feet away and need to be able to see the opponent's kote, which is say 1/3 foot in height.
That constitutes an angle of 3.179 degrees.
Now a person with 20/20 vision has an acuity of 1 minute of arc - ie 1/60 of a degree.
A person with 20/200 has an acuity of 10 minutes of arc - ie 1/6 of a degree.
Since 3.179 is 18x greater than 1/6 of a degree, theoretically that means you should be able to see the kote.

[HRS1H7gO]

one question . Are you determined to learn kendo or not?
Try to show up at every single practice for 2 years and then
look back at this question.

[codespokerbonus]

Try this:
Stand about 6 feet away from someone and look at his/her right hand. Then ask the person to wave that hand and see if you can see it.
If you can, chances are you can see enough to do a kote (wrist) strike.
I am choosing kote because it is the smallest target you would strike.

Mathematically:

Assuming you are roughly 6 feet away and need to be able to see the opponent's kote, which is say 1/3 foot in height.
That constitutes an angle of 3.179 degrees.
Now a person with 20/20 vision has an acuity of 1 minute of arc - ie 1/60 of a degree.
A person with 20/200 has an acuity of 10 minutes of arc - ie 1/6 of a degree.
Since 3.179 is 18x greater than 1/6 of a degree, theoretically that means you should be able to see the kote.

huh? Wat da fudge is this????

[horoshevapola]

I started practicing when I was 15 as well.

[Audi_z]

It's called science.

http://webvision.med.utah.edu/KallSpatial.html

[layedgebiamma]

I am choosing kote because it is the smallest target you would strike.

The most important thing to see is the kensen/shinai of your opponent (he will be at the other side).
Some people at our dojo don't see more than that.

[gIWnXYkw]

OK!
Yes, I am determined!
I have bad tracking, but a shinai shouldn't be muich harder to see than a bamongi (sp?). Endurance might pose a threat though...I'll work through it! Tomarannai!
The only question now is dojo location..."Richmand is out of the question, Rebecca. That would take almost 5 hours out of your Saturday, and I won't do it," said my non-Kendo-enthusiastic dad.

[lorrieholdridge]

It's called science.

http://webvision.med.utah.edu/KallSpatial.html

Oh yea..
lets see ..i have to do some physics question before i step in my dojo
and start to practice...
um...does that mean those science nerds will own in kendo?
wow..i never knew...