[FelixQY]

Hi, I'm new and I was wondering if I could ask a few questions. First of all, could somebody please explain Kendo to me fully? I've read the wikipedia page and have a rough idea of what it involves but I'm not entirely sure. Secondly, I live in England, so would anybody know how I could find out if there are any nearby dojos (I live in a city called Sunderland).

Thanks.

[ceagstuntee]

have a look around the forums and I think you will find answers to your questions

*starts to pull on his fire-retardant suit*

[VowJoyday]

Welcome!

I don't know if anyone can explain Kendo fully, but if I were you, I would start with a dojo website that has a specific introduction to Kendo. Try this one to start. Or, since you are in the UK, go here. Basically, Kendo is a Japanese martial art comprised of fencing with split bamboo swords while wearing armor. It's more complex than that and involves hundreds of years of tradition, history, philosophy, and training, but I'm a beginner and won't opine on those parts of it.

There are a lot of GBR people on here that can address your question about local dojos.

Good luck and welcome to the forums!

[Enjoymms]

Here you'll find a list of England dojos.

And here is a nice 44 minute kendo documentary to keep you busy

As for explaining kendo, let me get back to you on that in about 20-30 or so years!

[kjanyeaz1]

Hi. In very basic terms, kendo is a Japanese style of fencing that uses bamboo swords and armour.

For kendo information in the UK, the best place to start is http://www.kendo.org.uk/

There are a couple of kendo clubs in Newcastle that I think may be pretty close to you:

http://www.ojika.org.uk/

http://www.darrincutting.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

If you contact them, you may be able to watch a practice and see what it's like for yourself.

[Reatclaplen]

Thanks a lot everyone!

[videolkif]

Thanks a lot everyone!

Stick around and enjoy the silliness

[regfortruegoo]

... so would anybody know how I could find out if there are any nearby dojos (I live in a city called Sunderland).

Liam; Ojika is where I practice, only started about 3 months ago myself. Ojika is located on Chillingham Road in Newcastle and practice Kendo on Monday nights. The club at Northumbria Uni practices on Friday nights for everyone and Wednesday nights for experienced Kendoka.

Where in Sunderland are you from? Because there is a club at Durham Uni too, but I'm not sure when they practice.

[lopezsokero]

Liam; Ojika is where I practice, only started about 3 months ago myself. Ojika is located on Chillingham Road in Newcastle and practice Kendo on Monday nights. The club at Northumbria Uni practices on Friday nights for everyone and Wednesday nights for experienced Kendoka.

Where in Sunderland are you from? Because there is a club at Durham Uni too, but I'm not sure when they practice.

Durham Uni practices on Friday evenings and Sunday (noon start I think). However due to the short term time they're now closed until September.

Liam - PM or email me via the Ojika website and I'll give you more details.

[sStevenRitziI]

There's a link to a Google map somewhere showing all the UK dojos, I forget where...

[letittbe]

If you look on www.kendo.org.uk and to the clubs section you will find the Northumbria Uni Website there is a phone number which you can ring and I can give you more details.
As they have mentioned above we practice on a Friday evening 8 - 10.

[Broorbbub]

I'm from Roker/Fulwell area. Thanks again