Ho
 

I'm new to the forums and new to kendo. I've been trying to learn online and with friends, mostly doing exercises I've seen in videos and such while looking around for dojo's. I'm enthralled to say the least, with kendo, kenjutsu, and iaido; All amazing in my mind. This forum seems like it has a population full of intelligent and experienced practitioners, and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone. Hi.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... here we go againhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/cry.gif (why oh why do they always want to learn internet katahttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo.../confused2.gif )....

You cannot learn online, video's of books. They should only be used as background info and as reminders. You need an legit instructor and a legit dojo to learn JSA. You are apparently looking for a dojo... good luck, hoop you find one. In the mean time stop your backyard kenjutsu, you will only develop bad habits this way.

Ohhhh... before I forget, welcome on KWF

Give the city near which you would like to practice kendo or iaido and we can point you in the direction of legitimate dojos. Don't take our advice on this issue and continue your backyard "training" and you will get nothing but mocking from the forum here.

Please don't think ill of us, but the "I don't really want to train, I just want to swing a sword" personality type comes through here pretty often.

Give us the city, follow through and join a real dojo, then we will be thrilled to offer you more advice. Ask us to teach you through the internet and I'd duck into a foxhole before it gets too late... I can here the artillery warming up as we speak.

Yeah, we're not bad people but nothing but ill can come of trying to learn that way. Injuries, bad tenchniques, etc. Reason these guys have jumped so fast is that a lot of people want our advice and as soon as we say "stop training at home and get into a real dojo - do nothing till then" that crack the s#@ts and tell us we don't know what we're talking about and make all kinds of excuses.

However, the fact that you are looking for a dojo is great and definitely a step in the right direction. You're enthusiasm is also applaudable. Best thing you can do to 'prepare' for kendo is by increasing your overall fitness. This will be far more beneficial than trying to do anything you've learnt out of a book or over the net as these things are to compliment your training, nothing else. (I still say sprints are great for kendo but others may disagree).

Hehe, give me the grid-ref, baby... http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

No seriously, if you attend a dojo and learn JSA properly, you will look back on your self-learning with some amusement and embarrassment... listen to the guys here - they know what they're talking about.

Many of us have swung swords or sticks in backyards, but a dojo is never too far away and no-one looks back.

I checked the Kendo-USA site for Dojo's in Arizona, found one in Phoenix and one it Tucson, about 2 and 5 hours away, respectively. I heard rumors of a dojo starting in my city, Flagstaff, but rumors were all. Also, what kind fee for training in a dojo am I looking at? I hear it can be very expensive, which is bad for someone who's already struggling financially.

As well as increasing overall fitness, what kind of things can I do to increase my arm strength specifically for holding/swinging a shinai? Also, as far as

I'm not one of those 'I want to swing a sword' types, I am looking for many things from kendo. I want to learn it to give myself more discipline and try to put myself on a routine. Want to do it to increase fitness and to bring mental focus.

I am a writer who does odd jobs to help support myself, my writing has been suffering from a lack of discipline, in that I am getting lazy and find it becoming easier and easier to procrastinate. I have been wanting to take up a sport and/or martial art, so that I can give myself some more motivation and energy through physical fitness; This I am hoping will also spur me into writing more.

Fortunately, I haven't been practicing much at all, haha. I've mostly been reading, reading, reading, all about kendo. With the Dojo's I looked at being so far away, and the expense of training there coupled with the 100+ mile commute, I am fairly worried about being able to train in kendo realistically. And as far as not training, you mean nothing? Not even suburi of any kind? Nothing? Haha, if so that's disheartening, but if it must be so, it must be so. I'm not looking to learn from a website or a forum, just get basic ideas and concepts, advice, and a place in the online kendo community. Thanks for the helpful posts.


[edit:] I'm already embarassed about my backyard training, and honestly have been the entire time. So amatuerish, haha...

Well you are in luck! There is a Samurai Training Palace in Flagstaff. Seriously, don't go there, its a huge rip off....

I looked for dojos, to no prevail

don't worry about arm strength too much. do more crunch and strengthen your abs and back. that will come more handy then working on your arm.

pete

Ah, that samurai training place is ridiculous. That member testimonial...wow.

Abs and back strength? Ok, lower and upper back? Should I specialize in an area that is specific for Kendo?

Cardio is also a good thing to work on. Running, biking, etc...

The weather is warming up here, and I'll probably be playing a fair amount of soccer, think this will be good enough cardio? Thanks for the advice.

Use the two dojos you found as a starting point for info. There may not be websites of other clubs around, but they may exist. Frequently, the clubs that advertise well know about other smaller clubs that don't. They may either know a club near you or they may have a member who lives near you and you can set up a car pool. There are lots of possibilities. Email those clubs. Kendo people are always happy to help others find kendo if their club is too far. I found my club back home from people at another club. Word of mouth advertising works great, but you need to ask sometimes to get that info.

Hello,
Please contact me. But first look at our web site:www.kenshindojo.net . I have a dojo in Prescott and Phoenix. We have several students that travel from the Grand Canyon to Prescott and could give you a ride if you needed one. Robert Corella -Araki Ryu Iaido

Well there you have it. You have absolutely no excuse to not try this out.
Very nice web site too.

Definitely - I've been looking at the great Photos all morning.

Thank you everyone for all the good comments on our web site, We just got back from Himeji, Japan after 9 days of training. I hope to post some of our photos from Japan soon. So far I have not heard from Kishi. I hope I was not wasting my time.
Bob Corella
www.kenshindojo.net

Hello everyone,
Well, Kishi never contacted me about iaido. I guess he is not serious about learning a sword art.
Bob Corella www.kenshindojo.net
Glendale, Arizona

Hi. I'm the resident ninja. Allow me to answer all your questions about kendo and farting.

Guess Kishi is all talk. He has never contacted our dojo. Did he really want to learn iaido? Or just talk about iaido & kendo?

Bob Corella
Kenshin Dojo
Phoenix

Did he really want to learn iaido? Or just talk about iaido & kendo? Hey Bob,
No, I would be willing to guess that he is another of those that are very interested as long as they can do it from the comfort of their couch, or occasionally in their backyard when they're feeling frisky. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.gif Once they figure out that they have to actually make a commitment and practice ... lots! ... they seem to disappear.

P.S. How's the new Texas dojo doing? Haven't heard anything about them in a while.