Frequently Asked Questions

As with any sport, there is some level of risk involved. However, injuries are quite rare in Kendo. The bamboo swords (shinai) and armor (bogu) are designed to absorb impact and protect you.

Before you put on bogu, we will teach you how to protect yourself and others from accidental harm. It is an important part of Kendo to fight with respect and gratitude rather than force and anger, so Kendo players always put their opponent’s safety above winning a sparring match. Safety routines in kendo training include regular inspection of shinai and bogu and proper stretching before practice.

The most common injury is your opponent missing the correct target, which can sting a little and possibly bruise.

Costs vary greatly from person to person. Most beginners spend around $200 per year. After about one year of practice, most club members spend about $500 on their first set of bogu (armor). Some advanced members spend upwards of $300 a year on competing in tournaments and testing for rank.

Consult the instructors first (you need their approval for wearing bogu anyway). They will help you with measurements and direct you to bogu vendors we have had good experiences with. Depending on the order, the club might have a shortcode discount or could arrange a group order.

No. Kendo uses two types of swords: the bamboo sword (shinai) for general practices and competitions, and the wooden sword (bokuto) for practicing forms (kata) to more closely approximate the shape and weight of a metal sword.

During some kata demonstrations we may use metal swords, but because of the possibility of injury this is not common.

Yes. Kendo is a martial art with an active competition component, and tournaments are one of the best ways to meet new friends. Our club competes in 3-4 tournaments per year. Our awesome student officers also organize an internal tournament within our club every year!

No. Our instructors teach us as volunteers. Dues collected by our student officers are for room booking and social activities in the club.

No. Although there are Japanese terms in Kendo, we teach in English. You will become familiar with the use of Japanese terms over time with repetition.

Kendo uses a kyu/dan ranking system. Adult Kendo learners start from 2-Kyu or 1-Kyu, then advance to Dan ranks. Although Dan ranks are considered “black belts”, we do not wear belts or any other outward sign of ranking.

How long it takes to progress depends on your dedication and availability. The first stage is to develop fundamentals, which may take weeks or months. The second stage is to put on bogu (armor) and get used to it. Once you are able to perform good fundamentals in bogu, you will get permission from our instructors to test for Kyu. The third stage is to perfect your fundamentals, learn advanced techniques, and work towards your first dan rank.

It commonly takes 1-2 semesters to be ready to start wearing bogu, and no less than two years of regular practice to reach 1-Dan (the first "black belt" rank). There is a mandatory waiting period to take the test for the next dan rank that increases for each subsequent rank. 1-Dan to 2-Dan is a one year wait, 2-Dan to 3-Dan is a two year wait, 3-Dan to 4-Dan is a three year wait, and so on.

No, it won’t be a problem. Kendo does not have any distinctions between young and old, men and women, athletic and not. As a university club, we are especially dedicated to training beginners.

Our practices can be rigorous, but they will always be self-paced for safety. Keep an open mind, as you will find your physical limitations challenged. You decide how far you wish to push your own limits.

We start everyone with the same basic training in Kendo to build strong fundamentals. However, prior martial arts experience might help you advance faster in Kendo.

If you come from a Kumdo background, you may be considered to hold a comparable rank in Kendo. Please talk with the instructors and bring documentation of your current rank for verification.