Practice is held every Saturday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM in the UCSD Rec Gym. Registration is handled through the UCSD Recreation department on a per-quarter basis; please register through the signup links below.
Please read through the Beginner FAQ and Resources below for important information before your first practice!
Additional Practices
The UCSD Kendo Club is proudly affiliated with San Diego Kendo Bu, an off-campus kendo dojo where additional optional practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please visit the San Diego Kendo Bu website for more information on how to join.
Beginner FAQ
Kendo (translating to "way of the sword") is a modern Japanese martial art descended from the samurai swordsmanship of feudal Japan. In kendo, we practice with bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armor (bogu) which allow for full delivery of strikes without injury. Kendo is used by many as a way to cultivate a strong mind, body, and spirit through the application of the principles of the sword.
Of course! We welcome all skill levels to join practice. The vast majority of our club members started kendo for the first time through the UCSD Kendo Club.
Welcome! Kendo is a unique martial art which uses very particular movements and muscles, so techniques from other martial arts rarely carry over to kendo. We recommend approaching kendo with an open mind.
You will need to bring $30 (Venmo preferred) to your first practice to purchase your own shinai (bamboo sword). Try to show up early, as shinai purchase lines can get pretty long. Besides that, just show up in comfortable clothes that you can move in (activewear/workout clothes - not jeans!), and bring a water bottle if you need it. Purchase of uniform and armor will not be necessary for a while.
On your first day, you can expect to learn basic etiquette, footwork, and swings, as well as the general flow and routines of practice. You'll also learn some basic striking routines, where you practice hitting senior students who are wearing armor.
You won't need to purchase the uniform (gi and hakama) or armor (bogu) for a while after starting. You'll spend the next few practices honing your basics, after which the sensei (head teacher) will decide if you are ready to move on to practicing in gi and hakama and/or bogu.
Kendo is not a very quiet martial art, as practitioners use a loud shout called kiai to express fighting spirit while striking. Kiai is necessary for proper form, and you'll practice kiai on your first day. If you're feeling shy, don't worry - it gets really natural with time!
Kendo, when done properly, has very little risk of injury. The armor that we wear is very well padded and protects the target areas more than adequately. When you first get into armor and start receiving strikes, they may feel jarring (but not painful) at first, but this feeling goes away with time.
Since Kendo is a Japanese martial art, many terms for equipment, strikes, and commands used in Kendo are in Japanese. However, any previous fluency or ability to speak or understand Japanese is not required. All of the terms and commands you need to know will be taught to you over time. If you'd like a head start, check out the Kendo Phrase Action Table in the Resources section below. If you have any questions about what certain terms mean, feel free to ask a sensei or senior student.
While kendo is descended from the wartime swordsmanship of feudal Japan, modern kendo as we know it today developed during the peaceful era of the Tokugawa shogunate. Swordsmanship techniques of this time began to shift away from killing techniques, instead moving towards the graceful development of discipline and character. While the limitations of modern kendo distance it from samurai swordsmanship, the purpose of kendo is to develop and improve the mind, rather than authentically replicate feudal swordsmanship techniques. Please refer to the All Japan Kendo Federation's history of kendo for further information.
While being in shape will definitely help with the exercises, it is by no means necessary as a beginner. All of the exercises will become easier over time if you come to practice consistently. You may even find a new running/workout buddy in the club and become motivated to exercise outside of practice!
