Beginners' course in Kendo, Autumn 2026
BEGINNERS' COURSE IN KENDO
Course starts: September 17
Length: 13 weeks
Practice time: Every thursday at 7:30 PM–9:00 PM
NOTE: We're still Open for try-out!
To practice kendo
Practicing kendo can be tricky and sweaty, but above all, it's super fun. And for many, it's the most fun when you get to put on your armor and go full speed with another kendoka. But to succeed, it's important to learn the basics - Footwork, striking techniques and the philosophy of kendo.
That's why we've developed this intensive 12-week course for beginners in kendo. You'll learn:
The basic positions - How to stand and hold a shinai, the bamboo sword we use in kendo
Footwork - for balance, control and quick attacks
Striking techniques - to hit any of the four targets, Men (head), Kote (wrist), Do (torso) and Tsuki (neck)
A little Japanese - commands and counting are done in Japanese
Kiai, the power shout - An important part of kendo! (Ps. it feels strange for everyone at first, but it's super nice to "let off steam" after a long day at school/work)
Kendo's philosophy – Behind kendo there is a lot of philosophy taken from Japanese culture.
A typical practice session
A typical 90 minute session might look like this:
10 min – Warm-up
05 min – Seiza (seated line-up with short meditation)
10 min – Footwork
10 min – Repetition of previous session
30 min – Focus of the week
10 min – Sweat & Fun
10 min – Finish with Seiza
Equipment
In kendo we use special equipment, shinai, bamboo sword and keikogi, training jacket and trouser skirt are some examples.
As a beginner, you only need a T-shirt and long pants. We always train barefoot (this gives you the best control and feel for the surface). Shinai is included in the course price.
The philosophy of Kendo
Kendo not only trains the muscles and heart of the body, mental strength is also in focus. The meaning of kendo is:
To shape the mind and body,
To nourish a vibrant spirit
and through correct and rigid training
to strive for improvement in the art of kendo, to value courtesy and honor,
to treat others with sincerity
and to always strive for one's own refinement, so that one can love one's country and society, to be able to contribute to the development of one's culture, and to bring peace and prosperity to mankind.
History of kendo
The All Japan Kendo Federation was founded in 1952. This marked the revival of the sport, which had lain dormant since World War II. However, kendo has far older roots, having begun its development as early as 16th-century feudal Japan. For the samurai—the warriors of that era—the sword, or katana, was their most prized possession. It reflected the samurai’s social standing and soul; within the Japanese schools (*ryu*), training was so rigorous that the sword became an extension of the arm.
Training back then was a matter of life and death; both wooden swords (*bokuto*) and metal swords (*katana*) were used to practice techniques. However, training with these weapons resulted in injuries and sometimes even fatalities. Consequently, a training sword made of four bamboo slats—the shinai—was developed. Protective armor was subsequently created to shield the head, face, torso, throat, and hands. This allowed practitioners to strike with full force, while training with bokuto and katana shifted—and remains—focused on kata (forms): prescribed movements where the sword is brought to a controlled halt just before impact.
Since the founding of the All Japan Kendo Federation, kendo has undergone reform, refinement, and modernization. Techniques designed to efficiently incapacitate an opponent have been stripped away in favor of a style emphasizing speed and competition. Moves such as leg sweeps and grappling holds have been eliminated; kendo does not employ the force required to sever limbs or slice through flesh, focusing instead on control, endurance, and speed.