Do I need any equipment to start?
No. Come in comfortable sportswear and bare feet. Beginner course participants receive a shinai (bamboo sword) at the start of the course, and it is yours to keep if you finish.
Do I need to be fit?
No prior fitness or martial arts experience is required. Kendo is demanding, but beginners train at a beginners’ pace.
Does it hurt?
Strikes are made with a bamboo shinai onto protective armour (bogu), at targets designed to be struck. Beginners train without armour at first and only spar once they have learned to control the shinai.
Can I just come and watch?
Yes. Come to a training evening — Monday or Wednesday, 19:00 to 21:00 — and watch a class. You do not need to book or bring anything.
What language are the classes in?
English and Portuguese, with all commands, technique names and counting in Japanese — as kendo is taught everywhere.
Is there a trial period before I commit?
You are welcome to one free class to try kendo, usually as part of the group beginner course we run a few times a year. Email or call us and we will tell you when the next one starts.