Your first session
Information about your first session
Where to go
Head towards the East Street entrance to Kendrick School. Press the buzzer on the door to get in.
Someone from the club will be around to meet you outside the gym. We’re usually there from 11:40am (Saturdays) or 7:40pm (Tuesdays) to get changed.
Parking
There is very limited parking at the school – the car park is next to The Turks pub – turn right into the gated area immediately before the pub.
If this is full, there are a few other options for local parking:
free weekend parking on Kendrick Road
paid on-street parking on South Street
What to wear
Please wear clothing that is easy to move around in. Sweat trousers or leggings are ideal. There are changing rooms with showers available.
Dark clothing is recommended once you are wearing armour as the dye can rub off.
What to expect
At your first session you shouldn’t expect to be straight into armour! We’ll spend a little time talking about kendo and the expected etiquette during practice. We will then focus on footwork and the basics of how to swing a shinai.
You might be overwhelmed with a lot of information during this session. There’s a lot to take in, but you are not expected to remember it all! It might feel weird or uncomfortable, but we aim to get you more comfortable with the basics of kendo during the course as a whole, so don’t worry.
What to bring
Any outstanding fees
A water bottle
Good spirit
Willingness to learn
After the session
After the session we will be going to The Turks pub for drinks to talk about the session and answer any questions you might have.
This is a great place to get to know your fellow Kendoka in a more relaxed environment.
It’s commonly referred to as ‘the second dojo’ and we try to go after every session.