Beginners Class

Each term, OSUKC offers a beginners class. It is intended to introduce new students to the fundamentals of kendo and assumes no prior knowledge of any style of Japanese swordwork. This is not an official, for-credit OSU class. It is just something that OSUKC does to facilitate new people joining the club.

The class takes place during the first hour of regular kendo practice and starts the second week of each term. Kendo, like all physical skills, is developed through repetition, and the concepts and techniques introduced in the beginners class build on what has come before, so regular attendance is encouraged.

It is recommended that beginners who are interested in both kendo and iaido take the beginners class and delay their beginning of iaido by a term. This is because much of what is taught in the beginning kendo class is transferable to iaido, but there are several small changes that need to be made. Rather than have beginners taught simultaneously two similar, but definitely different, ways to do something, it seems to work much better if for people to be taught one way, then taught to change it slightly.

All necessary equipment for the beginners class will be provided by OSUKC, though those beginners who decided to continue with kendo are strongly encouraged to purchase their own shinai (bamboo swords). Any clothing suitable for physical exercise is appropriate for the beginners class. The only recommendation is that if long pants are worn, they should stop above the ankle. Pants which come all the way to the floor make correcting footwork difficult and increase the likelihood of tripping.

The first two to three weeks of the class will consist almost entirely of practicing stance, basic footwork, and one basic strike at an imaginary partner. As the term progresses, practice will include striking real targets and the addition of other basic strikes.

By the end of the term, the participants should have a solid grasp of the basics of the following:

Ashi-sabaki
  • Okuri-ashi
  • Ayumi-ashi
  • Fumi-komi-ashi

    •      		 Footwork
  • Slide stepping
  • Walk stepping
  • Spring stepping

    •  
    Uchi-waza
  • Men-uchi
  • Kote-uchi
  • Do-uchi
  • Kote-men-uchi
  • Hiki-men-uchi

    •      		 Striking Techniques
  • Head strike
  • Wrist strike
  • Abdomen strike
  • Head-wrist strike combination
  • Retreating head strike

    •  
    Undo
  • Choyaku-suburi
  • Kirikaeshi
  • Kakari-geiko

    •      		 Exercises
  • Jumping swinging
  • Repeated alternating cutting
  • Continuous attack practice

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