Learn kendo
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Kendo, the "way of the sword", is Japanese sword-fighting with bamboo swords and armour, and it blends formal etiquette with fast, full-contact sparring. Beginners spend their first months on footwork, posture and basic cuts, and only put on armour when the teachers say they are ready.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What beginners do before armour
The All United States Kendo Federation says beginners first learn etiquette, posture, footwork and basic sword movements before moving on to armoured training. The armour, or bogu, has four parts - the men (helmet), do (chest protector), kote (padded gloves) and tare (hip and groin protector) - and the shinai is a bamboo sword of four staves bound with leather.
Clubs decide when you are ready for armour. Shudokan Kendo in Cheltenham says the coaches decide and that it may take a while; Capital Area Budokai in Virginia says bogu comes a few months after you start regular class. Uniform can wait too; Shudokan puts a basic gi and hakama at around £80 to £90 and says there is no rush to buy.
In the UK, you join a club and then the British Kendo Association, which arranges insurance. New starters can take a three-month temporary membership once, at £10.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Shudokan Kendo, Cheltenham | Six-week beginners' course, one hour a week (April and September 2026 runs); adults; shinai and bokken included | £110, plus £10 temporary BKA membership; then £4 a session |
| British Kendo Association | Full annual kendo membership after the temporary one (2024-25 fees); includes insurance for practice | £50 (the £10 joining fee is waived if you upgrade from temporary membership); £27.50 over-65 concession |
| Capital Area Budokai, Alexandria, Virginia | One-month introductory course, Sundays and Tuesdays; new students every three to four months; bring your own practice shinai | $80, then $80 standard membership |
| Tucson Kendo Kai, Arizona | Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon classes; no kit needed for the first class | $45 a month, plus annual federation fees |
Capital Area Budokai asks beginners to have a fully assembled practice shinai, size 39 for men or 38 for women, before the first class, and can arrange a loaner for a few sessions if delivery is late.
How to start
- Find a club through the British Kendo Association's dojo map, or an affiliated dojo on the All United States Kendo Federation's map.
- Contact the club before you go, and ask when the next beginners' course starts and whether a shinai (bamboo sword) is lent or needs buying.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothes; kendo is practised barefoot.
Where to go
- British Kendo Association: dojo map UK
- British Kendo Association: getting started UK
- All United States Kendo Federation: member federations and dojos US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do kendo beginners wear armour?
Not at first. Beginners learn etiquette, posture, footwork and basic sword movements, and the club's teachers decide when you are ready for bogu, which can be a few months.
What should I wear to my first kendo class?
Light, comfortable clothes you can move in. Kendo is practised barefoot, and Tucson Kendo Kai asks for no dangling jewellery and long hems turned up.
Do I need to buy a shinai to start kendo?
It depends on the club. Shudokan Kendo's beginners' course includes a shinai, while Capital Area Budokai asks you to bring your own.
How much does kendo cost in the UK?
As last listed, Shudokan Kendo's six-week beginners' course was £110 plus £10 for three months' temporary British Kendo Association membership, then £4 a session.
Where this comes from: British Kendo Association, Getting started; British Kendo Association, Dojo map; British Kendo Association, Membership types; Shudokan Kendo, Beginners courses; Shudokan Kendo, Location, times and costs; All United States Kendo Federation, official website; Capital Area Budokai, Kendo; Tucson Kendo Kai. Opened 12 November 2026.
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