Frequently Asked Questions
Q - How much will it cost?
£20 per month to train or £10 per individual lesson.
Q - Do I need to buy any equipment?
Not immediately - you can start in a track suit or judo-gi and we can lend you a bokuto (wooden sword).
You can get a good bokuto for under £20, and a hakama and keiko-gi for under £100.
A practice sword (Iaito - without a sharp edge) can be had for £300 to £400, or less second-hand.
Q - Do I have to be fit?
Not especially.
Many people start Iaido after years of study of another martial art so our average age is relatively old.
We have a tradition of special arrangements for people who have trouble kneeling.
There are even one-armed Iaidoka.
Q - How soon can I grade?
When Sensei thinks you are ready!
Some people will be ready for their first national grading in about a year. (starting from scratch)
Q - Do you have a system of regular seminars?
Yes - the British Kendo Association and our local dojos organise many weekend seminars each year.
Q - Do you have much contact with Japanese sensei?
Yes - they visit every year to run a 3-day seminar.
High-grades visit Japan (whenever possible) to gain individual instruction.