When do you take new students?
New students are welcomed at any time.
Do I need some prior martial arts experience?
No prior experience in martial arts is required, even though it would be a bonus.
What do I need to begin with?
You don\’t need anything. We have a bokuto (wooden sword) for you to use.
What should I bring to first class?
Comfortable, preferably natural fabric clothes
What is Iaido?
Iaido is a Japanese martial art transmitted from the warrior samurai class uninterrupted from teacher to student up to today. It is a practice where the student learns to efficiently draw and counter the attack or threat of an opponent.
We practice with sharp swords and students practice for a number of years with a sword made to look and feel like a Japanese Sword (nihon-to) but is dull and less dangerous but it can still do harm if used carelessly
Is the practice physically demanding?
The practice is is not strenuous but due to concentration a practitioner should expect to break sweat.
How long is the class?
The class is usually 1 hour and 30 minutes in our dojo and we have an extra half hour after the class for optional practice
Can I pay per class or do I have to pay per month?
The monthly membership is $50 and it is required in order to pay for the practice space. Students are required to pay by month at the beginning of each month. The instructors are doing the instruction voluntary and pro bono.
Will one class a week be enough to advance?
One class per week is not enough to progress in the art. Two classes are preferable in order to make progress.
How soon would I be required to buy the uniform?
That depends entirely on the student and his/her financial status. Anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Students feel better (and look better) in the proper Gi and Hakama
How soon would I need to buy the iaito (sword)?
This is also up to the student, he/she will soon realize that the wooden sword (bokuto/bokken) cannot be used well and the student will know when they are ready to move to a practice sword or iaito.
I have a Japanese sword – can I use it?
There are several issues here. The primary one is safety. Also there are swords out there which may not be usable due to incorrect length, incorrect weight etc. We would say that the student should bring it and discuss it with the sensei.