Schedule
During the beginners course you will learn the basics of Kendo, be offered the opportunity of purchasing your own gear and compete in minor competitions.
This Beginners’ Course is open to all, including non-students.
Start Date: 09/08/2021
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Venue: Murdoch University Sports & Recreation Centre
Attire: Loose fitting clothes is a good idea (something you are comfortable moving around in), and please note that we train in bare feet.
Cost: $100 for 12 weeks
The beginners course will run every Monday 7:30pm – 9:00pm.
The first session is free of charge.
All participents must abide by the releavent COVID rules which apply at the time.
Sign Up Form
Enter your details below to sign up for the Semester 2 2021 beginners’ course starting 09/08/2021.
About the Beginner’s Course
Our beginner’s course is designed to do several things:
Provide an introduction to the sport, and a little background to the martial art.
Provide each student with a basic understanding of some of the basic moves (such as footwork, strikes, exercises, etc).
Prepare each student to join the main training with the rest of the club.
Prepare each student by providing some basic tools they can use for their own personal development.
The basic cost for the 12-week course is $100. During the course, you have the option of purchasing several equipment:
Your own keiko-gi and hakama – the blue uniform that sits under your armour (budgeted around $100*).
Your own shinai – the bamboo sword for practice (budgeted around $45*).
Your own shinai bag (budgeted around $35*).
Beyond the Course
After the beginner’s course, the next step in the journey will involve:
Getting your own equipment
A bogu set will cost upwards of $500, depending on the quality (entry level bogu is usually still very good and can last 2-4 years).
You may also need more shinai, which costs around $40-50 each (usually get through 1-2 a year).
Attending more training sessions
Aside from Monday 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Murdoch also trains on Wedensday 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
As a WAKR member, you may also visit and train at other clubs on other days.
Membership fees
There is an annual club fee, as well as an annual West Australian Kendo Renmei (WAKR) fee. The current fee structure can be found here.
Paying these fees means you will be covered for insurance, grants you access to train at other Kendo clubs in Australia for free, and enables you to enter official events such as competitions and grading.
Competitions and grading
One of the perks of becoming a WAKR member is your eligibility to compete, and attend grading.
The journey from the kyu ranks (under black belt) through to shodan (1st level black belt) usually takes between 3 to 5 years.
There are many local competitions in WA, catering both beginners and experienced, as well as two national competitions (the Australian Kendo Championships and the Australian University Games).