FAQs

If you have recently seen a movie or video that sparked an interest in learning kendo, please know San Jose Kendo Dojo is a traditional Kendo school which has been teaching traditional Kendo since 1962. We do NOT teach other sword forms.

While some “Martial Arts” schools may teach flashy moves with swords, the instructors at San Jose Kendo Dojo each have a minimum of 11 years of Kendo training and have passed rigorous exams before becoming an instructor.

The purpose of Kendo as established by the All Japan Kendo Federation is:

• To mold the mind and body
• To cultivate a vigorous spirit
• To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo
• To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor
• To associate with others with sincerity
• To forever pursue the cultivation of oneself

To summarize, the purpose of Kendo is for self improvement in all aspects of life with the goal of becoming a better person.

A person may start Kendo at any age from 8 years old up to seniors looking for a new challenge. Be aware that Kendo can be very rigorous and requires discipline and commitment.

Kendo is a great family activity, whether it is father/son, mother/daughter, brother/sister, or the entire family. We have many combinations of family members in our dojo who enjoy Kendo together.

Unlike martial arts schools that promise to teach their students how to become more disciplined, we do not make that claim. A student must already have the self discipline and motivation to do their best to learn and improve in Kendo. We require a commitment to regularly attend classes, be on time, and display respect at all times. Different cultures display respect in various manners. Because we are a Japanese martial art, we will teach students and expect proper Japanese etiquette.

Yes, there are several Kendo competitions of various levels held throughout the year. At San Jose Kendo, we encourage our students to enter competitions as we feel it is a fun way to enhance the Kendo experience by testing yourself against others and meeting others from around the globe who have a shared love of Kendo. However, we do not require students to enter competitions as we understand that “sports” competitions are not for everyone. Having said that, we feel that facing your fears is a path towards personal growth. Additionally, even though we enjoy having many Kenshi who have had success in tournaments, we do not teach fancy techniques that are outside of the traditional Kendo fundamentals. We feel if you can master the fundamentals, you will have a better chance of long term success.

Contrary to popular myth, “Black belt” is not a rank in the martial arts. It was all started around 1882 by a wealthy Japanese commoner, Dr. Kano Jigoro of Kodokan.

Dr. Kano developed a system for awarding proficiency ranks to his Judo students. The system was based on kyu, which is translated as “class” or “ungraded” ranks, and dan, pronounced “don,” and translated as “having rank.” The different colored belts you see in many martial arts schools are worn by the kyu ranks. The black belts are worn by the dan ranks. Just as a Master Sergeant wears many chevrons on his shoulder as the insignia of their rank, they would not be called a chevron, and a General would not be called a Star. The same holds true in the martial arts, such that a person should not refer to their or another rank as being a “Black Belt” as this is only an indication of the rank, not the rank itself.

The appropriate terminology for referring to those of kyu ranking is either their level of kyu, such as Ikkyu, Nikkyu, Sankyu, or collectively as Mudansha. Mu literally translates to “nothing.” The Dan rankings are called Yudansha, meaning a person having rank, or the level of Dan ranking, Shodan, Nidan, etc.. Incidentally, Shodan would be a 1st degree black belt in other martial arts. Sho translates as beginning or first. Therefore, Shodan means “beginning or first rank.” If you take this literally, then upon attaining Shodan, you have successfully become a beginner.

Dr. Kano Jigoro who developed the dan system was a commoner, not of the warrior class of Japan. Therefore the belt system is the result of the common class so any attempt today to attribute the black belt with traditional martial training in Japan is historically faulty.

Kendo is one of the few martial arts that does not have any visual sign of rank integrated into a uniform. The best practice to remember in Kendo, is to treat everyone with respect.

First of all, read the paragraphs above. It usually takes an adult three to four years to obtain Shodan. Each successive rank requires training in the current rank for the same number of years as the rank attained. So before you can test for Nidan, you must have trained as a Shodan for one year before becoming eligible to take the test. Before testing for Sandan, you must train as a Nidan for two years. To become a Sensei in the United States,  a student must pass the exam for Yondan (4th Dan).

Mentioned earlier was that we do not teach other sword forms at San Jose Kendo. But you may have seen Kendo practitioners (Kenshi) using wooden or metal swords practicing forms. Included in the Kendo curriculum is Nihon Kendo-no-kata for the ranks Ikkyu (1st Kyu) and above and Bokuto-niyouru Kendo Kihon Waza Keikoho (BKKK) for the ranks of Yonkyu to Nikkyu. Both are related and compulsory Kendo exercises that Kenshi must learn to further develop their knowledge of Kendo kihon, or Kendo fundamentals. They must be mastered to the level required for advancement to the appropriate rank. However, they are not part of competitions other than ceremonial demonstrations.