
Kendo means "Way of the Sword". It is the dynamic and exciting traditional Japanese martial art of armoured sword-fighting which was developed as a safe way for Samurai to practice their swordsmanship.

Iaido is the art of drawing and cutting with the katana . It focuses on developing psychological and physical awareness and trains you to quickly draw the sword and responding to a sudden attack.
Jodo is the "Way of the Stick" and teaches you a comprehensive method of using a 4-foot staff to defend against a sword. Used by the samurai to the Japanese Police
A truly thrilling martial art..
The Martial Arts are a wonderful way to improve your fitness at any level. From beginners to advanced athletes and martial arts these arts are a great way to improve your strength, coordination, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility.
The attributes developed through studying these martial arts are known to carry over into every aspect of life, from learning mental endurance, to better coping with stress, improving focus and concentration and then there are all the physical benefits too!
Dublin Kendo regularly competes in local and international Martial Arts Competitions. Among our instructors and coaches we have team national squad members for Kendo, Iaido, Jodo and international medalist's in all our arts. We also hold regular exams so you can advance and track your progress!
The dojo is like a big second family. Warm and welcoming, you'll get to make life-long friendships, see new places and try new things. We have regular social outings, lunches, dinners and drinks, meetups and movie nights!
The following are some recent clips from our seminars and public demonstrations.
Taking a behind the scenes look at the recent Kendo Seminar, part of the 20 year anniversary celebrations. You'll see some great Kendo, great instruction, and even greater friendships.
An inspirational mini-documentary from the Irish Martial Arts Commission on Dublin Kendo Kobukai member Sophie on her journey from beginner to International Team Captain.
Irish National Kendo Squad members demonstrating Kendo on Saturday AM on TV3 ahead of a demo at the holiday world show at the request of the Japanese Embassy. It was a little last minute, but we think they did great.
A short fun video showing the members of Dublin Kendo Demonstrating Iaido, Jodo and Kendo. And some general fun behind the scenes moments as we enjoyed the 'con.
Dublin Kendo Instructor Batman O'Brien (Jo) with Dublin Kendo Instructor John Kennedy (Tachi) in the Yondan category of the European Jodo Championships 2025.
Kata's demonstrated are ZNKR Jodo: 5. Sakan, 6. Monomi and 7. Kasumi.
Dublin Kendo Instructor John Kennedy opens with the Jo, with Dublin Kendo Instructor Batman O'Brien as Tachi in the Teams category of the European Jodo Championships 2025.
Kennedy performs ZNKR kata 1. Tsuki Zue, 2. Suigetsu and 3. Hissage. O'Brien then performs kata 7. Kasumi, 8. Tachi Otoshi and 9. Rai Uchi

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