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

Today's children's Kendo is very popular around the world, and in fact, modern kendo was developed with the input of the Japanese education system with the goal of helping children to learn and practice perseverance, focus, etiquette, and respect. It's popularity, safety record and effectiveness saw it soon becoming Japan's National Sport.

Kendo is one of the safest martial arts there is, with a remarkably low injury rate, even compared to other sports such as football or GAA.  We do not allow sparring until the child has developed the required proficiency in executing the basic moves of the art safely.

When they do get to spar it is with specially constructed bamboo swords called shinai, which are purposely built to dissipate force , and armor, called bogu which protects against the hits of a shinai. 

The most important teaching of Kendo is to foster a strong spirit. To do this, we teach our students: 

1. Etiquette and manners: how to bow, when to bow, greeting your teachers, how to respond to their teachers politely and appropriately, respect for themselves and their classmates, etc. 

2. Basic terminology: Counting, kendo vocabulary, commands, in Japanese.

3. How to use a Shinai: How to hold the practice sword (shinai), adopt basic stances (kamae), and how to cut (kiri) the three basic targets.

4. Footwork Drills: How to move forward and back, how to slide step, and the stomping (fumikomi) step.

5. Basic attacks and responses: This combines cutting and footwork to complete a full attack and defense routine.

6. Cooperation and Teamwork: Partner practice of receiving strikes with a partner: Hitting a partner and receiving for a partner with their shinai.

Through this your child will learn patience, perseverance, respect, goal orientated motivation, cooperation, and more all while engaged in a fun fitness activity.