Beginners' Course September 2005

Our third beginners' course started on Monday 26th September 2005.

We are delighted to welcome 24 interested people to the world of kendo. This number of beginners is astounding given the fact that StAKC is still very young and not all that big a club. It seems our dedication to teaching good basics is paying off. Fifteen beginners are from St Andrews, four from other places in Fife and four from Dundee. The youngest is 14, the oldest 55.

This course marks a new start in terms of content as we are pioneering a scheme in which beginners learn to handle the wooden sword (bokuto) first and then the bamboo sword (shinai). The bokuto is roughly shaped and weighted like a real sword and, therefore, makes it easier for beginners to understand correct grip, upswing and cut.