Don’t have anywhere to learn kendo?
Did many people tell you it would be a bad idea to learn kendo off books and videos?
Have you been told that if you did not have an instructor to teach you, you could not learn kendo at all?
Are you having a hard time to get the kendo basic movements?
Are you thinking to give up learning kendo?

I can solve these problems for you.

Finally kendo can be learned online!

Kendo For Life, LLC (“Kendo For Life”)  presents,

Kendo Online Basics 101 (KOB 101)

I, Masahiro Imafuji, have been trying to provide detailed kendo instructions through a website, Kendo-Guide.Com, and videos for those who do not have access to a real dojo. It has been well-received by many people but there had been one thing missing.

Checking

This was the major issue.

You may have tried to learn kendo off books and videos. But the problem is…

there is no one to check whether or not you are doing things correctly.

Kendo is all about repetition. We repeat the same things over and over.

So once you learn the wrong movements, you will repeat the wrong things over and over.
Now you know what will happen to you.

Yes, you will develop bad habits and you will find it very hard to improve kendo as you progress. Eventually you feel like kendo is not for you or you are not good enough to do kendo. I saw many people like that because they did not learn the basics right from the beginning.

This is not only bad for you but for the kendo world as well.

I do not want you to quit. The future of kendo lies on people like you, who love kendo and want to pursue the way of the sword seriously.

Who is Masahiro Imafuji?

You may wonder who I am. I go by Hiro Imafuji and people call me Hiro. I am currently CEO of Kendo for Life, LLC and instructing kendo at two places (Mudokwan and Gotokukan) in Indiana, USA. I Currently hold 5th dan in kendo.

Kendo History
I started kendo in 1980 at Shubukan in Itami City under the late Juichi Tsurumaru sensei (9th dan) , the late Keisuke Murayama (8th dan) and Masayoshi Miyazaki sensei (7th dan, Shihan of Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan).

Since the late Tsurumaru and Murayama sensei graduated from Budo Senmon Gakko (Martial Arts Specialized College), their methods of training were very traditional and kihon-oriented.

My experience instructing kendo outside Japan

• Kendo Instructor at Mudokwan and Gotokukan in Indianapolis, IN
• Volunteer instructor of kendo, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
• Represented Japan on the international Ship for World Youth program. * Created a kendo club on board
• Foreign Relations Full-time Volunteer, Japan International Cooperation Agency, commonly known as "Japan's Peace Corps," Guatemala City, Guatemala
  • Performed various outreach projects in Guatemala to promote cultural understanding between Japan and Guatemala
  • Taught kendo and Japanese culture to students and adults
  • Lead in establishing the first legitimate Kendo Association of Guatemala
  • Traveled to Panama, Mexico, and Dominican Republic to train local leaders of kendo
• Acting Director, Sei Tou Ken Yu Kai kendo dojo, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • Taught kendo; coached members of the New Zealand National Team

Problems I saw in Normal Kendo Instruction outside Japan

While having instructed kendo outside Japan as mentioned above, I have encountered many problems that I had never thought would be problems.

• General kendo instructing methods were unfriendly to adults because they were basically for children.
• Although most movements were natural to the Japanese, they were completely new to the non-Japanese.
• Many non-Japanese started kendo to learn kendo philosophies that the Japanese learn only as a regular part of improving in kendo.  
• A lack of role models
• A lack of kihon (the basics) -oriented kendo
• Kendo was misunderstood in many ways (seen as violent, just a hitting sport, a part of ninjutsu and etc.)
• People TRY to learn kendo movements without knowing that trying too hard is the problem after all.

In order to overcome the problems, I had to tweak the traditional instructional methods for the non-Japanese and for all age groups. I studied kendo philosophies so that students could find the connection between kendo and its philosophies and apply them to their daily lives.

Trying too hard makes kendo more difficult

Moreover, I realised that people are too serious about learning the kendo movements. As a result, they develop very unusual movements. In other words, because they try too hard, they make the kendo movements even harder to learn.

It is much easier if you apply your daily movements into the kendo movements.

Because many people see the kendo movements as some kinds of special movements, they separate them from what they already can perform.

As a proof, when I make my students perform their daily actions such as walking, running, hopping and so on, they can perform them perfectly. When I ask them to perform some of the kendo movements that involve walking, running and hopping movements, they suddenly become incapable to perform those movements.

That means they have developed the special movements for kendo.  

Why should we make learning kendo more difficult?

KOB101 was created based on my instructing methods established through more than 16 years of instructing experience outside Japan.

So how does KOB 101 work?

You can see course outline by clicking here.

It is like having a private tutor for your kendo practice. Besides, you will have

• a blog inside the course.

You can show it to others or keep it for only yourself. We have

• forums

so we can discuss certain topics with other members too.

What can you learn in KOB 101

KOB101 is to teach you…

• Kendo basics
• Rules and regulations of kendo and for dojo
• Philosophies

Kendo basics: Concentrate on getting MOVEMENTS right
Not only in kendo, but also in anything, the basics are very important. However, I have seen so many non-Japanese people struggling to get the kendo movements.

These people were taught in Japanese ways. There is nothing wrong with Japanese teaching methods but they have to be changed or tweaked depending on whom we are instructing.

Adults should not be taught in the same ways as children are. The students’ body structures should be considered. Some cultural differences can also be a problem to learn certain actions.

After having struggled, I came to this conclusion.

How to instruct is not important.
How easily, quickly and correctly students can learn the basics is more important.

My approach is to get the movements right, so some approaches are not very traditional. Trust me. If you do not get the basic movements right, you will not enjoy kendo at all in the future.

I try to share some philosophies of kendo as well in the course.  Without the rules (including etiquette and manners) and philosophies, we are just swinging a stick. It is not a kendo anymore.

Rules and regulations of kendo and for dojo and Philosophies: It does not matter if you are learning kendo online, I will still emphasise on etiquette, manners, rules, regulations and philosophies. Kendo is not about hitting others or leaning how to use a sword. It is about becoming a better human being through the principle of katana.

The possibilities are infinite

World friends and Close friends: Since this course is open to anyone in the world, you will have kendo friends just like you in other countries. You also may find people who are close to your town and start your own kendo club.

Make rivals all over the world!

More online courses: We can have more online programs. I don’t know what, but there will be more.

Basically I am devoted to passing what I have learned onto you.

Questions

There are still some questions left. One of the biggest questions is

How much can I learn kendo online?

I believe that the basics can be instructed thoroughly through online with this system. I do not want you to practice wrong movements over and over until they become impossible to fix.  I am sure this system can make your learning much easier.

Other FAQs:

• How long will the course last?

This course does not have certain time period. As long as you are a member of the course, you can study kendo and receive instructions.

• Will there be some other materials than those that are already on the site?

Yes. There are more videos and materials. Basically I am trying to apply what I usually teach at the dojo to this online course. If necessary, I will prepare more materials to make the learning process easier.

• Will the payment be annually or monthly?

The payment is monthly. At the moment, I have no one year subscription as a payment option.

• How will it be an online training session?

Basically, students learn kendo movements off the materials prepared at the course and they get their kendo checked. So they have to upload pictures and/or videos of their kendo. They get feedback by writings or by videos. That is how it works, currently.

I will upload some training videos from time to time so that those who cannot go to a dojo can see what is going on in an actual dojo.

• What do you need to take KOB101?

• You must have an internet connection: Preferably high speed internet connection. The lessons are given mainly by videos.
• Shinai or bokuto: You can use a stick, if you do not have a shinai (bamboo sword) or bokuto (wooden sword). If you are thinking to buy one, I recommend you to buy a bokuto (a.k.a. bokken).
• Video camera or camera: In order for me to check your kendo, I need to see your movements somehow. I prefer that you upload videos rather than just pictures.
• Enthusiasm and passion to kendo: Without enthusiasm and passion, nothing can be done. If you are serious about learning kendo through this course, you are expected to be extremely enthusiastic and passionate about kendo.

• Is there anyone who should not take KOB101?

Yes.  Unfortunately there are some people who should not take this course and learn kendo.  You should not take this course and should not learn kendo, if you

• do not want to learn or do not care about traditions and etiquette/manners of kendo,
• are thinking of hurting others with the techniques of kendo,
• only criticize others but not yourself,
• are not willing to learn from others,
• are not honest, or
• are not responsible with your actions and make excuses.

The limitation of the System

I will be honest with you. As I always say, if you want to continue kendo, you must have a partner. You cannot possibly keep learning kendo alone.  

The essence of kendo is that we can learn our weakness by getting hit by others. If you get hit, you had an opening. Why did you have an opening? Most of the time, your opponent creates an opening from you by putting pressure on you, surprising you, panicking you and so on.

We need to learn how not to create any openings by interacting with others in kendo. That is why we need training partners and good instructors so that they can teach our weaknesses.

KOB 101 cannot teach you by actually training with you. We may be able to get together and train with each other in the future.

What else can you get from KOB 101?

Now this is the first online kendo learning program ever. You may think it may not work for you. Usually, you can come to a dojo and see it yourself first.

So I will give you my promise. A 100% money-back guarantee.

So how much for all this?
Normally if you go to a kendo dojo, it would cost you probably from US$30.00 to 60.00 per month. These usually give you lessons twice or three times a week but sometimes once a week.

As an instructor, I prefer a small group of students because I can pay more attention to each student. The truth is it gets harder for one instructor to check each student as the group becomes larger.

In this program, you are checked individually and thoroughly and you will receive feedback on your kendo movements. 

Do I have to pay each time I am checked like a private tutoring?

I thought about it because my course is like private tutoring with a lot of learning materials. However, if I charged for each time I gave feedback on a student’s photos or videos, it would discourage some people from seeking lots of feedback.  

So, you can get feedback up to three times per lesson, along with unlimited kendo instructional videos and other kendo learning materials just for US$25.00 for the first 30 days, and thereafter US$37.50 per month.

Just Click Here To Join the Course Now

I am striving to pass my knowledge onto you. It is up to you if you decide to get it or not. 

Kendo Online Basics 101 Order Form   YES!  Hiro, I am committed to learn kendo through KOB101 and want to receive knowledge from you thoroughly. Please let me join KOB101 right now! I understand that: When my order goes through, I will have access to learning materials (videos, PDF files and so on)  in KOB 101 and my kendo will be checked 3 times per assignment for as long as I a member of this course. My course fee is only US$25.00 for the first month and thereafter $37.50/month. 100% guaranteed: If I am not satisfied with the course or do not see any real values in this course within 30 days, I can ask for a compete hassle-free refund.  No questions asked. Click below to join KOB101 Payment is done through PayPal.

Final thoughts from Hiro…
I have been dreaming about passing my kendo knowledge on to the next generation, to as many students as possible. Now I have got a method to do so. Next, I need the right people who can keep the knowledge and pass it onto another generation.

Have you been dreaming about learning kendo? Do you think you are determined enough to keep learning kendo online until you will have a dojo close to your place?

We have the place now.

Are you ready?  I am ready.

Hiro Imafuji

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