Start Here:
Your Journey Into Kendo

Welcome to Kendo-Guide.Com

My name is Hiro Imafuji. I started kendo in 1980, and I have been practicing ever since. In April 2024 I earned my 7-dan, and in April 2026 I received the title of Kyoshi — one of the highest teaching ranks in kendo. That journey took 46 years, and it is still going.

I created this site because I believe kendo is for everyone — not just the young, not just the competitive, not just those who live near a dojo.

If you landed here, something drew you to kendo. Maybe it was a video, a movie, or just a feeling you can't quite explain. Whatever it was, I want to help you figure out if this is the right path for you — and if it is, how to walk it well.

And if you are wondering whether you are too old to start — you are not. I have seen people begin kendo in their 40s, 50s, and beyond and build something real. The best time to start is now.

It's More Than Hitting with Sticks

Most people's first impression of kendo is the sound — the crack of bamboo, the shout, the intensity. But that's just the surface.

Physically, kendo is a modern martial art rooted in traditional Japanese swordsmanship. You train with a shinai (bamboo sword) and, eventually, bogu (armor). The movements are precise, the footwork is demanding, and the technique takes years to refine — which is exactly what makes it worth pursuing.

Mentally, kendo develops what practitioners call zanshin — a calm, continuous awareness — and fudoshin, an immovable mind that doesn't panic under pressure. These aren't abstract concepts. You feel them in your body after enough practice.

In spirit, kendo follows the principle of Ken Zen Ichinyo — the sword and the mind as one. You are not just learning to strike. You are learning to be present, to be honest, and to keep improving. That is what "the way of the sword" actually means in daily life.

Why Learn from This Site?

I am not a performer or an entertainer. I am a teacher.

I started kendo at the age of 7 at Shubukan in Itami City, Hyogo, Japan. Shubukan was founded in 1786 — making it over 240 years old and one of the three greatest dojos in Japan. My first teacher was the late Juichi Tsurumaru sensei. I trained in the traditional way of Budo Senmon Gakko — the Martial Way Vocational School. That foundation has shaped everything I teach.

Since then, kendo has taken me around the world.

• Taught kendo at West Virginia University as a volunteer instructor
• Represented Japan on the international Ship for World Youth program and created a kendo club on board
• Served as a volunteer with Japan International Cooperation Agency (Japan's equivalent of the Peace Corps) in Guatemala — taught kendo and Japanese culture, and helped establish the first legitimate Kendo Association of Guatemala
• Traveled to Panama, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic to train local kendo leaders
• Acted as Director of Sei Tou Ken Yu Kai kendo dojo in Christchurch, New Zealand, and coached members of the New Zealand National Team
• Head Coach of the ECUSKF team for the US Nationals (2011, 2014)
• Currently serving as Head Instructor and President of Gotokukan Inc. in Indianapolis

Credentials:

• Kyoshi 7-dan — April 2026, one of the highest teaching ranks in kendo
• 7-dan — April 2024, after 44 years of continuous practice
• Renshi — May 2019
• 6-dan — September 2013
• Practicing since 1980 — started at age 7, still training and learning today
• 65,000+ YouTube subscribers — a global community of practitioners at every level

Three Things That Stop People Before They Start

Myth 1: "I need to be athletic." You don't. Kendo is about mechanics, breathing, and repetition. I have taught complete beginners in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. What matters is showing up consistently, not how fast you can move on day one.

Myth 2: "It's too expensive." You can begin learning the basics without buying any equipment at all. A wooden sword (bokuto) costs around $20–$30. Full armor comes much later, and only when you are ready for it.

Myth 3: "I don't have a dojo near me." Many of my students train at home, at least in the beginning. My Level 1 content is designed specifically for people who are learning on their own. You can build a genuine foundation before you ever set foot in a dojo.

Where Are You Right Now?

Everyone starts somewhere different. Find your level below and get the free guide that fits where you are today.

Level 1 — Complete Beginner

No dojo. No equipment. No experience.

You have never practiced kendo before, or you are just exploring whether it is right for you. You may not have a dojo nearby, and you have not purchased any equipment yet.

Your free guide: "The First Dojo Visit Success Checklist" Everything you need to know before you walk into a dojo for the first time — what to expect, what to bring, how to behave, and what questions to ask.

Level 2 — Beginner at a Dojo

You are training regularly but still building your fundamentals.

You have joined a dojo and you are showing up consistently. You know the basics but feel like something is not quite clicking yet. You want to sharpen what you already have.

Your free guide: "The 10-Minute Better Basics Daily Drill" A simple daily practice routine you can do at home to reinforce what you are learning at the dojo — even in a small space, even on busy days.

Level 3 — Preparing for Dan Grading

You are working toward 1-dan, 2-dan, 3-dan, or approaching 4-dan.

You have been in kendo for years and you are serious about your next grading. You know the techniques — but gradings test more than technique. They test composure, intent, and mental readiness.

Your free guide: "Seme & Sutemi: The Mental Checklist for Dan Grading" The mental side of grading that most people overlook — how to enter with presence, how to apply seme correctly, and what examiners are actually looking for.

What Comes After the Free Guide?

Here is the full path for most of my students:

1. Start Here — Download the free guide for your level. Get oriented.
2. YouTube — Watch the beginner video series at your own pace, free.
3. Level 1: Fundamentals at Home — Build your foundation before joining a dojo.
4. Level 2: Training at a Dojo — Begin working with a teacher and training partners.
5. Level 3: Advancing Toward Dan — Sharpen technique, develop strategy, prepare for grading.
6. The Kendo Guide Community — Join the Patreon for weekly lessons, live Q&A, and ongoing instruction at every level.

Kendo is a lifelong practice. There is no rush. Start where you are.

— Hiro Imafuji, Kyoshi 7-dan Kendo-Guide.Com

---