Becoming a Member
Joining the club is easy! Just start coming to practices (our schedule is on the home page). It is absolutely free to try, but after you have come to a few practices and decided you want to become a member we ask for a one time $20 entry fee – everyone involved with the club is a volunteer, so this money goes to maintaining and buying new equipment. Members will typically join the ECUSKF after their first year as it is necessary for testing and competing. You can find out more about the ECUSKF by asking an officer at practice.
The Ohio State University Kendo Club is a Student Organization, but it is not necessary to be a student. Outside members of the community are welcome to join us, and frequently do, but must either buy an RPAC (Recreation and Physical Activity Center at OSU) membership or pay a $10 guest fee to enter the building for each practice. The exception is when practices are held in A200, in which case no fee is required. If you do not have a membership and would like to join us for practice please email us and let us know so that we can have a student vouch for you.
Necessary Equipment
Beginners do not need to bring anything special to practice as we have shinai (bamboo swords) and bokuto (wooden swords) which may be freely borrowed. However it is a good idea to wear comfortable gym clothes and bring a water bottle. Once you have come to practice for a while we recommend you purchase your own shinai and dogi/hakama. This is so that you can practice your swing at home and look like a real kendoka at practice. We sell shinai at-cost ($20-25) but you may also buy them online along with dogi/hakama. Such “beginner sets” can be very affordable and often go on sale.
After about a semester of training footwork and swinging most students will be ready to put on armor and begin full contact drills and sparring. At this point they are more than welcome to borrow one of our club bogu sets for as long as they need it, but we will also help them pick out their own set to purchase when they are ready.
