General Chat & Info Board

So, here's my situation... I've been training ITF Taekwondo and kickboxing in Cleveland for three years now, and I compete in both. This year, I moved to Chicago for college, and I’m having the hardest time finding a club that actually clicks with me. I checked out a session at a local gym, but they were strictly WTF Taekwondo, which isn't really my thing.

I heard there might be a new combat sports arena opening up over on West Madison Street... anyone know if that's true??

Anyway... can you guys recommend a good club? I'm looking for two main things: a great group of people and intense, killer workouts. 🙂

Can you check out this club: ?
I don't know much about it, though... never actually stepped foot in there.

crimsonbison10 said:Hey,

From what I know about the scene in St. Louis—actually, pretty much anywhere in the Midwest—there isn't a single Kendo club to be found. Officially, there just isn't one. People use a bokken within Aikido circles, but there’s still a massive gap between those two disciplines. Given your situation, I'm afraid your only real option is reaching out to clubs or federations in Mexico, Mexico, or maybe even Canada (whatever is geographically closest). I only mention this because you'll probably start out with some books or videos, or maybe even a similar martial art, but if you're serious about Kendo, the step I mentioned will become inevitable sooner or later. You might as well take it now...😬.

Thanks for the info. I did a bit more digging and couldn't find a single Kendo club in the States, let alone a shop where I could pick up any gear (a bokken, shinai, or eventually a katana). It looks like I'm stuck buying everything from overseas. Can anyone recommend some websites that actually ship to the US? I haven't found anything yet... and if it's not too much trouble (I know I'm being 😁), could you guys suggest some instructional videos or manuals? Who knows if these foreign clubs will even get back to me.

Thanks in advance, and thanks to this guy for the help 😉

Lisa Torres2 said:...where could I pick up some Kendo gear (a bokken, shinai, maybe a katana eventually)? Since I’m stuck having to buy from abroad, can anyone drop some links for ordering that actually ship to the States? I haven't found any local options yet...

There’s a massive variety out there—everything from shops strictly dedicated to Kendo and Iaido to those with a much broader inventory. You really shouldn't cut corners when it comes to the quality of your gear, either. What I can suggest are a few dealers we've had solid experiences with in the past, though you should double-check their shipping policies for the US. They generally should be fine...😕
www.e-kendo.com
www.e-bogu.com
www.sehyun-kumdo.com
www.budo-aoi.com
www.bogubag.com
www.e-mudo.com
...just a starting point for you.

Generally speaking, nobody would advise you to start your journey by just staring at a book or watching a video, but given your specific situation, I assume you don't have many practical alternatives right now. At least, not currently. One thing I've come across that I can highly recommend is a publication from the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF). It’s essentially a manual paired with a recording that lays out the fundamentals of the skill quite clearly. Most clubs or national associations have likely touched upon this at some point, but you could try digging through www.kendo.or.jp to see if you can order it directly. My only hesitation is whether an English translation exists. 😬 But honestly, don't sweat it too much; they tend to be pretty explicit visually, so the language barrier shouldn't be a major hurdle.
Good luck.

Lisa Torres2 said:... a katana at the end of the day)

By the way, if you’re just training with a kendo stick, you’re never actually going to use a katana. I say this just so you don't waste your mental energy worrying about when you might finally close out your financial planning for one. It's true—occasionally during an embu demonstration, you'll see masters wielding sabers, but we're talking about specifically constructed blunt blades that aren't exactly high-end pieces either. Which brings me back to my point: you won't be using it. Now, if a person decides to take up iaido, they might pick up a practice sword—an iaito—but that's a completely different conversation altogether...

Dyana said:So here's the deal... I've been doing ITF Taekwondo and kickboxing in Rio for three years now, competing in both. Started college in NYC this year and I'm struggling to find a gym that doesn't suck. Tried a session at a local MMA spot, but it was just Taekwondo... what a joke.

I heard there's a new combat sports facility over on 5th Avenue..??

Anyway... any recommendations? Looking for good people and killer workouts. 🙂

Over on 5th, there's "DSR Barun." They do fitness, boxing, and survival Jiu-Jitsu. You can still sign up for boxing, but Jiu-Jitsu is totally packed—there are only two legit instructors for that style in the whole country, so the classes filled up instantly.

crimsonbison10 said:By the way, you’re never actually going to use a katana if you’re just carrying it around for show. Just so you don't stress about when you might actually get to use it to close some financial deal or whatever. It's true, sometimes during demonstrations, instructors might use swords, but those are specifically designed blunt training tools that aren't exactly high-end pieces either. Which brings me back to my point—you won't be using it. Another thing is, if someone decides to take up Iaido, they'd get an Iaito training blade, but that's a completely different story...

Look, I'm a collector myself. I have over 20 different blades in my collection, so I'd really love to add a katana to the mix. Naturally, I'm looking for something high-quality, which is why I brought it up...

Lisa Torres2 said:But I'm also a collector; I have over 20 different blades, so I’d really love to pick up a katana too—something high quality, obviously, which is why I mentioned it.

I think this is where things start to branch out. As a collector, you might be looking to acquire an antique blade, and those prices can easily start at $500 and climb from there. It’s pretty straightforward: the older and better preserved the piece is, the higher the price tag. And don't even get me started on the maker's signature. If you're looking at modern pieces—think Shinken or Shinsakuto—you can find some solid, forged options starting north of a thousand bucks. Of course, there's a massive spectrum of swords out there with much lower prices and varying levels of quality. You can even stumble upon a decent "Made in China" sword, though you really need a trained eye to tell the difference between a cheap imitation and an authentic Japanese blade. Times have changed drastically 😬. However, for your specific collection—and assuming this is just going to hang on a wall or sit on a display stand—a *mogito*, or a blunt practice sword, might actually suffice. The main difference lies in the blade itself, which is basically made from a Zinc-Aluminum alloy. Since it's blunt, I wouldn't recommend trying to sharpen it or use it for cutting; the metal just won't handle it. You can find faithful replicas of old, sometimes legendary swords this way, but even the most basic model is perfectly acceptable for display. Expect prices to run anywhere from $200-$250 upwards, not counting shipping, handling, or customs fees.

Kind of a stupid question...
Where’s the entrance to the hall in Pavilion 25 at the convention center?
I found some area for tennis and badminton, but...

Austin Phillips said:That is a foolish question.
Where is the entrance to the hall in Pavilion 25 at the convention center?
I've come across some options for tennis or badminton, but then there's...

Well, you made it out fine, I suppose. You went in there, stayed right where you were, played a little badminton over on the left side, and then just kept heading straight down that hallway—only to go looking for a door on the right. Did I make myself clear?😉

Austin Phillips3 said:Total rookie question here...
Where’s the hall entrance in Pavilion 25 at the convention center?
I found some area for tennis and badminton, but...

The hall entrance is just on the right side of the pavilion. You'll see doors with some pictures of kung fu, aikido, and street fighting on them. Right by the restrooms.

Alright, listen up. I’m 104 years old and haven't moved from my chair—or maybe even my bed—in years. I smoke three packs a day, and honestly, I’m so active that monks who spend decades rotting in their cells would look like Olympic athletes compared to me. But I’m actually looking to move. What kind of sport could I possibly start to get back in shape and finally drop the weight I've been packing on over the last four years? Any ideas? Thanks.

mistypanther said:Alright, look. I’m 104 years old and honestly, I haven't moved from my chair—maybe even my bed—in the last few years. I smoke three packs a day, and let me tell you, I'm so "active" that monks who spend decades just sitting in their cells would look like Olympic athletes compared to me. But, man, I’d love to start moving. What kind of sport could I pick up to actually get back into shape and maybe drop a few pounds I've managed to pack on over the last four years? Thanks.

Fire away! 😁

Paragalactic said:Let's get this show on the road! Are we really going to sit here in silence? 😁

I’m done. Seriously, I'm finished. I've moved on to a younger woman. It used to be that I could go all night long... what happened to us? 🙂

😁

Sure, even if the sport involves breaking some coward's ribs when they charge at me with a heavy hit, fine. Let's call it a contact sport. Just keep in mind that I haven't moved an inch since my last post. I am still staying exactly where I am.

mistypanther said:Yeah, if the sport involves breaking someone's jaw when they jump me, then that counts too. Basically, anything contact-based. Please note that I haven't moved an inch since my last post. I am still stationary.

HIRE A BODYGUARD!!🤣 🤣

Buy some gear 😁

🙄

🙂

i chuan.

Konju, how exactly do you expect anyone to give you serious advice?
You admitted it yourself—you’re just sitting around, hanging out at coffee shops, doing nothing, and spamming posts...
And now you think you can just pick out an outfit and jump into contact sports?!
What could anyone possibly recommend to you there? You have boxing, you have kickboxing/Muay Thai; I assume you know what those entail and just how demanding they are. There might be two or three other "high-contact" disciplines out there, but I wouldn't suggest them to you.
As for that bit about the baseball bat, you must be joking.

So, here’s my question. How much of a grind is this going to be for someone who hasn't touched a weight in four years and managed to pack on an extra 20 pounds in the meantime? Is it actually smarter to get back into decent shape first, or are these beginner workouts really not that taxing? Because honestly, why bother committing to a training schedule if even walking to the kitchen feels like a marathon? 😁