No, experience of martial arts isn't necessary. Watching old samuari films doesn't count against you either. :-)

No - Iaido doesn't require great amounts of strength or flexibility. Initially many of the movements and techniques may seem strange. However, like anything else really, the more you do, the easier it gets. Iaido and Jodo certainly require and help improve your concentration. Iaido is often refered to as moving meditation as well.

Absolutely! In fact they are often excellent at it. Size, gender, what football team you support etc - all can train!

Maybe. Students under 18 may be admitted at teh discretion of the dojo leader.

All jewellery must be removed except for wedding bands and simple studs etc. Hair should be tied back, and very long hair secured fully. Anything that can catch or snag is dangerous when weapons are in use, so common sense applies at all times.

You may wear a tracksuit or t-shirt and jogging bottoms.  If you have a Karate/Judo Gi, please wear that, and if you have a hakama already, (aikido students, I'm looking at you), then even better!

In a 2 hour class we usually split the time venly between Iaido and Jodo. We warm up, perform basics/cutting/footwork drills and then train in kata.

We may focus on a single specific aspect of training for a class or cover a wide variety of topics, but always, there is lots of kata. The emphasis is usually on a good work-rate and repetition of kata as this is the best way to learn. 

 

When you and your instructor feels you are ready, you will be eligible to test yourself in front of a grading panel who will determine if you have progressed sufficiently.

The grading system is like most other traditional Japanese martial arts; e.g  through Kyu (coloured belts) grades into Dan (black belts) grades. 

Kenmukan tends to adopt the most traditional approach towards gradings and that is to dispense with most Kyu grades and train students towards Ikkyu (brown Belt) and onwards thereon.  We may have gradings prior to Ikkyu to assess students and give them confidence in a grading scenario

With hard work and some good focus this could be achieved within one years study. After that it will be a minimum of 3 months before you would be eligible for your 1st Dan, another year before your 2nd Dan, two years for your 3rd Dan etc. 

Training and improving can aid confidence

How often do we find something that we can truly learn for a lifetime?

Many martial artists will agree, friends made in the dojo are often friends for life. I'm sure this has something to do with respecting somebody, despite their best efforts to kill you! :-)

First of all, Iaido isn't about sword fighting in the sense that the purpose of training is to become better at using the sword for its original purpose. That is not to say that a skilled Iaido practitioner cannot competently wield a sword but facility in using the sword isn’t the ultimate objective since there is no longer a practical use for the sword in modern society.

To fill this void there needs to be some other reason for practising this art. The sword and the skills to employ it effectively are instead used as a vehicle for physical conditioning and personal development.   (oh, and it's a lot of fun too!)