Best Martial Arts and Combat Sports Classes in Spokane Valley, WA

Anyone can start Kendo, regardless of their fitness level. Our 8 week beginning class starts out slowly. The intensity level gradually increases, with an emphasis on injury prevention.

We do not use uniforms during the 8 week beginning class. You should wear a tee shirt and sweat pants. After completing the 8 week beginning class, you may purchase a Kendo uniform if you like, although it is not required until your fifth month of training. This will give you time to find out if Kendo is for you, before purchasing a uniform. The uniform cost is about $95.

New members need to develop the basic skills of sword handling, footwork, centered carriage, etc., before they start using protective armor and receiving strikes from others. It usually takes about 5 or 6 months to develop the basic skills to that level. That will give you time to consider if you would like to continue Kendo before you purchase armor and it will give you time to save the money if you need to. The armor cost is about $450. The armor will last for many years.

There are tournaments nearly every month in the Pacific Northwest area. Tournaments are great fun and provide an opportunity to meet and practice Kendo with other practitioners from all over the region, and in some cases from other states and countries. There are 14 Kendo regions in the USA, the Pacific Northwest being one of them. Each region develops its own team for the national championship, which is held every three years. Spokane Kendo Club has members who compete as part of the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation team. The International Kendo Federation holds the World Kendo Championships every three years.

No. There are three training programs at Spokane Kendo Club that are all happening simultaneously: 1. General training for people who enjoy the matches that are part of each training session, but who DO NOT want to participate in Kendo tournaments. 2. General training for people who enjoy the matches that are part of each training session, and who DO want to participate in Kendo tournaments. 3. Training for those who, in addition to the general training, want to prepare for upper level competition at a national level. These members undergo a much higher level of training intensity.