Saskatoon Kendo Club Policies

Attendance Policy

The club takes no formal attendance. Members are encouraged to attend all classes but we understand that this is not always possible. However, fewer practices means slower progress. People with limited practice may take a long time to earn the right to wear bogu. As outlined in the bogu rental policy, renters who miss a month or more of class will be asked to return their armour.

Bogu Rental Policy

The Saskatoon Kendo Club makes bogu (armour) available for rent at a reasonable price to our student club members. Non-student members are permitted to use club sets that we keep in the dojo on a class first-come, first-served basis. We encourage all club members to practice in club bogu for a minimum of one month before committing to purchasing armour. This is to avoid hasty purchases, as many people find kendo in bogu not to their taste

We have a limited number of sets in good condition. The priority is for the good equipment to be put into the student rental sets. Non-students are strongly encouraged to order bogu after their one month trial.

• Rental fees are charged per 3 month term
  • Adult rental fee is $20/term
  • Kids rental fee is $10/term
• A deposit is required for all bogu
  • Adult deposit is $100
  • Kids deposit is $50
  • Rental is deducted from the deposit
  • When the bogu is returned, any balance from the deposit is refunded
• Bogu may only be rented for a limited time
  • Non-students may only borrow in-house sets
  • Post-secondary students may rent for two years
  • Elementary and high school students have no limit
• If the renter misses practice for one month or more, the club may recall the bogu

Grading Policy

Kendo ranks are similar to other Japanese martial arts in that we have kyu and dan. Kyu are the beginner ranks (coloured belts in other martial arts) and go from rokyu (beginner, 6th rank) to ikkyu (1st rank). Dan are the senior degrees (black belts in other martial arts) and go from shodan (1st degree) to hachidan (8th degree). Ranks below ikkyu are awarded within the club. Ranks ikkyu and higher must be awarded by a Canadian Kendo Federation (CKF) grading board.

• Youth members (14 and under) may challenge rokyu through nikyu at tests administered by the club
• Youth members who pass an exam receive a coloured rank patch, which they wear on the left sleeve of the uniform, about midway between shoulder and elbow.
• Adult members are tested internally to see if they are ready to wear bogu but otherwise only grade through CKF, starting with ikkyu
• Members who have passed either the youth yonku exam or the bogu exam may practice in bogu
• Members who wish to challenge the CKF ikkyu exam must have at least one year of practice
• Members who wish to challenge CKF dan ranks must comply with the CKF time in grade requirements and have a steady practice
• Members who pass the CKF shodan exam receive a nafuda (tare-name) as a gift from the club

Youth Grading Requirements

• Rokkyu (6th rank, no crest, at least 8 years old): This is the rank you are the first day you start.
• Gokyu (5th rank, yellow crest, at least 8): You are now an advanced beginner
• know all bows (standing, kneeling, squatting)
• know all basic suburi (shomen, saiumen, slow paced haiasuburi)
• good attitude and attendance
• Yonkyu (4th rank, orange crest, at least 9): You now can start practising in armour
• all gokyu requirements
• haiasuburi at a medium pace
• fumikomi men (stomping men attack)
• kirikaeshi (diagonal cutting exercise)
• Sankyu (3rd rank, green crest, at least 10): You are comfortable with basic practice in bogu
• all yonkyu requirements
• all cutting attacks with big movement (men, kote, doh)
• basic combination attacks (kote-men, kote-doh)
• kakarigeiko (spirited multiple attacking practice)
• able to wear bogu without adult assistance
• Nikyu (2nd rank, blue crest, at least 11): You are ready to prepare for the ikkyu exam
• all sankyu requirements
• all cutting attacks with small movement (men, kote, doh, kote-men)
• backwards attacks (hiki-men, hiki-doh)
• jigeiko (free practice, showing how to fight against someone fighting back)
• Ikkyu (1st rank, brown crest, at least 13) You are starting to understand how to fight
• kendo kata (forms) #1-3
• demonstrate kiri-kaeshi
• demonstrate jigeiko (free practice)
• Shodan (1st degree, name tag, at least 14 years old) You are ready to start learning advanced concepts
• kendo kata #1-5
• demonstrate kiri-kaeshi
• demonstrate jigeiko (free practice)