Kendo Level Up!

The non-armored kendo students you’re seeing here have recently graduated from the Kendo 8 week Beginning level 2 class to the Pre-Armor class. It’s hard to tell, but Scott Michael and Julia are still on their first year of kendo, They are yet to train in full armor, but I think they’ve developed their foundation in kendo to an impressive level. They’ve learned everything from the basic strikes of kendo to the correct tying of the traditional kendo uniform. It’s an accomplishment and the results of hard work and practice.

The students and teachers in armor range from people in their first few years of kendo to experienced teachers. Kendo is has a ranking system with ranks below and above blackbelt. Although colored belts are not worn in kendo, the training you’re watching is between people of varying ranks who can train together and develop their kendo regardless of their rank difference.