Where to go
Our Reading dojo is in the sports hall at Kendrick School in Reading.
East Street
Reading
Berkshire
Someone from the club will be around to meet you outside the gym. We’re usually there from 11:30am.
Parking
Due to building works there is currently no on-site parking.
There are a few other options for local parking:
- free weekend parking on Kendrick Road
- paid on-street parking on South Street
- The Oracle car park
- Queen’s Road Car Park
What to wear
Please wear clothing that is easy to move around in. Sweat trousers or leggings are ideal. There are changing rooms with showers available.
Dark clothing is recommended once you are wearing armour as the dye can rub off.
What to bring
Any outstanding fees
A water bottle
A good spirit and willingness to learn
Paying outstanding fees
Make sure to pay the remainder of your fees. You can do this online before the session or pay in cash on the day.
What to expect
At your first session you shouldn’t expect to be straight into armour! We’ll spend a little time talking about kendo and the expected etiquette during practice. We will then focus on footwork and the basics of how to swing a shinai.
You might be overwhelmed with a lot of information during this session. There’s a lot to take in, but you are not expected to remember it all! It might feel weird or uncomfortable, but we aim to get you more comfortable with the basics of kendo during the course as a whole, so don’t worry.
After the session
After the session we will go to The Turks pub for drinks and to talk about the session and answer any questions you might have.
This is a great place to get to know your fellow Kendoka in a more relaxed environment. It’s commonly referred to as ‘the second dojo’ and we try to go after every session.