Seattle Kendo Kai Training Schedule: Days, Times, and Rank Requirements

Updated

Seattle Kendo Kai (SKK) trains three days a week: Tuesday kendo from 7pm to 8:30pm, Thursday iaido from 6:30pm to 8pm followed by kendo from 8:20pm to 9:15pm, and Sunday kata from 3pm to 4pm followed by kendo from 4pm to 5:30pm. The Thursday kendo session carries a minimum rank of 3 dan, so newer students should plan around Tuesday or Sunday kendo instead.

Weekly Schedule at a Glance

Day Session Time Notes
Tuesday Kendo 7:00pm–8:30pm Open practice session
Thursday Iaido 6:30pm–8:00pm Seitei iaido practice
Thursday Kendo 8:20pm–9:15pm Minimum rank: 3 dan
Sunday Kata 3:00pm–4:00pm Kata practice
Sunday Kendo 4:00pm–5:30pm Follows the kata hour

The Thursday iaido session ends at 8pm and kendo begins at 8:20pm, leaving a 20-minute gap between them. If you plan to attend both on a Thursday, expect to wait briefly between sessions.

Which Sessions Fit Your Level

The schedule itself tells you most of what you need to know about where to start:

  • Complete beginners should look at Tuesday kendo or Sunday kendo. Neither session lists a rank requirement, and the dojo describes itself as welcoming students of all levels.
  • Iaido practitioners have one weekly slot: Thursday evening. The dojo practices seitei iaido, the standardized form set, so this session suits both newcomers to iaido and continuing students.
  • Kendo students at 3 dan or above can add Thursday kendo to their week. The 8:20pm start means this session runs late, and the rank floor suggests it is aimed at experienced practitioners.
  • Anyone working on forms can use the Sunday kata hour at 3pm, which runs directly into the Sunday kendo session.

If you are unsure which session matches your experience, the dojo's observation option is the practical way to check before committing.

Observing Before You Join

SKK invites prospective students to watch a practice on Tuesday or Sunday. The site frames observation as a way to understand the etiquette and energy of kendo in action, and attendance requires signing up for an observation session in advance rather than simply showing up.

Two observation options are listed:

  • Observe a kendo class — duration varies.
  • Observe an iaido class — listed at 2 hours.

Because Tuesday and Sunday are the named observation days, those are the sessions to target if you want to see the dojo before your first practice. Watching a Sunday session also lets you see both kata and kendo back to back.

Visiting from Another Dojo

Kenshi visiting from other dojos are welcome to join practices, whether in town briefly or training long-term. The dojo asks visitors to contact them in advance to plan the visit. For visiting kenshi, the Thursday kendo session's 3 dan minimum is the main scheduling constraint to check against your own rank.

Practical Notes

  • Location and contact details are not included in the schedule information above; use the dojo's contact channel to confirm the training address and any changes before your first visit.
  • Fees and membership costs are not stated in the available material, so ask directly rather than assuming a price.
  • Arrive early on your first visit. Kendo practice begins with etiquette and warm-up, and observing that opening sequence is part of understanding the dojo's culture.
  • Thursday is a long evening if you attend both iaido and kendo: roughly 6:30pm to 9:15pm with a short break.

The simplest path for a newcomer is to sign up for a Tuesday or Sunday observation, watch a full session, and then ask about joining the Tuesday or Sunday kendo practice that fits your level.