Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). (according to Wikipedia).

To join the ANU Kendo Club, you need to complete our Introduction to Kendo Program (Beginners' Course). After finishing the course, you’ll be invited to become a full member of the club.

The Beginners' Course runs twice a year, usually at the beginning of each ANU semester, and is held every Thursday evening from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM. You can find more information You can find more information here.

If you’ve practised kendo before and are not a beginner, please contact us directly to discuss how to join.

The 2024-25 ANUKC full-year membership fees are as follows:

The 2024-25 ANUKC full-year membership fee for ANU students is $200, and for Associate Members (Non-ANU Students), it is $270. This fee includes registration with the ACT Kendo Renmei (ACTKR) and the Australian Kendo Renmei (AKR).

For Associate Members (Non-ANU Students), there is an additional compulsory Club Affiliation Fee of $130 per annum. This fee is a mandatory levy paid by all members of affiliated sports clubs who are not students at ANU.

Club fees match financial year: It covers from 1st of July to the 30 of June of the next year.

If you decide to join the club after the beginner course, the club can lend you equipment, except for the kendo uniform. However, in the long term, you are expected get your own equipment.

Shinai cost about $53

Kendo uniform sets cost about $180

There are several competitions along the Year:

• In April is the Australian Kendo Championship.
• If you are ANU student, there is Unisport nationals in September.
• There are state championships and club organized competitions and seminars along the year.

That depends on how often you go to training, but in general, most of the members that joined in the previous beginner’s course are wearing the complete armor by now.