Hello everyone. Thank you for reading this article. I’m Shogo from Let’s ask Shogo, the interpreter of the online lessons and owner of this website.
When we mention online lessons on our YouTube channel, we often get comments that the cost is too unjustifiably high. Indeed, $100 for one hour of Asayama Ichiden Ryu lessons per week may sound expensive. Still, our goal is to spread Asayama Ichiden Ryu worldwide and revive the golden age when there were 7,000 students. In other words, we are not charging unreasonably high lesson fees, and there is a good reason for this.
1. Unlimited access to archived videos of lessons
First, our online lessons are more than just one Zoom lesson per week. All lessons are recorded, and the archives are available for unlimited viewing all the time. In other words, it is the same as purchasing ever-growing video materials. You could even think of it as registering for that subscription.
2. Four people are hosting the event.
Common online lessons are conducted by a single instructor. However, we have a four-person team of three instructors and one interpreter. While the main teacher is watching the students practice, the other teachers continue the demonstration on the screen, so there is no wasted time. Also, the cameraman is one of the teachers, so he understands how and where to take pictures to make it easier for the students to understand. Finally, the interpreter is also a student, so he can explain technical terms in English without a problem.
We also understand that those who say our lessons are too expensive have no intention of taking our lessons in the first place. It is thanks to our members who take our lessons seriously and say that even $100 is inexpensive that we can run a free YouTube channel. We are truly grateful for all of you. And we will continue to do our utmost to live up to your contributions.
Want to learn more about the world of katana and martial arts? Please jump to our Patreon page to sign up for Japan’s best online Iai/Kenjutsu lessons available worldwide.
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The notion that $25 per lesson, $100 per month, is too much to pay for learning from this school is a bit baffling.
You get one of the best teachers you’ll ever find, the world’s greatest demonstration partner (Tsukada-sensei is practically a stuntman), and some of the sharpest feedback from Kurosawa-sensei from behind the camera, and excellent advice and translations on the spot from Shogo-senpai. The lessons are evolving and adapting to class size and student needs, and it’s all very “alive”.
The time and effort put into the classes is astonishing. They are up until 1am Japan time, training and reviewing like they just woke up for the day. I’m worn out by the end of Shūnjō class and I can’t even tell if these guys are tired. They sure don’t show it. And Shogo-senpai, bless him for having to handle questions and feedback for so many students at once, and I’ve never seen him not smiling.
The amount of dedication and authenticity is unmatched. There’s so much inspiration found here that I have to stop myself from training. I literally keep telling myself “ok last try” dozens of times in a row like it’s a game of Mario Kart or something.
The translation alone would justify this cost, but recording and everything else – the man hours involved is driven by pure passion.
This is the chance of a lifetime, don’t let it pass you by!