Thank you so much for showing your interest in joining the Asayama Ichiden Ryu online dojo! We are looking forward to seeing you in class soon.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how and what to prepare to participate in our online lessons.
❶ Find the Necessary Space for Training
Ideally, for training, a space with at least the size of an 8-tatami room (3.6㎡) and a ceiling high enough that you can’t reach it even if you jump would be perfect.
If the temperature is manageable, practicing outside can also be a good option.
However, many of our online lesson students are training in spaces much smaller than this ideal size.
So it’s not a requirement that you need this amount of space to participate.
❷ Select a Membership Tier on Our Patreon Page
If you jump to our Patreon page you can see there are several membership tiers you can choose from.
The differences are as follows:
- Which day (Saturday or Sunday) you take the lessons
- Whether you wish to also train in the “Special Weapons Class (staff and chain ball).
Once you’ve made your decision, please sign up and get access to the necessary posts to participate in the lessons.
❸ Purchase the Necessary Equipment
Now you’ve chosen which classes you’ll be taking, let’s obtain the necessary training equipment to participate:
- Iaitō (training katana) OR Bokutō with sheath
- Dogi and Hakama
- Inner Obi (any color)
- Outer Obi (must be WHITE)
If you’re taking the Special Weapons Class please also purchase the following…
- Short Jō (4.21 Shaku, White Oak, 8 Bu) *Ideally, please shorten it to 3.2 Shaku=96.9 cm/38.1 in
- Long Jō (5 Shaku, White Oak, 8 Bu) *5 Shaku=151.5 cm/59.6 in
Please purchase an iaitō that is longer than the “recommended iaitō blade length.”
For iaitō longer than 2.5 shaku, please select “Habahiro -Heavyweight Blade” for the “Blade Type.”
Longer katana are of course more difficult to handle, but it’ll be better for your training.
Please watch this video to learn how to wear the training gear, and how to tie the outer obi.
*However at first, as long as you have Bokutō with sheath and Outer Obi (must be WHITE), you can start taking the lessons in sportswear.
❹ Create a Zoom Account
The online lessons will be held over Zoom, so please make an account.
Please join with a name you want to be called from Seki sensei in Japanese Katakana (For example: Shogo ショウゴ).
Before participating in the lesson, please remove all accessories, including watches, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Only wedding rings are allowed.
During the Zoom lessons, please pin Seki Sensei’s screen to prevent it from moving.
Please keep your audio muted and unmute to speak only when we call your name.
Feel free to join without video, but we will not be able to give you feedback, and you will not be able to ask questions.
Feel free to join/leave the Zoom lesson anytime.
Taking screenshots and recording video/audio is prohibited.
❺ Read the “How Our Iai Online Lessons are Held” Article
Now you’re ready to start taking our online lessons.
However, you’d like to know how are lessons are held and what we actually train in class, right?
Please read the “How Our Iai Online Lessons are Held” article: we’ve summarized what you’ll actually be doing in each online lesson.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us or send us a message on Instagram.
