Who can teach at Nanseikan?

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This post is to clarify who can instruct within our dojo, by dividing members according to experience levels by rank. The levels below are ranked in order from most junior to most senior.

If you are a Nanseikan member, please read, understand and observe these roles when in the dojo.

Graded and ungraded members (up to 3 kyu)

  • Watch and listen
  • Practice
  • Practice
  • Practice

Assistant instructors (2 kyu and above)

  • All of the above points, plus...
  • Able to run warm-ups and suburi when asked and given direction
  • Able to assist beginners and low kyu grades with equipment issues only (no technical instruction)
  • Knowledge of basic terms and commands

Instructors (2 dan and above)

  • All of the above points, plus...
  • Able to formally start and end training – give commands to line up, rei, etc.
  • Able to run Beginners’ course
  • Able to devise and run warm-ups, suburi
  • Able to devise and run drills and rotations to include all students at an appropriate level
  • Able to monitor safety and participation of all students
  • Able to assist in instructing kyu grades in fundamentals
  • Knowledge of basic terms and commands with correct pronunciation

Dojo leaders (4 dan and above)

  • All of the above points, plus... 
  • Responsible for overseeing training, devising lesson structure, advising instructors
  • Knowledgeable about all technical aspects of shinai kendo and kata up to their level of experience
  • Experience running beginners’ courses
  • Broad knowledge of terms and commands with correct pronunciation

While the list for 4th dan and above may seem long and onerous, these skills accumulate naturally over the time it takes to reach the levels listed above.

Finally here are some rules of thumb that apply equally to everyone in the dojo and should guide your decisions and behaviour in kendo:

Listen at least twice as much as you speak.

If you're not 100% sure of what to say, say nothing at all.

As much as possible teach by example. 

As much as possible avoid verbal instruction.

The faults you identify in others' kendo are usually your own faults. 


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