Stage 1 · Months 0 – 6
Athletic clothes only
A t-shirt, comfortable trousers, bare feet, and a water bottle. The dojo lends a shinai for trial classes; once you confirm you are staying, you buy your own.
~ 80 TND
Standard size 38 or 39 shinai
Beginner's guide
始
Start Kendo in Tunisia: A Complete Guide
Kendo — the way of the sword — is a Japanese martial art practised with a bamboo shinai, full protective armour, and a precise code of etiquette. It builds posture, breath, and concentration in a way few sports can match. Tunisia has been a kendo country since 2010, and seven affiliated dojos now run weekly classes from Tunis to Monastir Governorate.
This guide answers the questions every newcomer asks: who can start, what a first class looks like, what equipment you actually need, what it costs, and how to find a dojo near you. Read it through, then book a trial — you will be in armour faster than you think. Read more about the League.
Profile
Is kendo for me?
The honest answer is: almost certainly yes. Kendo is one of the most inclusive martial arts you will find. Tunisian dojos train children from eight years old in dedicated kids classes, teenagers and adults together in the main keiko, and seniors well into their sixties. There is no fitness baseline to clear before you can start.
Physically, kendo asks for stamina more than power. You will sweat. You will move on the balls of your feet. Your shoulders and forearms will ache for a few weeks, and then they stop aching. You do not need to be flexible, you do not need to be strong, and you do not need to be young.
Mentally, kendo rewards patience. Progress is steady but not loud. The first months are repetition — the same cut, the same step, again and again — until your body stops asking your brain for permission. People who like deliberate practice settle in immediately; people who need constant novelty struggle at first, then come around when they feel the change in themselves.
How does it differ from karate, judo, or fencing?
Kendo is a sword art, not a striking or grappling art. Unlike karate, contact is made with a weapon, never the body. Unlike judo, there are no throws or holds. Unlike Olympic fencing, kendo emphasises full-body posture, vocal projection (kiai), and a strict code of etiquette woven into every action — bow, stance, breath, cut, retreat, bow.
First steps
一歩
Your first month: what to expect
Your first visit
Arrive ten minutes early. Wear comfortable athletic clothes — a t-shirt and loose trousers — and bring a water bottle. Kendo is practised barefoot on a wooden floor, so leave the shoes at the door. Greet whoever opens the dojo with a small bow; you will see this same gesture used dozens of times during the session, and it is contagious very quickly.
You do not need to bring a shinai. Most dojos lend one to trial students. You also do not need to know any Japanese vocabulary. Sensei will introduce the words you need as you need them.
The first few classes
Your first sessions focus on three things: posture (shisei), footwork (ashi-sabaki), and the most basic cut to the head (men). Some dojos start beginners without a shinai at all for the first one or two classes — a deliberate choice that lets you learn how your body should move before adding a weapon to it. Others place a shinai in your hands on day one and refine your grip from there. Both approaches work.
You will spend more time than you expect on bowing, on lining up (seiretsu), on the opening seated meditation (mokusō), and on the closing rituals. This is not filler — etiquette (reigi) is treated as a technical skill in kendo, on the same level as the strikes themselves. "Kendo begins and ends with rei" is the saying.
The progression
A typical first year follows three stages. From day one to roughly month six you train without bogu, in athletic clothes or a basic dōgi, with only a shinai. From month six to month twelve you start adding pieces of bogu — usually tare and dō first, then kote, then men last — and you begin partner drills (kirikaeshi, uchikomi) with someone in full armour. From month twelve onward you wear the full set and join open practice (jigeiko) and start to think about your first kyu grading.
The kyu grades go from sixth (lowest) up to first, then the dan grades begin — shōdan (1st dan), nidan (2nd dan), and so on. Kyu gradings happen at the dojo or League level; dan gradings are organised at national or regional level under FIK rules.
Locations
道場
Find a dojo near you
Seven dojos affiliated with the Tunisian Kendo League run weekly classes — five in Greater Tunis (Tunis, Ariana, Carthage, Ben Arous), one in Ouardanine (Monastir Governorate), and a dedicated iaido dojo in the capital. Each dojo welcomes beginners and runs trial sessions on request.
Trial sessions are welcome — contact a dojo directly through the contact details on its page. Schedules, sensei, and addresses are listed in full on the dojos directory.
Equipment
装備
What you need: kendo equipment
Stage 2 · Months 6 – 12
Shinai, hakama, dōgi
Around six months in, most beginners buy their first proper kendogi (jacket) and hakama (pleated trousers). The indigo dōgi is part of the practice, not a costume — the cotton breathes, absorbs sweat, and softens with use.
~ 200 – 350 TND
Dōgi + hakama set, beginner grade
Stage 3 · Months 12 – 18
Full bogu armour
The four pieces of bogu — men (helmet), kote (gauntlets), dō (chest), and tare (waist apron). Buy on your sensei's advice; fit is everything, and a full set should last a decade with proper care.
~ 1,500 – 4,000 TND
Beginner to mid-range bogu set
Where to buy
League members place orders through their dojo. The League's official partner Nippon Budo offers preferential pricing on bogu, shinai, and gear sourced from established Japanese makers. Full anatomy, sizing tables, and care guidance are on the equipment page.
Licence
登録
Licence, fees, and federation
Registered practitioners hold an annual licence issued through their dojo and the Tunisian Kendo League. The licence covers federation affiliation and insurance for training and competition. Annual licence and dojo fees vary by club; contact your dojo for current rates — most clubs publish a yearly fee that combines the League licence and the dojo's own membership.
The chain of affiliation is straightforward. Your dojo is affiliated with the Tunisian Kendo League. The League is a full member of the International Kendo Federation (FIK) — Tunisia is the only African country with that status — and is affiliated to the European Kendo Federation (EKF) for regional events. Practitioners who hold a current licence are insured for keiko and may register for League and European competitions.
FAQ
質問
Frequently asked questions
How old do you need to be to start kendo?
Most Tunisian dojos welcome new students from 8 to 10 years old, with a few accepting children as young as 6 in dedicated kids classes. There is no upper age limit — adults in their forties, fifties, and beyond regularly start kendo. Trial sessions let you see whether the rhythm of a class suits you before committing.
Do I need martial arts experience?
No. Kendo assumes nothing. Beginners are taught from the ground up — how to stand, how to hold the shinai, how to bow, how to breathe. Prior experience in karate, judo, or fencing can occasionally create habits that need to be unlearned, but it is never a prerequisite.
How often should I train?
Twice a week is the standard rhythm for steady progression. Once a week is enough to maintain the basics; three or more sessions a week is what serious competitors and grading candidates aim for. Most affiliated dojos in Tunisia run two to three weekly classes.
Is kendo dangerous?
Kendo is one of the safer combat sports. The protective armour (bogu), the bamboo shinai, the strict etiquette (reigi), and the targeted strike zones combine to make serious injury rare. The most common issues are blisters and bruises in the first months — nothing more dramatic.
How much does it cost to start?
A trial session is usually free. For your first six months of practice you only need a shinai (around 80 TND) and athletic clothes. Annual licence and dojo fees vary — contact your chosen dojo for current rates. Full bogu armour is a later investment, typically a year into training.
Can women practice kendo?
Yes. Kendo in Tunisia is fully mixed — women and men train, grade, and compete together in the same dojo. The Tunisian national team includes women at every level, and a growing number of female senseis lead classes.
How long until I can compete?
Typically twelve to eighteen months after starting bogu training. Beginners spend the first months on footwork and basic strikes (kihon) without armour, then gradually start putting on bogu pieces, and finally take part in jigeiko (free practice) and shiai (matches).
Do I need to learn Japanese?
No, but you will pick up around fifty essential terms — men, kote, dō, tare, kihon, sensei, dōjō, reigi, kiai, ippon and the like. They are part of the practice. You do not study Japanese as a language; the vocabulary comes naturally through the commands and corrections you hear in class.
What is the difference between kendo and iaido?
Kendo is sparring with a bamboo shinai against a partner in armour — fast, athletic, contact-based. Iaido is the solo art of drawing and cutting with an iaitō (alloy practice sword) through codified kata. Several Tunisian dojos teach both; many practitioners eventually study them in parallel.
Where can I watch a match?
The League hosts national tournaments and seminars across the year. Browse the latest announcements on the news page or the events archive — most events welcome spectators free of charge.
What should I wear to my first class?
Comfortable athletic clothes — a t-shirt, loose trousers or tracksuit bottoms, and bare feet. Bring a water bottle and a small towel. Everything else is provided or borrowed for the trial.
Is there a national federation in Tunisia?
Yes. The Tunisian Kendo League is the national governing body for kendo and iaido in Tunisia, constituted in 2017 under the Tunisian Judo Federation, and a full member of the International Kendo Federation (FIK) and the European Kendo Federation (EKF).
For more questions and answers, see our complete kendo FAQ. To learn the vocabulary, browse the kendo glossary.
Next step
始めよう
Ready to start?
Three steps separate you from your first keiko. None of them are difficult, and none of them require equipment.
- 1
Pick a dojo
Browse the seven affiliated dojos and find the one closest to you, or the one whose schedule fits your week.
- 2
Contact them
Send a short message via the dojo's contact form, email, or WhatsApp. Mention you would like to attend a trial session.
- 3
Show up
Athletic clothes, water, ten minutes early. Everything else, the dojo handles.