Frequently Asked Questions

We chose this name because the study of martial arts is a path. Zento (前途) means “the road ahead.” Zentokan (前途館) is "the home of the road ahead," a place for dedicated people to move forward on their journeys down the path. Zento can also be translated as “prospect,” a nod to our home in Brooklyn, New York, where we are a short walk from Prospect Park.

Zentokan offers three classes that amount to about five hours of training per week. Given the breadth and depth of our curriculum, we encourage everyone to train as often as they are able.

We recommend coming to class twice per week at a minimum in order to make consistent progress alongside your peers.

Approached with the proper attitude (and physical technique), regular training can continue throughout one’s life.

Once committed to practice, new students should acquire a kaku obi (belt), keikogi (jacket), and hakama (pleated divided skirt) as soon as possible.  

You will need a bokken (wooden sword) with a tsuba (hand guard) and saya (scabbard). 

Within the first 3-6 months of training, students should begin to practice with an iaito or mogito, an unsharpened sword made of aluminum.

Advanced students train with shinken (live blades).

Please speak with an instructor before purchasing any equipment, as safety, quality, and proper fit are essential.

Zentokan Dojo (and the sword organizations to which we belong) use the traditional Japanese kyu and dan grading system. With consistent training, most students can earn their shodan, the 1st degree black belt, in one to two years.

It is important to understand that in traditional Japanese martial arts, the shodan rank represents only absorption of the basics. Shodan (初段) literally means “beginning level” and means only that one is ready to cross the threshold into deeper study.

And as one’s rank grows, so does their level of responsibility in the dojo.

All training in martial arts comes with some risk. We employ a rigorous approach to safety that begins with three core rules:

1. When sensei or sempai says “freeze,” that means hold ABSOLUTELY STILL. Do not try to correct your posture or any other mistake. They might say “freeze” because they want to call attention to a mistake, but sometimes it may be because you’re about to do something in a dangerous way. Resist the urge to cover your mistakes and trust that this is of utmost importance.

2. Whenever you take a step, if your sword is in the saya (scabbard), your thumb must be on the tsuba (hand guard). This is to prevent the sword from accidentally falling out.

3. If you fail to follow rule number two and your sword does start to slide out of the saya, do not try to catch it. Put your hands up, and step away from where it is falling.

You will be taught everything you need to know to train safely. Cultivating the mental focus, physical sensitivity, and attention to detail that keep everyone safe is core to proper training.

Anyone, with any kind of body, can begin learning. And everyone, with every kind of body, will see their physique change over time with consistent training. Please speak with an instructor if you have specific injuries or medical conditions we should be aware of so that we can advise and modify your training activities as appropriate.

Zentokan Dojo is a traditional Japanese martial arts school, which means that we practice reiho (etiquette) and consider it a pillar of our training. Training can be physically demanding, but the dojo for us is not a gym. When students cross the threshold and bow to the kamiza, they are entering a world wholly separate from everyday life. Practicing etiquette with sincerity and humility helps maintain this boundary, which leads to more enriching and rewarding training for committed students.

In practical terms, that means you can expect to hear a lot of Japanese and experience a tremendous amount of attention to detail. Don’t worry about making mistakes or looking uninformed. Every student had a first day at some point.

These books offer a great start for those who enjoy reading:

• The Spirit of the Sword by Nakamura Taisaburo
• Kurikara: The Sword and The Serpent by John Maki Evans
• Heiho: Strategy and the Art of Peace by Otake Risuke
• Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings by Kenji Tokitsu
• Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions by Ellis Amdur

We also proudly maintain a small lending library of books and videos at the dojo. Please speak with an instructor if you’d like to browse and / or borrow something.