No. The Novice level of our curriculum is designed for people who have never held a sword. What you need is not experience, it is attention, respect for the art, and the willingness to be a beginner. Every practitioner in our school, regardless of rank, was once exactly where you are now.

For your first class, wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows free movement, loose pants and a t-shirt work well. You do not need to purchase a uniform yet. Once you decide to continue, you will be guided on acquiring a proper keikogi (training top) and hakama (traditional training pants). Your instructor will advise you when the time is right.

Nothing. For your first class, the school provides a bokken (wooden training sword). You do not need to purchase any equipment before attending. As you progress, you will eventually need your own bokken, uniform, and, at a more advanced stage, an iaito (practice sword). Your instructor will guide you through each step of that progression.

Class schedules and frequency vary by dojo and instructor. The best first step is to visit our Dojos page, find the location closest to you, and contact that dojo's instructor directly. They will give you current schedule information and answer any questions specific to their location.

Our classes are open to adults 18 and older. If a younger student has a demonstrated background in martial arts discipline and the maturity to follow instruction safely, we are open to a conversation. Please contact us directly to discuss, each case is considered individually by the instructor.

Kenjutsu is the classical Japanese sword combat system developed and used by the samurai. It predates and differs fundamentally from Kendo, which is a modern martial sport developed in the 20th century using bamboo swords and protective armor for competition.

At Hakuhi Ryū, we practice Kenjutsu — not as a sport, not as a performance, but as a living martial art. Our training is grounded in the real biomechanics of sword combat: how the body moves, how distance is managed, how a cut is properly executed. There are no points, no matches, no armor. There is technique, repetition, and understanding.

Every class begins and ends with Reishiki — the formal bow ceremony that opens and closes the practice. Between those bookends, a typical class includes:

Suburi — solo cutting practice with the bokken, building the fundamental mechanics of the cut.
Kamae and footwork — stance and movement drills that form the base of all technique.
Kata — structured practice sequences that encode real combat principles into the body.
Kumitachi — partner sword-versus-sword drills once foundational skills are established.

Advanced students may also train Tameshigiri (test cutting with a live blade) as part of their development.

A kata is a structured practice sequence. But at Hakuhi Ryū, kata are not fixed routines to memorize and perform. They are distillations of real combat experience — compressed into movement so the body can learn what the mind cannot fully teach through explanation alone.

Each kata in our curriculum was built from actual fighting principles, tested and refined over generations. You practice them until they stop being movements you remember and become responses you no longer have to think about. That is the goal.

Kenjutsu involves real weapons and real techniques, which means it demands real discipline and attention. Beginners train exclusively with a bokken (wooden sword) until they have demonstrated the body awareness and control to handle a bladed practice weapon safely.

Our curriculum is designed with this progression in mind. You do not advance to the next tool until you have earned it. Injuries in a well-run Kenjutsu dojo are rare, not because the training is soft, but because the training builds the awareness that prevents them.

There is no fixed timeline. Advancement is based on demonstrated understanding, not time served. The Mudansha (student) curriculum runs from Novice through 1-Kyu, with kata requirements at each level that must be executed to the instructor's standard before promotion.

The honest answer is: the students who advance fastest are not the most naturally talented. They are the most consistent. The ones who show up, do the work, and do not rush.

Three things set Hakuhi Ryū apart:

Recognition. In 2022, Hakuhi Ryū was officially recognized as a traditional Japanese Ryūha by the Kodo Butoku Renmei — one of very few schools outside Japan to hold this distinction. This is not a self-awarded title. It is a verified lineage.

Methodology. Our training is based on the biomechanics of real sword combat — specifically, training from the Monouchi (cutting zone) rather than the tip of the blade. This single principle changes everything about how you approach distance, timing, and technique.

Integrity. We teach Kenjutsu — not Iaido, not a hybrid, not a modern interpretation. What you learn here is what the curriculum says it is. The Dentō Kenjutsu Hozon Kyōkai was founded in 2023 specifically to ensure that standard is maintained across all our dojos.

A Ryūha (流派) is a formally recognized lineage of martial arts, a style with documented history, a verified chain of transmission, and an acknowledged founder. It is not a gym, a club, or a branded fitness concept.

Hakuhi Ryū is a recognized Ryūha. When you train here, you are not learning one instructor's personal interpretation of the sword. You are entering a documented tradition that can be traced and verified, and that comes with real obligations on our side to teach it correctly.

All Hakuhi Ryū classes are taught by instructors who have been trained and certified within the Ryūha. Our teaching faculty includes:

Eduardo Santos — Saiko Shihan, Godan (5th Dan)
Raul E. Ortiz — Shihan, Godan (5th Dan)
Ruben Ortiz — Renshi, Yondan (4th Dan)
Israel Cardona — Shidoin, Sandan (3rd Dan)
Norlan Rodríguez — Shidoin, Sandan (3rd Dan)
O. Niko Guity — Shidoin, Shodan (1st Dan)

The school is founded and overseen by Kanchō Luis A. Pons, Menkyo Kaiden, founder of the Dentō Kenjutsu Hozon Kyōkai.

We currently operate six dojos across the United States and Puerto Rico:

Hakuhi Honbu Dojo — Frederick, Maryland (Headquarters)
Hakuhi Baltimore Michi Dojo — Baltimore, Maryland
Hakusan Bujutsu Dojo — Eagle Mountain, Utah
Hakuhi Cabo Rojo Michi Dojo — Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico
Hakuhi Yauco Michi Dojo — Yauco, Puerto Rico (founding location)
Hakuhi Ponce Michi Dojo — Ponce, Puerto Rico

Visit our Dojos page for instructor contact information and directions for each location.

Tuition varies by dojo and instructor. Each location sets its own schedule and fees based on local context. To get accurate pricing for the dojo nearest to you, visit our Dojos page and contact that location's instructor directly. Your first class is always a conversation before a commitment.

You will acquire equipment progressively as your training advances. The general progression is:

Bokken (wooden sword) — your first personal training tool. Typically $30–70 depending on wood and quality.
Keikogi and Hakama (training uniform) — typically $80–150 for a starter set.
Iaito (blunt practice sword) — introduced at the intermediate level. Typically $200–400.
Katana (live blade) — only for advanced students with demonstrated control. Cost varies widely.

Your instructor will advise you exactly when to acquire each item and what to look for. You will never be asked to buy something before you are ready for it.

Yes. Because all Hakuhi Ryū dojos teach the same curriculum under the same lineage, your training is fully portable across locations. If you travel or relocate, you can continue your progression at any of our dojos without starting over. Speak with your home instructor about cross-dojo training arrangements.

Yes. In addition to regular weekly classes, Hakuhi Ryū hosts seminars and Keiko intensives where students from multiple dojos train together. These events are announced through our social media channels and directly to active students. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed.