We have two separate classes each week for separate groups of students: Monday evenings and Thursday evenings, 7:00 - 8:00. Each class lasts one hour.
May - September we are following our style’s tradition of training outdoors in summer, meeting in Northridge Park, Orem. (1750 N 165 E St, Orem, UT).
October - April we meet indoors. Indoor months we hold classes at Giodance studio, 527 W State St Suite 101 Floor 1, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062.
Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu is technique: actual fighting with a sword. For this to be an option, you need real cuts that are capable of really cutting, to have developed good spacing and responsiveness, and to have honed the techniques of fighting with the Japanese sword.
Toyama Ryu was created by founder Morinaga Kiyoshi to be a practical sword fighting style with the beauty of real efficiency. Therefore, we spend a certain amount of time studying the down-to-earth elements of sword combat.
Iaido
Iaido began with the art of cutting as you drew the sword from the scabbard. During the Edo period in Japan, it developed into an art of self-perfection, almost a moving meditation. Iaido pursues the perfection of swordsmanship: clean lines, good angles, settled but fluid form, awareness, power in the cuts, and a zen mind.
Over time, and with careful practice of the basics, swordsmanship can have a profound effect on character. The kata become a framework for self-discovery.
Kendo
Once upon a time, kendo simply meant “the way of the sword”. The term came to be attached to the practice of putting on armor and sparring with bamboo weapons so that reflexes and speed could be practiced without killing anyone. Later, honest sparring devoloped into a sport that is relatively unlike actual swordsmanship.
We do not practice modern sport kendo. Occasionally, we use the much older kendo for the purposes it was originally created: to train swordsmen at speed.
Frequently asked questions about training:
What are the fees?
The first month is free. There is no single martial art that suits every person born into this world, and it is worth taking the time to attend a few classes and make a decision on whether Toyama Ryu is right for you. Tuition costs $40 per month. Students pay $30, and if two or more people from a family attend, they pay $30 each.
Occasionally there will be a seminar, or we will each purchase mats to cut, or there will be other optional events like a Toyama Ryu USA taikai.
How do I join?
First, just show up. You are welcome to call or email first to announce that you are coming; but simply arriving and training with the dojo for a month is fully acceptable. If after a month you wish to join, you will be offered the opportunity.
What do I need to practice Toyama Ryu?
For the first few classes, you don’t need anything. Wear clothes you can move in. We will loan you a bokken (a wooden sword) to use during class. When you join, you will need your own bokken to practice with. When you are ready, you will want to get the whole Iaido uniform (‘samurai clothes’): a gi, hakama, and kaku obi. After 1-3 years of training, it is advisable to get an iaito (an unsharpened metal katana) to further your training.
What ages can join?
People 16 and up are welcome, 12 -16 will be considered. Traditional Japanese swordsmanship requires focus, patience, and will. It demands courtesy and a certain level of behavior. For that reason, youth ages 12-16 will be considered on an individual basis to see if they are ready to study Toyama Ryu with us.
How physically taxing is Toyama Ryu?
This is not cardio. At first, you may get a few sore muscles, or breathe just a little heavily, but it is not an intense workout. You will, of course, get exercise. Some classes you will come home a little tired. While most iaido styles were formalized during the Edo period and have a lot of kneeling work, Toyama Ryu is a battlefield art and works from standing – so it is easier on the knees. Functional shoulders are must, however!
Do you enter competitions?
No, this is a traditional martial art, and not a competitive sport. We work to gain skills, not ranks.