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Dojo Address:

1940 Brengle Ave.

Orlando, Fl 32808

(407) 294-1047

Bob Elder Sensei is very serious about who he accepts as a student.  Do not bring an ego to this dojo (leave it at home).  Do bring an open mind, a good attitude, a humble soul and a thirst for true swordsmanship. 

Before you start, come by and watch some classes.  Talk with Bob Elder Sensei about joining classes.  When you start, you will need a uniform, a Bokken (wooden sword) and Iaito (unsharpened metal sword) this sword will need to be inspected by Bob Elder Sensei.  After six months of class time and Bob Elder Sensei's blessing you can bring a shinken (sharp cutting sword) this will also have to be inspected before you can start tameshigiri practice. 

See your upper students (sempai) before or after class to learn more details such as:

  • How to properly put on uniform and wear your sword.
  • How to properly bow in and out of class.
  • How to properly sweep and wash floor.
  • How to care for your swords.
  • How to roll tatami.
  • How to put tatami in barrels for next class cutting.
  • How to remove and stack tatami in preparation for cutting.

shop  Class Toyama 

Dojo ettiquette

  • Take part in dojo clean up.
  • Always bring polite manners to this dojo.
  • Always show respect to sensei's, sempai's and dojo.
  • Know who the other instructors are in the dojo.
  • Never leave the floor or take your uniform off until sempai's have done so.

Class is for learning new techniques, save your questions for later, go home and practice everyday what you learn.  If you do not practice between classes it will be very obvious to us all, so please practice or do not waste yours, ours and Sensei's time.  All new students should practice drawing and resheathing the sword until they can do it without the sword or saya making a sound (50 times a night is a good start) and practice the eight basic cuts using the Hataya grip.

Class times:

Tuesday 7:00 - 8:30 PM and Friday 7:00 - 9:00 PM (cutting from 8:00 - 9:00)

Dojo Etiquette:

All students are expected to help with clean up and maintenance of dojo. 

Students are expected to bring dojo supplies when needed.

Class Etiquette:

Students should not talk while on practice floor or during class unless asked by Sensei.

When you step on the sword practice floor start getting ready for the class, ie. stretch, practice techniques while awaiting the start of class.

When Sensei steps on floor always stop what you are doing and bow to him, when Sensei steps on the floor dreesed for class, anounce Sensei Rae and whole class bows to him (note: this is done by most senior student present).

All students will roll tatami mats for tameshigiri practice.

All students will help with set up for cutting and clean up, even if they are not allowed to cut.

All students will clean floor before and after class.

Lower ranked students will not remove themselves from the training floor until Sempai says all clean up is finished and tatami/wara are soaking for next class..

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Tameshigiri Grip:

In Iaido they use many grips.  In Toyama Batto Jutsu we only use one grip, the tameshigiri grip.  With this grip the arms are pulled in tight.  When looking down the right wrist is crossed over the left wrist.  The meat of the palm of both hands will be on top of the tsuka at all times.  The right hand will be against the tsuba and the left hand only seperated by inches from the right hand.  This is for safety (This will prevent you from losing control of your sword) as well as a superior grip for tameshigiri.  If you expect to cut properly you need to learn and master this grip.  To master this grip you must attend class and cut wara.

Dojo Information: