Kendo Academy

Great master and teachers. Definitely take lessons here with a good variety of teachers. A great school, non traditional in a sense that there a good range of people from adults to kids, boy/​girls, parents, Asian/​non Asians. Awesome atmosphere.

Let me start off with a warning to the reader: I am biased. I am a very active student of this school, and hope to see it flourish. If my review is colored by this, I apologize, but I would like to share with you what has attracted me to this school, and earned my loyalty.
Let me start at the beginning. I’ve always wanted to be a Jedi. I remember watching Empire Strikes Back, my pulse racing, as I watched Vader and Luke battle with glowing swords of DOOM. At 5 years old, I was ready to get my own lightsaber and become a great Jedi, rather unlike my father before me. So I did some research. I learned that much of the Jedi code was based on the tenants of Budo, or the code of honor of the Samurai warrior. Indeed much of the fighting in the original Star Wars movies was based on kendo and iaido, the fighting arts of the Samurai. Unfortunately, the closest I could come to learning this ancient art was to watch movies, read books, and swing a stick wildly in my back yard while making «whooshing» noises. Years pass, and my dreams of saving the princess and wielding a mythic blade are placed on the backburner, but live in a special place inside of me.
Fast forward about 20 years. In the town where I’m living, Dumont NJ, a new school opens up. The «Kendo Academy» run by international Grand Master Jin K. Seong. My aspirations, hopes, and fantasies come flooding back to me as I enter the school and see students, dressed head to toe in armor (that looks conspicuously like a Samurai’s) striking at one another, shouting at the top of their lungs. These were real warriors learning real sword techniques! The instructor (the Grandmaster himself, though I didn’t know it at the time), comes over to me, smiling, with a bamboo sword in hand. «You want to try?» he asks, handing me the sword? 5 years later I am a second degree black belt.
The Sung Moo Kwan Kendo Academy in Dumont NJ is one of the most impressive martial arts schools in the tri-​state area. It is the largest sword-​only school in the country and is certainly a comfortable place to study. The teachers and students are friendly, accommodating, and experienced. The training is intense, powerful, and always fulfilling.
This is a very traditional martial art, with a long lineage. The school values the history of the art, as well as discipline, respect, and good sportsmanship. If you are looking for an incredibly challenging, yet immensely rewarding martial art that will develop your mind, body, and spirit, I encourage you to come by and give it a try!