Sword Class NYC

Beginner classes were repetitive and not as fun as the intermediate classes. I felt like I learned more in the intermediate classes.

Beginner classes mostly consists of taking the sword out of the scabbard the proper way and gripping the sword. You learn the chun-dan stance.

Intermediate class is a build up on the beginner class at a much faster pace. You also get a real sword too if you got the package deal online. One thing I didn't really like was that there were some things Raab could have taught in the beginner class instead of the intermediate class. IE: Raab should have taught us how to correctly tie the belts in the beginner class instead of teaching this in the intermediate.

Classes are 50 minutes long.

I know what you're thinking, "Why would anyone need to take a sword class? You're not going to be walking around with a sword for self defense!" My response to you would be that you are correct, but you will be one nipped fool when the zombie apocalypse comes around and you've run out of ammo and all you have now is that kitchen knife and a prayer.

In all seriousness, this is probably the best thing that I've done with my free time. It is magnificently cool to wield a sword, but it is more about control. The control you must have over your thoughts, your body, your energy, and finally your sword. You can't always control what happens in your environment, but you can control how you respond to it. This art has toned my body as well as my spirit. You can't really wield a sword well unless you have confidence, which this class has also helped me to hone.

I'm sure you'd be able to find other sword classes in the city, but I highly doubt you'd be able to find a sword style that is as refined for cutting (not for flair) as this one. In addition to that, Sensei Raab is an exceptional teacher. He has such patience with his students and makes learning something which is so far out of your cultural comfort zone, fun.

Plus he's got more swag than anyone I've ever met. You never want to take sword lessons from a swag-less sensei.

The short and sweet of it: You won't find another sword class like this, let another class like this (unless you come out to Dumont, NJ). This is a unique experience and well worth the thrifty price.

My experience: Now you might feel like you are trying to fulfill some sort of dorky fantasy at first. Which may be quasi-true but in all seriousness it's legit and forces you to pay attention to yourself. Which it did for me. I realized my balance and upper body strength were bad, but my focus was even worse. You swing a sword enough with the right balance and focus you'll feel pretty damn awesome. But it takes work to get there. Lot's of work.

The teacher is extremely patient. Despite the size of the class, which has grown considerably, he manages to make it around to everyone to help them individually. You will also find the top students in the class very helpful and just overall awesome people.

Conclusion: Do it. Why? I am very happy I have had the chance to take classes. I hope to one day return. (My work schedule is just to hectic at the moment which saddens me greatly.)
Great people, excellent and knowledgeable teacher, and c'mon, Samurai Swords. People love to buy them and think they're all bad ass when they have one hanging on their wall. Have you ever seen any of these people actually swing one with elegance and confidence? Probably not. Would you like to not be one of those idiots? Come to class.

I booked my trip to samurai stardom a few months ago, when Yelp was offering a package deal of 3 classes with included sword. Not a wooden sword either, an honest to goodness steel katana, perfect for practicing the craft.

Though the sword was the deciding factor and bread & butter of my purchase, the classes were quite enjoyable. After only 3 sessions, I felt as though I learned much about drawing and sheathing technique, as well as proper cutting form. In addition, those three classes have helped me call attention to particular things about myself, such as posture, balance, and focus.

These classes are not a physical workout, but more so mental. The instructor is not shy about pointing out your mistakes, though he does so in a manner which will harbor learning.

A lifelong fan of samurai and swords, it was a great experience. When my time and money situation improves, I would like to go back and check out the intermediate classes.

Get to the Chase:

Pros:
1) Expect a pretty decent workout (especially your core and arms)...holding a wooden sword for an hour or two really helps you find muscles that you realized need a lot of work haha
2) The teacher is extraordinarily patient, focused, and disciplined. He adds some jokes to lighten up the mood, but his formalities and serious expressions encourage you to be obedient and not goof off. Beginners and intermediates are all treated the same way and I love the individual attention that makes every person feel included.
3) Great Gilt/Groupon deal...3 classes for around $40.
4) Clean dojo
5) Therapeutic, almost like yoga...calming the mind and breathing exercises

Cons:
1) Don't expect to be sword-fighting or sparring like some movie stunt
2) Don't expect to be an expert in 3 classes
3) Expect repetition, practice, and commitment...just like any other martial art in order to improve

Overall, a great hobby/sport to try, but unless you are willing to invest the time and discipline, you'll lose interest quickly.

To be honest, I was travelling in Japan before I came to NYC and never for a moment did I think I would end up taking Samurai 101 in NYC instead of Japan. I saw a three class trial deal come up on HomeRun.com and thought it'd be fun to try and it definitely was.

The classes I went to had no more than about 5-6 people which was a good, fun class size. The space is less than ideal (a cramped practice theatre space with unpolished wooden floorboards...and you are moving around in bare feet) but once you get into the swing of things, you don't notice so much.

It's a highly hands on class where you get into learning the techniques straight away, but what I really appreciated was the instructor sharing the philosophy behind the technique. Although it is a group class, you do get individual attention as the instructor will walk around to inspect your stance and correct your posture and grip which made a big difference for me.

Unless you are blessed with extreme natural grace, you'll start off feeling like the most uncoordinated person in the world. You do cover quite a lot of material even in just three lessons - drawing, different stances, moving around forward and back, and different cuts/attacks, on your own or with a partner - enough to go for a first grading.

Sad to say, my stay in NYC was over within a few days of going to my last trial class, otherwise I definitely would have continued on - it's interesting, fun and you get quite a good low impact workout.

This is a really fun, challenging class, that's very different from other martial arts and fitness classes I've tried. There is an emphasis on form and controlled movement and though it won't necessarily get you sweaty, you'll definitely feel it in the morning. It's also a great way to relax and quiet the mind after a long day.

I highly recommend giving this class a shot, regardless of your experience or fitness level. It's a good time and definitely a skill you can show off. Trust me, everyone will think you're a total badass (which you will be because you'll know how to kill people with swords)/

I bought the Yelp deal which included 3 beginner classes and a sword.
The Sensei taught very well. He took his art seriously but, at the same time, made the class fun.

My ex and I signed up for a 3-class sword class package. We enjoyed it a lot!

The instructor was very knowledgeable as well as challenging. It was frustrating to try to perfect some of the tasks, but he would reassure us how many times it took him to get the steps right.

The place was a bit difficult, with more than 7 people in the class. It is a mini theater practice room. But we worked with it, and managed to build up a bit of a surprise.

I wish we had more time to go to more of these classes. I would like to go to more classes!

I bought 5 German Longsword classes on groupon in August of 2013, and ever since I was hooked. Tristan is a great longsword instructor, very professional and fun. Even though I don't train as often as I like, every time I come to class it's a great experience for me. And now dagger classes, messer and sword and buckler are offered as a separate curriculum, so anyone who is interested in HEMA can find their niche.

Even though I haven't trained under Raab, since he teaches a different discipline, he's a very nice person to interact with, very helpful and a pretty good administrator. Overall the school is great, teachers are great, students are very fun to train with. I highly recommend this to all interested in HEMA!