2011-2012 fees for practicing at Tsurugi Bashi Kendo Kai
There are several components and variations to our fees and this might look complicated (perhaps in the future we might add an online calculator to this page). However you will notice that our total fees are in fact very low compared to other kendo clubs.
Everyone who practices at Tsurugi Bashi, regardless of whether they start from zero or they alredy have a kyu or dan grade, must pay the dojo joining fee when they join. This is a once-per-lifetime payment: you don't repay it every term, every year or every anything. That's currently 20 pounds for students of the University of Cambridge and 25 for others.
Joining fee
Unless you already paid the Tsurugi Bashi joining fee in the past (say when), please add 20 GBP if Cambridge student or 25 GBP if other.Everyone who practices at Tsurugi Bashi must have a shinai, bokuto and carrying bag. Newcomers who sign up for the beginners course must either procure all these items on their own or buy the starter pack, (slightly cheaper than buying it on your own) and costs 50 pounds for Cambridge students and 60 pounds for others.
Starter pack
Unless you already have shinai, bokuto and carrying bag, please add 50 GBP if Cambridge student or 60 GBP if other and you will receive the starter pack.Everyone who practices at Tsurugi Bashi, except if they're guests from another dojo coming for a weekend or so, must pay the practice fee for each term in which they practice (20 pounds per term for Cambridge students, 25 for others). There are three terms: October to December, January to Easter, Easter to September; summer is included in the third term at no extra charge. You pay exactly the same amount whether you attend every session in a term or just one or two---it's up to you to make the most of your subscription fee. No refunds after the first three free sessions of the beginners course. As an additional benefit, if you pay for the whole academic year (October to September) in one go in October, you get a discount: students pay 45 pounds per year instead of 60, and others 60 pounds per year instead of 75. You don't get this discount for any other period, e.g. January to December. The fee is due in advance, at the start of the corresponding year or term.
Practice fee
If you are a Cambridge student, pay 45 GBP for the year or, if you prefer, 20 GBP at the start of each term. If you are not a Cambridge student, pay 60 GBP for the year or, if you prefer, 25 GBP per term.Add up these three contributions and that's your total dojo fee.
In addition to that, everyone who practices at Tsurugi Bashi must be insured. For this, they must be members of the BKA. For newcomers there is a low introductory fee of around 10 pounds (correct at the time of writing but check the BKA web site for up to date prices) for a 3-month temporary membership, or some other amount depending on age, status etc etc for a full-time membership once the temporary membership has expired. Please pay the BKA fee online and print and bring us the receipt when you pay the dojo fee to us.