A school that is focused on being a school and not a business. If you are serious about learning an art and can commit to a lifetime of training, start here and end here. You will find no finer instructors in the city. They have spent their lives studying Japanese martial arts and gift that knowledge to their students for a pittance.

Great place for learning traditional Japanese martial arts, including kendo, iaido, jodo. yagyu shinkage ryu also use this place. Everyone are welcome to practice

Ken Zen is a Tribeca institution for the sword and martial arts. Nestled on a small street, in the afternoons you can peek into the front and catch glimpses of practitioners doling out cuts and strikes. They offer Kendo, Jodo, Iato and other schools too, it is a grand meeting place. A great way to engage in Japanese culture and find yourself again. Be respectful though, make sure to be quiet if you enter the atrium, likely as not, someone will be there to greet you shortly.