I have not been able to train in aikido due to multiple joint problems, but decided last month that my hands and wrists were ok to try weapons training. So I did the long, deep google searching to find a koryu art in SF....and hit paydirt!
Suio Ryu is a true koryu art with lineage to the early 1600s and a soke in Japan who travels to the US once a yr to hold a seminar. The San Francisco group is not a full dojo, but a study group operating under the auspices of a San Diego dojo, teaching basics.
I have found the art itself and the atmosphere of the local group to be exactly what I have been looking for and invite anybody else who may be looking for a classical sword art to check it out. A few notes:
Prior martial arts experience is NOT necessary.
The class is led by a man and a woman (a couple) and there is a good gender balance in the group.
You start with the wooden sword (bokuto or bokken), learning forms for drawing, cutting, sheathing the sword both in solo and in paired practice.
If you email them you plan to attend, they will make sure there is extra weapons on hand for you to borrow (you do NOT have to spend a bunch o money on equipment ahead of time)
The only cost is, for ongoing studies, a modest contribution all make towards space rent.
Meets Wed evenings Divisidero/Bush.
General websites on the ryu:
www.suioryu-usa.org/
www.suioryu-bu-rai-an-dojo.org/
If you wish to email the person who runs the local study group directly, swordscholars@yahoo.com