Watch the stuff by Seki Sensei on YouTube. A lot of his content covers the basics and his school is one of the last that teaches true budo. I believe he offers online courses now due to him gaining popularity, so that's something you can look into.

Sword you bought is fine your intended purpose and a decent entry level katana. I would have sold you one from my collection that you could have used for the rally and to fool around with, but you bought it before I could offer.

If you're going to use it for messing around with cutting, don't do more than water bottles. Also check the tsuka (hilt, aka handle), mekugi (bamboo/metal hilt locking pins), tsuba (hand guard), seppa (tsuba spacers) and habaki (ferrule) are all tight before attempting any cutting and make sure they stay tight.

Not a fan of kendo but it's the closest sport to using a katana, albeit with very little transferrable skills. Believe it or not, you'll get a lot more practical training with a HEMA group, particularly if they give instruction on longsword and one/two handed saber, which has a lot of transferrable skills to katana.

Online training, that's something I can do to startup with.  You selling any practice swords?

You may want to look into getting an Iaito for practice.  I bought one in Japan in the 80s and the quality is very good.  Sometimes beginners use a sharp sword and pull the blade sideways before it clears the mouth of the scabbard - the blade can cut thru the scabbard and into your hand.  An Iaito allows you to improve your speed and technique without the risk of getting seriously hurt.

Online training, that's something I can do to startup with.  You selling any practice swords?

By practice swords, do you mean a bokken (wooden sword)? If yes, I can recommend an individual to you who can custom make one to your desired dimensions.

A katana has some advantages and some drawbacks. Their curve could make it harder to thrust but at the same time, the wedge shape of a katana blade actually helps to make a cut easier by keeping the blade centered whereas a thinner angle european blade has more chance at deflecting. I think both could hack just fine though, given a sharp edge and similar weight to a comparable sword. I think the slash just improves the strike. Some european swords are curved too like the german messers

It would "hack" just fine, but not cut to it's full potential.  There are vids you should watch about a rolled up tatami mats and hacking vs a skilled sword slicer. Same goes with these types of swords and stabbing.  It can stab, but compared to other EU type swords, the design isn't the best.

This sword is mainly for a sword rally if it happens.  But i've always wanted to own a sword and have it for cultural and traditional purposes.  With that, I'd like to learn a little about it if I have one, not just hang it on a wall.  I'm not looking to get really involved with it, maybe spend a year or two on it and become a novice. More on the practical aspects of it on movement, strikes, how to cut properly, etc and learn a little on the art side.  I don't know anything about swords but Kendo is probably involved.  Not sure how to get the training for using a real sword.

The sword I bought is for the rally next month and to use as a beginner/beater sword.  I'll probably buy a couple more swords in the future as I get trained.

Legit swords cost about $100K in Japan.  100% hand made, no auto hammer or stuff like that.  But this was from a History Channel documentry over 10 years ago. So, I'm sure the cost has gone up and IDK if the sword maker is still alive.

Legit swords cost about $100K in Japan.  100% hand made, no auto hammer or stuff like that.  But this was from a History Channel documentry over 10 years ago. So, I'm sure the cost has gone up and IDK if the sword maker is still alive.

The swords that sell for that much are historical pieces, usually from the Edo period. Older swords, particularly by famous swordsmiths, go for much more.

You can get an entry level katana made by a swordsmith in Japan for about $1500-2000, but the average price is usually $4000-10,000.

Personally, if I'm going to spend <$1000 on a functional sword, I'd just get one from a legitimate swordsmith in America. The late Daniel Watson of Angel Sword made some of the best swords I've ever handled and they were superior in every way to any of the swords made in Japan I handled.

The swords that sell for that much are historical pieces, usually from the Edo period. Older swords, particularly by famous swordsmiths, go for much more.

You can get an entry level katana made by a swordsmith in Japan for about $1500-2000, but the average price is usually $4000-10,000.

Personally, if I'm going to spend <$1000 on a functional sword, I'd just get one from a legitimate swordsmith in America. The late Daniel Watson of Angel Sword made some of the best swords I've ever handled and they were superior in every way to any of the swords made in Japan I handled.

This one that was on the show said it cost $100K and I think the wait time was a few years.  IDK if the guy is some famous maker or stuff like that.  Or maybe they did the Yen to USD conversion wrong.

 Maybe Zipps can hit up that Knife maker on the Big Island who was on the TV show Forged in Fire.

Ronin Katana is having an annual blemished sale for anyone interested.  A Dojo Pro sword comes to $222 shipped for a blemished 1060 carbon steel blade.

https://roninkatana.com/scratch-and-dent-sword-sale/

Fascinating fact is all weapons are very restricted in Japan, to include modern forged katanas...made with modern methods.  I was looking for a modern forged sword from Japan but there are none.

Only traditionally made Katanas, Nihonto, made with bloom furnaces and iron sands are legal as it's considered art.

I found a person locally that volunteered and will help us with sword training.  A few sessions on the basics on using a real sword whether European, Japanese, etc and later, a bit on the cultural and traditional uses.  Looking for others to participate on the training.  Swords must be suitable for training, not decorative swords.

He's getting started with firearms, so we could do a shooting day for him to pay it back.

Please contact me if interested.

I found a person locally that volunteered and will help us with sword training.  A few sessions on the basics on using a real sword whether European, Japanese, etc and later, a bit on the cultural and traditional uses.  Looking for others to participate on the training.  Swords must be suitable for training, not decorative swords.

He's getting started with firearms, so we could do a shooting day for him to pay it back.

Please contact me if interested.

I might be interested but I don't have any user swords at this point. 
I have a PVC padded sword for me and the kids to have sword fights with. I even got them to have realistic weight by filling the PVC with gravel. Downside is that there is no mechanism to use it for proper edge alignment since it is round.

I took a theater sword fighting class in college. Learned a lot. The principles are almost the same in terms of movements but of course you are working on choreogreaphy.

I found a person locally that volunteered and will help us with sword training.  A few sessions on the basics on using a real sword whether European, Japanese, etc and later, a bit on the cultural and traditional uses.  Looking for others to participate on the training.  Swords must be suitable for training, not decorative swords.

He's getting started with firearms, so we could do a shooting day for him to pay it back.

Please contact me if interested.

Did the Ronin Pro sword you bought come sharp or does it need sharpening?

Did the Ronin Pro sword you bought come sharp or does it need sharpening?

They come.sharp and ready to use.

I found a person locally that volunteered and will help us with sword training.  A few sessions on the basics on using a real sword whether European, Japanese, etc and later, a bit on the cultural and traditional uses.  Looking for others to participate on the training.  Swords must be suitable for training, not decorative swords.

He's getting started with firearms, so we could do a shooting day for him to pay it back.

Please contact me if interested.

....
I can probably help your friend learn some basic gun stuff.