Knife Sharpening Class - Beginner to Intermediate

Enjoy the Immediate Outcomes - Tailored Guidance during Your Sharpening Practice.



3 hours Location Surry Hills and other locations Class size 1 to 6 guests   $265 (Afterpay available)

Class Duration:
3 hours
Locations:
  • Hazuki Knife Workshop - 62 Leonay Parade, Leonay, NSW
  • Provider Studio - 7-9 Flinders street, Surry Hills, NSW.
  • Your preferred location: We offer private classes at your home, either solo or shared with family or friends. Availability and fees depend on location. Please get in touch to explore options.
The class includes:
Overview of different forms of sharpening
Pros and cons of each method.
Basic knowledge of kitchen knives
Western knives and Japanese knives, anatomy, construction, materials, types of steels, single/double-bevel knives, etc.
Basic knowledge of knife sharpening
Types of cutting edges, mechanisms, whetstone grits and types, common pitfalls, and how to avoid them, etc
Practical skills on Sharpening
Assessing knife conditions, flattening stones, removing chips and broken tips, determining sharpening angles, sharpening techniques, burr removal techniques, test cutting methods, touch-up techniques, etc.
What is Freehand Whetstone Knife Sharpening:
Often considered a Japanese tradition, freehand waterstone sharpening reflects centuries of philosophy and craftsmanship in blade-making in Japan. The long history of the art of Japanese waterstone sharpening is a testament to its effectiveness and reliability. Waterstone sharpening is quiet, low-risk, and fully manual—no airborne dust, no noisy motors, no spinning wheels, and no risk of overheating your blade. More than just a practical skill, it's a therapeutic and meditative art form that is both empowering and deeply satisfying.
A Skill Every Kitchen Deserves:
Whether you're a home cook, a culinary enthusiast, or a chef, mastering the art of freehand whetstone sharpening is a fundamental skill that will transform your experience in the kitchen. While modern sharpening systems and machines exist, freehand waterstone sharpening is the most elemental, but often regarded as the gold standard in the culinary world.
Not a total beginner?:
You may be a chef or someone with prior sharpening experience and would prefer to join a class with others at a similar level. Please feel free to contact us - we will do our best to organise a class that builds on your existing skills and deepens your understanding.
Enjoy the Outcomes from the First Day:
Freehand knife sharpening on waterstones may look daunting and intimidating, but it is actually not that difficult. Particularly if you learn our simple and proven way designed for everyone. You will work on knives under the watchful eye of an expert, so that any individual sharpening problems will be addressed.
Can't Find a Suitable Day or Time?:
Please contact Hazuki Knife. We’ll do our best to organise a class that works for you.
Please note:
This class is generally for sharpening double bevel knives, like the majority of knives people have.
If you are under the age of 18, please contact us before booking. Parent or guardian consent is required.

Upcoming dates for Knife Sharpening Class - Beginner to Intermediate

Times are Sydney time. Dates and prices as of 18 Oct 2026, 6:32pm; availability and price are confirmed live when booking on this page.

1 upcoming date between 8 Nov 2026 and 8 Nov 2026.

  • Sun 8 Nov 2026, 9:30am-12:30pm (62 Leonay Parade, Leonay NSW)
What you'll get
You will be given viewing access to our class presentation slides after the class for your refresher.
Read more details   
Knowledge required
Beginner-friendly. Perfect for any foodie enthusiast and for chefs who are just starting out or have not been properly taught by a knife specialist.
What to bring
Knives:
We will have practice knives for you to use, but we highly recommend bringing your own kitchen knives to sharpen, so you can take them back sharp. Please transport your knives safely - wrapped in a tea towel, or stored in a knife case, roll, or bag.
Sharpening Kit:
We also provide sharpening stones and accessories, but you are welcome to bring your own sharpening gear if you already have some. Sharpening gear will also be available for purchase on the day.
Footwear:
Please wear closed-in shoes for your safety.
Arrival:
Please arrive a little bit early so we can discuss and pick appropriate knives to sharpen to start with.
Suitable for

This class is great for individuals and couples as well as for a date idea, team building activity, Christmas party, birthday or hens party.

This experience would also be a creative gift for her, gift for mum, Xmas gift or gift for couples.

Location

62 Leonay Parade, Leonay NSW and 7-9 Flinders Street, Surry Hills NSW (varies by date; click the date selector to see details)

Knife Sharpening Class - Beginner to Intermediate location
Verified reviews

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Recent reviews of Knife Sharpening Class - Beginner to Intermediate

  • 5/5 from George Paspalas, attended Sep 2026: I have just started to take sharpening seriously. The class was super informative and it helped hone my skills. Pun intended. It makes a huge difference having a professional watch and guide you. I found the class more effective than watching any YouTube video.
  • 5/5 from Stephanie Rosalky, attended Jun 2026: What a great class! I now feel confident that I can successfully sharpen my knives on my own. This class was a balanced approach of theory and practice. I really appreciated understanding the why. Nari is a great teacher. I highly recommend this class. I attended with very little knowledge to begin with.
  • 5/5 from Daniel, attended Jun 2026: Our experince was a private knife sharpening workshop for my wife and me. The experience was everything we had hoped for and more. The theory side was well put together, relivent and easy to follow. The theory we felt was an important aspect giving us context around why we are sharpening the knives a particular way, how there are a number of ways to sharpen knives and why knives are sharpened in variuous wasy. This was followed up with the practical side. We took our own kives and sharpened these as part of the workshop giving a good amount of experience on the day. I was concerned how i would learn getting the angle correct and being able to feel and see if i have done it correctly. Not only was this covered on the theory side but them followed up on the practical side. We were able to purchase items from the workshop giving us all the tools we needed to sharpen our knives at home. We left confident we had a new lifetime skill. I would recommend this experience if you want to learn how to sharpen knives and some theory behind sharpening.
  • 5/5 from Simone Sietsma, attended Mar 2026: Absolutely fantastic course, learned so much and am busy sharpening all my knives… this is a must do course
  • 5/5 from Max Griffiths, attended Feb 2026: The class was well structure with 1hr theory, then 2hr practical incl demos throughout. The teacher was clear, super knowledgable and very helpful in guiding us through learning to knife sharpen from our complete beginner level. Would highly recommend, especially for a private class of 2-3 people.
  • 5/5 from Peter Barley, attended Feb 2026: Very useful. Helpful personal supervision. I’m pretty confident I can sharpen a knife to a paper cutting edge now
  • 5/5 from Reno Farnesi, attended May 2025: I tried multiple times to teach myself how to sharpen with YouTube videos but could never get good results. I finally decided to do a class to learn and it was a great decision. The instructor quickly corrected my mistakes and I had amazingly sharp knifes in no time.
  • 5/5 from Alex Lupish, attended Mar 2025: Nari was an amazing teacher and changed a lot of perceived ideas about knife sharpening. I was worried about being told that half the session was theory but the theory was so awesome. Then having the opportunity to make my own knives so amazingly sharp was brilliant. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a great life skill.
  • 5/5 from Clae Jeniin, attended Mar 2025: A great balance of both the theory and practice of knife sharpening.
  • 5/5 from Weiyan Chee, attended Mar 2025: Wonderful experience, and now I can sharpen knives without ruining them!
  • 5/5 from Travis Goddard, attended Mar 2025: Very good instructor. Had an answer for every question and was extremely patient for beginners!
  • 5/5 from Aroha Harris, attended Mar 2025: We enjoyed the class, as a couple. Joint and individual learning was great. We appreciate your knowledge, experience and teaching techniques. We still have much to learn and look forward to receiving the videos and presentation they will certainly help us perfect our practice. Finally thank you for having the tools available for purchase at the class. It saves us time having to shop around and ensures we get the right tools. Much thanks Rex and Aroha
  • 5/5 from Graham Harvey, attended Jan 2025: A really insightful lesson on the mechanics, metallurgy and principles of sharpening knives as well as some really detailed hands on practice. Could not have asked for more and would do a higher level course when there is one. Thank you.
  • 5/5 from Patricia Jaworski, attended Jan 2025: Fantastic class. Nari is incredibly knowledgeable and generous with his time. A small group lesson allowed plenty of 1 on 1 time. I came out with two exceptionally sharp knives and knowledge to keep practicing.
  • 5/5 from Simon Leake, attended Dec 2024: Very good. I learned stuff about knives I never knew and feel confident in my basic sharpening skills. I would probably join a woodworking too sharpening class if there was one.
  • 5/5 from Heath Giles, attended Dec 2024: Great class. Nari is a great teacher’ he helps you navigate common pitfalls of sharpening, as well as how to avoid spending unnecessary money on items not needed by most home sharpeners. The small class size allows him to give individual attention and tips on technique while he builds a great rapport with the class. Having the class on a Sunday morning is great for a person like me who often works 6 days a week. A great way to spend a few hours learning and a lifetime practicing a new skill.
  • 5/5 from Kris Rogers, attended Nov 2024: Excellent teacher
  • 5/5 from Michael Wilson, attended Oct 2024: This was money well spent. The instructor was outstanding and was very concerned that we learn and use the necessary skills.
  • 5/5 from Brian Moore, attended Oct 2024: Nari was a great teacher. I left the class with a lot of new knowledge about knives and how to sharpen them. Thank you.
  • 5/5 from Jacqueline J Cleary, attended Sep 2024: We made our own Knives at Nordic Knives Brookvale then decided we needed to know how to keep them sharp. Everyone who cooks at home needs sharp knives. We learnt about the different types of knives and sharpening techniques. Then Nari narrowed all of this down into the most user friendly and practical technique for the average kitchen and its knives. The majority of the session was practical. Mari spent all of this time watching us carefully and giving constant feedback. He made sure that by the end we were confident and competent. He is calm, clear and clever! I did the course with my partner so now we can both sharpen our knives and not need to rely on someone to do it for us. Great experience and educational too!
  • 5/5 from Rebekah Jenkin, attended Sep 2024: This was by a large margin the best class I have ever completed! Exactly the right balance of theory and practice. Nari has such a wonderful manner and teaching style - he gave us a short brief on knives, their structure and composition, and how this related to sharpening. We then practiced. Nari guided and corrected, gently and constructively with humour and patience. It was excellent. Learnt so much, the time flew by and I left feeling confident to sharpen my own knives at home (and knowing when I would need an expert). Class was a good length and the venue light and airy. Great investment in time & money. Nari made it a first rate experience.
  • 5/5 from Geoffrey Carruthers, attended Aug 2024: Course we as excellent. Teacher was patient with information, the theory was basic for a beginner to understand. There was a sense of passion from the very beginning. The practical was flawless. Teacher gave us plenty of time and moved around us so we all got attention. Walked away with life long skills and life long knowledge. I highly recommend this course.
  • 5/5 from Rebecca Kim, attended Aug 2024: Thank you for today’s class! Me and my friends had a fun time learning about knife sharpening. Knife sharpening would have been really hard to learn if I didn’t have a lesson and learnt it by myself but having the opportunity to practise sharpening while getting feedback was really helpful and I look forward to practising more at home now!
  • 5/5 from Andrew Baxter, attended Aug 2024: I really enjoyed this class. Nari is an excellent teacher, very patient and gives personal attention to the student (me)! His expertise and experience is obvious and comes out in the way he explains concepts, teaches techniques, and troubleshoots problems. I attended a different class some time ago and found this one to be better value. I walked in announcing to Nari today I'm one of those people with 'all the gear and no idea' but after the lesson now consider myself capable, confident and well on the way to competent.
  • 5/5 from Ian Yates, attended Aug 2024: Excellent course. Learnt a lot about knife sharpening, Nari is a great instructor. Our knives have not been this sharp for a long time. Would definitely recommend
  • 5/5 from Mark Williams, attended Aug 2024: Learned alot about knife make up and construction. Nari was knowledgable and presented well, a worthwhile morning.
  • 5/5 from Jeremy de Constantin, attended Aug 2024: Nari is a very nice guy. Would never have thought there was so much 'science' in sharpening a knife. I now know where I was going wrong for all these years, thanks to Nari's hands-on class.
  • 5/5 from Kate Poole, attended Jun 2024: The class was an excellent balance between theory and practice. Nari had an engaging style and clearly deep knowledge which he was able to share simply and clearly. I would recommend this course to anyone who is tired of having blunt knives in their kitchen
  • 5/5 from James Bowles, attended Mar 2024: Excellent course with excellent instruction - it was great to think about the theory as well as the practice. Highly recommended.
  • 5/5 from Merric Foley, attended Mar 2024: I stumbled on Hazuki Knife just by Googling "knife sharpening in Sydney". I'm glad I found it! The course covers a lot of ground, from theory to practice, but Nari is a knowledgeable teacher and easily explains everything. Everything goes at a good pace, and my knives are now sharper than when I bought them! Would definitely recommend.
  • 5/5 from Zandro Zaragoza, attended Feb 2024: Instructor Excellence: Nari, the instructor, shines with his kindness and evident passion for knife sharpening. His expertise is unmatched, demonstrating masterful skill in this art. Personalized Training: Nari's sharp observational skills allow him to identify and address each student's unique challenges, offering tailored solutions. Practical Results: Under Nari's guidance, I transformed an old, blunt knife into the sharpest one in my kitchen—a testament to the workshop's effectiveness. Engaging Experience: The session was not only incredibly educational but also really fun. Strong Recommendation: For anyone passionate about knife care, Hazuki Knife Workshop is an unmissable experience. Overall, Hazuki Knife Workshop is an outstanding choice for enhancing your knife sharpening skills, led by the knowledgeable and passionate Nari.
  • 5/5 from Gary Bourke, attended Feb 2024: Today was very informative. Nari is a patient teacher who takes the time to ensure everyone is feeling comfortable with each step. I would happily recommend this class.
  • 5/5 from Lan Wei, attended Jan 2024: Nari was a wonderful teacher and taught us all sorts of great stuff about metal types, different bevels, and what a difference sharpening to 1000 grain makes versus 8000 grain and what each might be used for! The practical demonstration was very interesting and helpful and we loved seeing the difference it made to our knives. We are definitely more confident now on doing this at home.
  • 5/5 from Alistair Orchard, attended Jan 2024: Fantastic experience with someone who clearly knows metals and how to extract the best from them. There is far more to learn than simply rubbing your knife up and down a stone; the angle and grit for your knife and intended purpose are all factors. Excellent class.
  • 5/5 from Kimbily Ora, attended Jan 2024: So glad I booked this course instead of messing around learning from YouTube. Nari did a great job of explaining the technique and provided good feedback as we practices to correct mistakes in our technique. My knives came out razor sharp. I’ve just made large meal and felt the blade starting to lose its edge and was able to get the edge back in 30 seconds thanks to my newly learnings skill! Highly recommend this course.
  • 5/5 from Jonathan Santos, attended Jan 2024: As soon as you walk in the venue @Japanesetools.com.au I immediately felt the traditional vibe that you think you’re actually at Japan. I knew that time I was gonna learn something special. Nari was very good in directing us on what we’re supposed to do and how to improve this new honed skill. The technique that was taught today was simple easy and efficient in sharpening to attain a sharp edge on a knife that was blunted completely and intentionally with 140grit diamond plate. Well worth every cent. Highly recommended
  • 5/5 from Craig Burrell, attended Jan 2024: Great instruction, knowledge and practical. i came away with sharp knifes and ability to keep them sharp. A thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable morning.
  • 5/5 from Robert McConnell, attended Jan 2024: Nari is certainly a subject matter expert and has organised his instruction in a very logical fashion. The background in differing knives, the recommendations for the materials needed in knife sharpening, and the steps required to perform sharpening and maintenance were well explained. The practical portion of the course was equally well done. I especially appreciate Nari's patience and diligence to ensure each of his students took home the necessary skills. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this course to others interested in truly learning to skill of knife sharpening.
  • 5/5 from Matilda Halliday, attended Jan 2024: Nari was very good at both explaining the technical aspects of knife sharpening and teaching the practical aspects. The equipment was exactly what we needed and I now hope to have much sharper knives!
  • 5/5 from Melanie Davies, attended Jan 2024: Nari’s class is excellent. Starting with some theory on knife sharpening gives a great insight into the difference between stainless and carbon steel knives. You also get a good understanding of the different types of sharpening techniques that are used. Moving to the practice side of the class Nari clearly demonstrates the method used to hand sharpen, with plenty of opportunities for questions. He gives lots of one on one time as well to make sure you have got the technique, including how to get the right angle for your knives, depending on the type and style you are sharpening. Overall, I highly recommend this class if you wish to learn how to sharpen your kitchen knives, western or Japanese style. A very enjoyable morning learning some new skills. Craig
  • 5/5 from Justin Delaney, attended Jan 2024: Great class and instructor. Finished course with sharper knives and the know how to finish the rest!
  • 5/5 from Sangmin Lee, attended Jan 2024: It was really great class. My friends and I really enjoyed the lecture and were able to put into practice our deep knowledge about knife sharpening. If you are a chef, this is a course I recommend you take.
  • 5/5 from Taeseong Lee, attended Jan 2024: Super nice class! It was perfect about theory and practical. While I took the class, I could learn a lot of things and the teacher taught me so well and also taught me in detail what parts to pix. It is worth way more than the cost.
  • 5/5 from Julia Murray, attended Dec 2023: The class is a great mix of theory and practice which will leave you with the skills to sharpen knives, whether you are an absolute first timer or have previously spent some time sharpening. Nari is a passionate teacher with abundant knowledge that he shares generously with his students. I hear there might also be an advanced class in the pipeline - can't wait!
  • 5/5 from Cara Dowling, attended Oct 2023: Fantastic class. Highly recommended. Nari was a great teacher - I learned a lot. I had been putting of sharpening at home because I was worried about damaging my nice knives - this gave me a lot of confidence. Perfect amount of time too - I didn’t feel rushed and I managed to get a bunch of my knives sharpened. Thanks Nari!
  • 5/5 from Michaela Maag, attended Sep 2023: The class with Nari was amazing! I learnt so much theoretical and practical knowledge and can sharpen my knives now myself. Highly recommend the course for any chef or home cook. Also, Nari took the time to explain everything and got sure I understand it as well.
  • 5/5 from Calvin, attended Sep 2023: Very valuable experience and knowledge you gain from it is amazing. Nari's teaching structure is really good, giving you the concepts and hands on experience for knives you'll typically use in the kitchen. After attending the session, have more confidence in myself in sharpening my Japanese knives. Key take out, blunt knives are dangerous in the kitchen however extremely sharp knives may not work either. The sharpness is to be fit for purpose.
  • 5/5 from Ross Fairleigh, attended Sep 2023: An epic and life changing event. A character filled wooden venue with the wonderful aroma of wood working. The tutor has extraordinary teaching qualitys delivered gently with charm, wit, humility and impressive technical skill mastery. I work as a professional chef. My knives have never been so incredibly sharp, thankyou for changing the colour of my work day.
  • 5/5 from Jason, attended Sep 2023: I have spent many years sharpening knives with limited success and much frustration. Fortunately today I met Nari who showed me the proper way to sharpen different types of knives, including scissors so that they cut beautifully. I can honestly say that I came to the workshop lacking confidence on how to successfully sharpen a knife and left confident that I now have the tools and knowledge to sharpen knives in future so that they do what they are designed to do, cut and not skate on the surface. Nari is an excellent teacher, patient and explains the technique thoroughly and effectively. The equipment was very effective and although daunting at first, became quite easy to use after some practise. For what I learned in 3 hours, I think the course is excellent value for money. After today, I will never ever touch an electric sharpener again and will make sure I continue to refine my technique. It was very helpful understanding the theory at the start with different types of knives and the sharpening angles. The theory as well as the practical application and real time feedback was brilliant. I could not be any happier with the course. I left the studio in Surry Hills much more confident. Thank you Sensei Nari for your patience, encouragement and inspiration.
  • 5/5 from Mitchell Cowley, attended Sep 2023: Nari is an incredibly knowledgeable man who is patient and willing to pass on everything he knows. I could not recommend him enough to teach people how to sharpen knives.
Your teacher

Hazuki Knife
Hazuki Knife

5.0 (68)

Hazuki Knife specialises in the sharpening of knives and tools. We don't just sharpen the cutting edge. We take a holistic approach to improve the cutting performance from a perspective of what types of foods or materials the knife will cut. We sharpen mainly by freehand with Japanese natural and synthetic waterstones, which we believe is the best way for many applications. We at Hazuki Knife enjoy the art, therapeutic and meditative aspects of waterstone sharpening.
Nari is originally from Osaka, Japan and the founder of Hazuki Knife. He is a member of Japan Houchou Togi Association (Kitchen Knife Sharpening Association) where he continuously develops his expertise and is passionate about passing on his valuable knowledge and skills to his students. We aim to give people a moment of joy and fulfilment through sharpening and using sharp, quality knives and tools.

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