I would like to know....

[Kitsune]

What people say to you girls when you say you practice Kendo...

To me people use to look me as I was some kind of a tomboy (that's how you write it right?) and then they think it's like karate (excpet of couse, the ones who knows what the hell is kendo)

Well, now I would like to know how is for you.

[GreenArrow]

Not a lot...

But then again, many/most of my good friends are in the archery world, so they probably have a different perspective. As I work mainly in the construction industry my colleagues aren't surprised... and they do see my in practical clothes, rigger boots and hard hat on a regular basis.

I've always been a tomboy- it was guns, swords and bows for me as a kid, playing with the boys not the girls, no interest at all in dolls. Some habits die hard...

[Alison2805]

I was pretty similar - I preferred to be climbing trees and playing with matchbox cars to playing with dolls.
I get some really funny comments when I say I do kendo. All my family introduce me to people as "she is the one who hits people with sticks". The most annoying comment is "why would you want to do something like that??" and then the next comment is "the men dont hit you do they? I hope they are gentle on you!" Grrrrr.
And then there is the wierd comments about the bruises, usually people try to get me to admit that I have an abusive boyfriend. When I say its from sport they look at me as if to say "poor girl, doesnt want to admit she is bashed". So now I just say "bruises? Dont worry, I pay to get them." That shuts them up.

My family are very good about it, its stangers and so on that get obnoxious.

[Kitsune]

So am I, but people in this country are very traditional. You see, they really got problems accepting that a girl plays football (soccer for US) or climbs trees or play with the boys... For them it's weird. For me of course was the normal way of my personality doing Kendo.

Anyway I just wanted to know how was it for you in your countries.

[mingshi]

What people say to you girls when you say you practice Kendo...
"I practice martial arts...kendo ... err... Japanese fencing kinda stuff..." is the best chat-up people can get. Usually the conversation goes into a debate about different martial arts. It works on guys interested into that, so whatever.

[runsyi]

Well, my orthopaedic surgeon just told me that I'm a freak, but that had more to do with the number of times a week that I practice not the fact that I do Kendo.

[Miravil]

When I tell people about me practicing Kendo, the feedback that I usually get is "wow, don't hurt me" or "wow, so I can get you to be my body guard". Of course many time they don't know what is Kendo and though that it is fencing or Wu Shu or Ninjitsu. Some even better, Samurai. :p

[Alison2805]

hmmm... most guys that find out I do kendo give me a scared look...

[Alison2805]

Hey Kitsuni, how do you deal with peoples reactions to you when you say you do kendo?

[Miravil]

hmmm... most guys that find out I do kendo give me a scared look...

In my case, the guys here will not even think of ask me out for a date after knowing me practice kendo :hurt:

[tantadi]

Just say you do yoga.

[Genya]

In my case, the guys here will not even think of ask me out for a date after knowing me practice kendo :hurt:
What´s wrong with them? Do they have something agaist kendo? Hobby is not a good reason for not to date someone...

If I met a nice girl but I wouldn´t like her hobby, so what.

[Mugu]

I onced told my co-worker "I went practice Kendo last night. So I'm tired today." He went, "Oh! How many did you make?" he thought I said "Candle". After I explained what Kendo is, he gave a me a weird look. So next day I bought a Kendo doll sits next to my computer. Every now and then, people will ask questions so I don't have the weird thing like, "How many of them did you make?". It's funny now that my co-workers understand enough what Kendo is that we can have pratical jokes about it.

But talking about guys got scared after hearing a girl does Kendo... at that point, you already know he is a dork. I intentionally dressed like a tom boy when I first met my boyfriend. I wanted to see his reactions. I guess you can use Kendo as a way to filter out jerks or something, heh

[Kitsune]

Hey Kitsuni, how do you deal with peoples reactions to you when you say you do kendo?


I have to explain first what's kendo... always say it like japanese fencing with a baboo sword and stuff like that. If they still don't get it I say google it.

When we got that part ok, they ask me if it's not to rough for a woman and I say, no, it's like anyother matial arts and I have to say that is softer than karate, cos we don't have broken bones on our practices and stuff like that. But we have a lot of bruises. For those who practice another matial arts it's like I don't belevie you and for those who doesn't they acctully don't beleive me.

One of my best friends (girl best friend) thinks I'm crazy cos it's not girl stuff doing kendo. I always tell her says who? Cos I didn't read any rule against it. She just look at me as I were mad or worst.

My parents are cool. They think all martial arts are for calming people down and for defense, so they're cool with me doing kendo and I'm fine thinking that they think that. Besides they acctully acdept that I'm more likea tomboy that a girly lilttle girl... Anyway my mom was the same when she was younger and she know that I make some time to make up and stuff like that when it's roght to do it.

That's more or less the things in my case.

[Knicky]

My girlfriend does kendo as well. Whenever someone asks us about what we do, I always have her explain it. Her friends seem pretty accepting about it.

Maybe every girl wants to hit their boyfriend with a stick.... :ponder:

[Willow]

I find that if someone looks at you with that big question mark when you say you do kendo it can help to explain to them that it's a great martial art because the bogu/'armour', and the importance of speed/reflexes mean that girls and guys can compete equally.
I have also been known to describe iaido as 'a sort of tai chi with a sword' (not very accurate, I know) for people who still seem to look blankly at you. That seems to help them figure out the appeal of it.

[Maro]

What are the ratios like in Kendo re Men:Women?

In Iaido there are lots of women. I wonder if they have a harder time explaining it?

We have a mother and daughter at our dojo.

[Willow]

In Australia I think the numbers of girls doing kendo compared to guys is quite low. I've heard that there are much higher numbers of girls doing kendo in the US. Do any US kendoka know the stats on that?

[Solinde]

I have also been known to describe iaido as 'a sort of tai chi with a sword' (not very accurate, I know) for people who still seem to look blankly at you. That seems to help them figure out the appeal of it.

That's a brilliant explanation! It might not be very accurate, but it gives a good idea. I think I might start using that one for the "blankest" faces.

[stephanie dee]

I am really girly girl (anyone who has meet me will agree!) Most people just see this tiny blonde lass. So when I tell them that I do 2 styles of martial arts people mostly laugh. it kinda goes "HA! You, martial arts! Are, are you serious?" Then I say that for fun I hit people with sticks, climb down rocks and shoot arrows and that I don't drink alcohol or go drinking. At which the response is normally "You're dead f***ing strange..."

When people say "whats that then?" I say Japanese sword arts... then say Iaido is like classical music, and Kendo is rock music....

[bullet08]

I have also been known to describe iaido as 'a sort of tai chi with a sword' (not very accurate, I know) for people who still seem to look blankly at you. That seems to help them figure out the appeal of it.

if you tell them iaido is sort of like japanese tai chi jian, someone might think you are doing japanese sword dance.

tell them your kitchen knives are just not long enough on good size steaks.

pete

[Willow]

if you tell them iaido is sort of like japanese tai chi jian, someone might think you are doing japanese sword dance.

tell them your kitchen knives are just not long enough on good size steaks.

pete

Yeah, although there is more to tai chi than just dancing. It actually is a martial art , too.
If I mention knives it's just going to freak them out even more...:confused2

Stephanie, I love your definition of iaido = classical music, kendo = rock music.That's very evocative.

[Budo Angel]

When I started Kendo it was a ratio like 1 girl to every 20 guys, its much better now, about 1 girl to every 10. In big (main) cities you may find it as high as 2-3 women to every 10 men, but that's really big cities (I think..) :surprise: Most people in the street who didn't know, would laugh then look agast, that Kendo was ..."er well bamboo sword/stick, whacking people over the head" as their perception is popular martial arts like kung fu, karate or judo.

As to Iai - perhaps its the lack of physical contact, but the ratio here (UK) is definately higher I note, at seminars it is at least 35:65 I think...(35% girls to 65% guys). May be higher - see what others say. Sword waving is still romantically linked to being a samurai me thinks ;)

Non-budo people just know about "black belt" and just simply ask...'are you dangerous - are you an "expert" ' ... sad but true. :bandit:

Most Joe public, now know Kendo armour, so its nothing unknown - but they are still bemused by the fact we "dress up in that stuff"...scary.

Wot amazes me is a lot of guys who find girls wearing bogu, sexy ?!!?! I feel at my worst/freaky when in my hakama & gi !!! :evolved: I thought bikini was sexy, not sweaty haks & gi ?!?!?

[David]

It's all a matter of what the man finds attractive. If a guy is really dedicated to kendo, then watching a pretty girl in full bogu do a good jigeiko can be very alluring.

[Solinde]

I feel at my worst/freaky when in my hakama & gi !!! :evolved: I thought bikini was sexy, not sweaty haks & gi ?!?!?

Come on, hakama is definately sexy! So are most kind of clothes as long as they have a good fit. Bikini is more like naked, and though naked and sexy are often confused they are not the same thing.

[Alison2805]

I definitely dont feel sexy in bogu. However I love my bogu and love putting it on. Id laugh my ass off if I found out that someone thought I looked sexy in it.

[Fukushu]

I've gotten most of the commets you guys get: "Why", "Doesn't it hurt", "Are you going to beat me up", "Really? Cool", or they start asking more in-depth questions. My family has always been cool about it...my dad tries to have me streech out really good before and afterward (he's an Orthopod...orthopedic surgeon). I've been either doing horse riding or TaeKwonDo most my years, so it kinda just fits in. Of course others who know me say this makes me more of a freak (I also like reptiles, have tattoos, etc). But it's all good. Oh, it's just me and my Sensei as the only females at our dojo...although I know others around here average maybe 5-6?

[Ignatz]

In the NYC tournament we entered three teams, one was all female and my team had two females (giant killers I call them) so that was seven, all dan rank (up to 4 dan). That doesn't even count beginners.
And they are all major babes too.

[Paikea]

Iaido is like classical music, and Kendo is rock music....Iaido is Mozart, Kendo is Wagner...

[Ignatz]

Iaido is the minuet. . . .Kendo is merengue

[Neil Gendzwill]

Kendo is Chuck Berry, iaido is Barry Manilow...

[Ushiro]

I wouldn't mention that in front of Richard Tanaka sensei if I were you. :):)

[Paikea]

I wouldn't mention that in front of Richard Tanaka sensei if I were you. :):)Sure you could...just smile when you do.

[Alison2805]

or iaido could be likened to "emo" and kendo is "spank rock"!!!

Ive got nothing against iaido by the way!!

[Budo Angel]

We are divided by a common language...wots "emo", wots "spank rock" (is that rock hitting bottoms ?"

[Rurouni Kenshin]

Iaido is the soaring eagle riding the wind; kendo is the same eagle plunging down for the hunt.

[Fonsz]

While we are in the spirit:
Iaido = Ikebana
Kendo = the Battlefield
Soaring like an eagle? Apparently I have been watching different Iaido then.:p

[Rurouni Kenshin]

... :down: still beats Manilow....

[Willow]

Iaido is the soaring eagle riding the wind; kendo is the same eagle plunging down for the hunt.

That's very poetic, kenshin,. I like it a lot. Iaido, when well done, has the same grace and swiftness of a soaring eagle. You do almost have the sense of 'hovering'.
Back to the musical theme. If iaido =classical and kendo = rock, what are katas? A ballad from Bon Jovi?

[Kitsune]

No, not from bon jovi... from Cheap Trick!

[ScottUK]

I am gonna practice my iai to 'Slayer' from now on.

[tantadi]

Try doing katas to Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne...:D....or any big, pompous, 'satanic' metal will do...but I do like the howling voice of Ozzy....

[sainueng]

No, not from bon jovi... from Cheap Trick!

Yay!! Another Cheap Trick fan!! :D Although I like Bon Jovi too... :p

[Kitsune]

Yeah Cheap Trick it's great. I really like them... Ghost Town is one of my fave ballads.

[Alison2805]

"We are divided by a common language...wots "emo", wots "spank rock" (is that rock hitting bottoms ?"

Hehehe, "emo" is a type of punk where the lyrics are about how shit life is if you are white qnd from the suburbs, "spank rock" is like a mix of rap and lap-dancing. Both are very full-on.