Doing your own kendo

[aru-ma]

I dont know if many people get this from your sensei/sempai but many people here have told me in shiai/jigeiko to "do my own kendo", from what I understand it means do what you usually do, does anyone has a different say on this?

[kendomushi]

Jigeiko is free practice. Work on what you like, what you need to improve, what you've been shown that day, etc. Find out what works for you and perfect it.

[berghaan]

I think at first you are told not to do your own kendo then when you can do that, you will be told to do your own. :)

[qpuppy]

Yeah.. I believe "do your own kendo" means do what you always do.. but at the level of your best... where you feel that nothing can stop you... even if they get a point on you.. that's okay... I'll the next one back... and the next one.. and the onr after that.. etc etc..... that is what I believe "Do your own kendo means"

[Ares2907]

A lot of people have a tendency to change how they play when under serious pressure from an aite. They may have very effective kendo when they are allowed to dictate terms but go to pieces when the pressure is on.
In this instance, doing your own kendo means sticking to the things that work for you whether you are under pressure or not.
I'm not saying do the same things over and over, or stay static in the way you play. You need to be able to play your own game instead of allowing your aite to dictate how you play, ie your kendo, not theirs.

[JSchmidt]

Hmm..my chudan style is not to have any style :). I'll usually adapt accordingly to what the opponent is doing. I got a little stick from my teachers initially as they said I should 'find my own kendo' until they (and I) realised that it was my own kendo.

Jakob

[Ares2907]

Adapting is good.
Playing the way your aite wants you to isn't.

[William Honda]

The Developing Ki thread brings me here as my comment is more appropriate to this thread.

It is refreshing to see the different opinions, feelings, thoughts, and emotions about the Ki issue. Therefore, "doing your own kendo" is, I think exactly that. Your kendo is influenced by everything including non-kendo matters. Your sensei, your experiences, your successes and failures, your body type. There is no one correct way.

The sensei/sempai facilitates the individual kenshi to find themselves and encourages them to practice and find their own kendo. I'm sure there are limitations of course. But within those limits (more rigid in the beginning then more free), they are helping you to seek "your style" whatever that may be. It is as individual as each of us.

End of my philosophical diarrhea. Thank goodness.

[William Honda]

And…. It leads me to think none of us really knows J. Schitt, the guy from uptown Zondoma.

I certainly don't know Jacques.

[Hongsermeier]

In the realm of not knowing. I compare Kendo to Einstein. The more I know about Kendo the more there is for me to learn. Both about the sport and about my own style or habits.

[J. Schitt]

Originally posted by William Honda
And…. It leads me to think none of us really knows J. Schitt, the guy from uptown Zondoma.

I certainly don't know Jacques.

:wink:

[rfoxmich]

It's worth researching shu-ha-ri. Then you'll know what's meant by do your own kendo.

RF