Kendo people are the nicest people.

[Charlie]

What do you think? The fraternity of kendo is one of the things that has always impressed me. It's not to say I haven't met some jerks in kendo, or maybe I thought they were jerks until I saw their point of view, no one's perfect. But we teach fellowship and citixenship from the highest pulpits of kendo. Do we walk the walk as well as talk the talk? Agree or disagree, but with a caveat? Explain below.

[Koori]

Yes... (nodds head)

I think that people who do Kendo are the nicest people that I have ever met.-- Charlie included. Everyone that I have met or have been instructed by are quick to correct and even quicker to praise you. I can ask a question that I feel is a bit on the "Duh" side, and my instructors or senior students will answer me without hesitation.

To me it is like a very big and extended family.

-Koori

[sminki]

Nope. Disagree.

Borrowing the immortal words of george carlin, kendo people "are just like people. A few winners and a whole lot of losers." Obviously that's putting things in a bit of an extreme way, but I think kenshi as a group are no different from any other group of people (although in theory they should be better). There are some real good ones and there are those who are self-centered, self-absorbed, arrogant, ill-natured ones too with a lot of personal flaws (regardless of his/her kendo level).

[Charlie]

Thanks, sminki, an honest answer is exactly what I'm looking for.

KOORI! Another Michigan kendoist! What's up: where do you practice? We've met? Schweet! Who are you and where are you?

[Koori]

Thanks, sminki, an honest answer is exactly what I'm looking for.

KOORI! Another Michigan kendoist! What's up: where do you practice? We've met? Schweet! Who are you and where are you?

Last weekend, Dinner @ Yoriba-- Ann Arbor-- ring a bell ---

"More Sukiyaki?"
"Yes, Charles is Driving!"

-Koori (Hope)

[Charlie]

Last weekend, Dinner @ Yoriba-- Ann Arbor-- ring a bell ---

"More Sukiyaki?"
"Yes, Charles is Driving!"

-Koori (Hope)


AHA!

See, I thought it might be you, the "Koori" threw me off.

Yes, "second practice" was definitely an outer display of kendo fellowship! What a great time. Thanks, again.

But, as Sminki points out (although I disagree with him) you run across some jerks in kendo, too. Although you're usually not out drinking and eating with them afterward (at least, that's been my experience).

[kendomushi]

I have to say that in over 10 years of doing kendo, I have never met a "bad" person who is heavily involved in kendo. I've met less than I can count on one hand who were even just jerks.
The vast majority seem to talk the talk and walk the walk. Though there are probably people who would disagree and use me as their proof too. :p

[kendokamax]

i dont know, there is a lot of not so friendly people in my club here.

althought i guess that it is because they are japanese and Im not. They are most of the time nice to each others.

Reality is that most people in kendo will look nice to you because you have a common interest. If not, maybe they wouldnt look that nice.

[nodachi]

I would agree that Kendo people in general are the nicest people.

However, the few people I have met, and I do mean very few, who were not so nice, it was because they let personality or ego get in the way.

One of the nice things about going to practice is that when you walk into the dojo, everyone is working together towards the same goal of improving each others kendo. No ego, no personality, everyone gives everyone equal effort, time and energy to help each other improve. The few not nice people I met allowed ego or clashing personalities to get in the way of the idea that we are all there to help each other

It's rare but it happens.

[dorkusxmaximus]

I haven't met a single mean person from kendo yet, and it probably will never happen. Oh sure, there are jerks, but they're pretty friendly too.

[Charlie]

Thanks, Hope! (charliekondek@yahoo.com)

So, day 2 of the poll and the Nice are outpacing the Not Nice. Well, this is good news! It makes me think that we are living up to the kendo charter laid out by the AJKF (below, italics mine):

The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana.

The purpose of practicing Kendo is:

To mold the mind and body,
To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
And through correct and rigid training,
To strive for Improvement in the art of Kendo;
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,
To associate with others with sincerity,
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
Thus will one be able to love his country and society,
To contribue to the development of culture,
And to promote peace and prosperity among all people.

I mean, these are lofty goals! I don't know about you but I have always revered this and the budo charter.

As some of you have said, the only out-and-out jerks I have really met are the ones with ego. One guy in one of my first tournaments treated me contemptuously, probably because he was Japanese and good and I was American and not good. He tsuki'd me during our match, in which it was obvious he outclassed me, and failed to bow when it was over. However, maybe he's learned better since then.

Come on, anybody got any horror stories?

[mingshi]

Agree with Nodachi.

Although the nicest people I know are all from Kendo (and I suppose I haven't met enough people in life), the nastiest ones are in Kendo as well...

There is virtually no escape, simply because we all practice under the same roof... Somehow you will stuck in Jikeiko with those people, even if you are not so willing to.

Human nature: it's all about the big E. :rolleyes:

[John W]

Take away the shinai, bogu and uniform and what do you have? People that come together for a common purpose- to train in the art of Kendo.

I think that having "jerks" is great, no matter what martial art/sport you do. That "jerk" just may bring out some of the finest displays of Kendo you have ever done. Or even help you to refine your techniques.

IMHO variety is the spice of life. Swallow your pride or your wrath and treat them how you would like to be treated and this may change your views on jerks!

Imagine tennis without John Macanroe! BORING!! And I am sure most people consider him a jerk!

Long live the jerks!!

[kendo_chick]

I would have to say also that for the most part Kendo people are among some of the nicest I have ever met. Of course, when looking at the philosophies behind kendo, I would hope that anyone who is serious about kendo is not a self-centered low life. However as many have said before, there are always a few bad apples in every group, kendo is no acception.

I for one notice that usually it's not just one person that is arrogant or stuck up, but usually a group or a club.

I have also come to realize that sometimes, what I mistake to be someone being stuck up is actually a language barrier, and they are afraid they will sound stupid trying to talk to you. (aka, myself in my japanese dojos)

[Tenken]

kendo people usually are nice people but they tend to act like they "kick ass" or "I'm better than you!!" behind your back. even though in the real world, they don't. Other than that, YES I think kendo people are nice people.

[Ben F.]

As some of you have said, the only out-and-out jerks I have really met are the ones with ego. One guy in one of my first tournaments treated me contemptuously, probably because he was Japanese and good and I was American and not good. He tsuki'd me during our match, in which it was obvious he outclassed me, and failed to bow when it was over. However, maybe he's learned better since then.

Come on, anybody got any horror stories?[/QUOTE]

Well I don't know if this quite qualifies as a horror story but I did get smacked on the side of the head right near my ears like three times during a match. There was a warning, a 1/2 point deduction and the ref missed the third one. After my teacher telling me that sometimes you can pop an eardrum that way, I was most annoyed. Made up for it by soundly beating the guy and taking third.

The other one was a person who used to train and has since dropped out. When doing what we call yun kyok (kirakaeshi) she used to use the area below the nakayui to strike muri/men. She would approach very easily, raise up like she was going to strike lightly and then move in too close and club the c**p out of me. I would leave class with a splitting headache. She also never listened to corrections, either from me (her senior) or from our teacher. Fortunately she is no longer with us. No loss there.

[mochi_pig]

Shidogakuin DC dojo ni, mina totemo shinsetsu de.

[Charlie]

Shidogakuin DC dojo ni, mina totemo shinsetsu de.

Sorry. What does it mean?

[mochi_pig]

Sorry.
Mina totemo shinsetsu desu.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I think he said that everyone at Shidogakuin DC is exceedingly nice. Which I can vouch to be true.

[enkorat]

I've noticed that people doing kendo can be absolutely ferocious on the floor and the nicest people off the floor.

Its one of those things that continues to impress me everytime I practice, and I am very grateful to have people like that to train with.

[Charlie]

This thread's a blast from the past!

[4doormadman]

I think for the most part, the people i've met in kendo, who've stuck with it for some time, are some of the kindest, most hardworking individuals i know.

I don't know where'd I'd be without my kendo friends and senseis. Probably a fat guy learning karate :beard: (no offense to karate people haha)

[taganahan]

i don't think there are people at my dojo who aren't nice. i mean, i talk to adults, people my age and even kids. i agree that kendo people are the nicest bunch of people. they support and help each other because of a common goal. but i also have to agree that you need people who are not nice at the dojo. for one, you can use them as motivation to beat them up or use them as a visual aid. just kidding! seriously, they just keep the balance.

~taganahan

[Wolverinekenshi]

Charlie,

I would like to think that Kendo are nicest, but then, like what sminki said, kendo people, are still people, individuals with their own traits and whats not.
Even though that you pointed out the purpose of kendo, still, as individuals, one person is different then another.

RIrwan

[Charlie]

Very true, Rosalin, very true. I still have high expectations of kendo people, though!

[Fenix]

they only appear to be nice, but their true selves arent..they treat you like crap and set a bad example. Selfish people that are all about themselves. (some of them anyway)

[Hisham]

I m with Sminki on this one eventhough i haven t met any bad people in the dojo i was training at.

[yamaguchi]

I found that Kendo people are nice. Of course in kendo world, we have trainee too. So some people are not only trainee for kendo, but also trainee for life.
Well, we all are trainee for both, but some need more train than the other.

But you can tell the level of Kendo, just talk to the person. Most of nice people in Kendo has great skill.

Most of time, when you talk to the person, and you feel ??? about the person You will find out his or her skill of Kendo is also ????

So. but I voted you yes.
Yamaguchi