Female Kendo?

[fanaa]

Hello everyone!

I have always wanted to do kendo and I was never allowed to (time constraints, etc) but about a couple of years ago, I finally was able to take classes for it..I was really excited and did my research until I found a place were I could go. When I called to come and see the place, the person who answered the phone totally burst my bubble by saying Kendo was not for females and they didn't teach woman at their place. So, naturally I stopped. But I am 18 and although it may be late to start, I still want to do it! Until I found this forum, I didn't even know females have their own kendo competitions and everything. I live in SoCal in Newport. Where is there a good place I can finally start learning? :rambo:

[Magenta]

i don't know where you can start practising knedo, but I'm sorry that you got that sexist repsonse. Fair enought, as a female you're outnumbered in the dojo but you're not alone -and in Sweden some competions are exlusive for females but all are mixed so it's a sport for everybody!

[Anime12478]

If you got a response like that, then the place was most likely not legit. Sure the female population is small, but I find them just as capable as men.

I don't know California that much, but the link below has a list of dojos that are in CA

http://www.auskf.info/dojo/ca.htm

[mingshi]

Doesn't SoCal has the highest concentration of kendo clubs in the US?

If one doesn't let you in, just try another one.

[kendomusha]

Your best bet would probably be Costa Mesa Kendo Dojo or OCB kendo dojo. Their contact info are in the following link.

http://www.auskf.info/dojo/sckf.htm

[kendomusha]

Sorry, there is also another one in O. C.; Butokuden Martial Arts Training Center of Irvine. It's run by the owner of E-bogu, I believe... Anyway, you can find their contact info in the link below

http://www.auskf.info/dojo/scko.htm

[Masahiro]

....the person who answered the phone totally burst my bubble by saying Kendo was not for females and they didn't teach woman at their place. ... :rambo:

did you happen to ask for the reasons? why isn't it for females? all the greatest kendoist are born out of female's womb, so what's their logic?

[xvikingx]

I live in SoCal in Newport. Where is there a good place I can finally start learning? :rambo:

Go to the Costa Mesa dojo located at the Higashi Honganji temple. You can practice twice a week there and attend regular practice and their sister dojo in Norwalk if you want.
Take Harbor to Victoria, go right on Victoria (right if your coming from PCH; left if you got off the 405), it will be on the left hand side just before Victoria ends into the 55. When I was practicing there last there were a handful of females. Give them a call before hand and ask to watch one practice. They are kind and will answer whatever questions you may have after practice.
Good luck.

[XiaoPhoenixGrl]

What dojo was this?

Certainly, they can't be IKF approved! I didn't know that we had such people in the kendo community! >:O

[David]

What dojo was this?

Certainly, they can't be IKF approved! I didn't know that we had such people in the kendo community! >:O

It could be that they have a very, very old fashioned sensei, but even then, that's not really an excuse. It's not unheard of though. I believe we actually had another young lady in a similar situation. Though if I remember right, she was atleast allowed to train.

[Hisham]

It could be that they have a very old fashioned sensei, but even then, that's not really an excuse.

You mean a very old fashioned sensei as in naginata is for women and kendo is for men kind of old fashioned?!

[Smakfull]

But I am 18 and although it may be late to start
I wouldn't consider that late; rather I'd consider it an insult ;)

Jokes aside, you can start later than that and still reach far as well as in competition as in mind. "Still" is a bad phrasing... :dead: to use a cliché: kendo is for all ages. :ninja:

[nysamurai]

Age 18 is certainky NOT late, by any stretch of the imagination. It all depends on what you wish to get out of it. I know a few people who didn't start until they were 50 or so, who are quite good, and who are very happy practicing, learning, socializing, evjoying the time they spend in the dojo and becoming better, more rounded people because of it.

As to the response you received initially, forget about it. There are a lot of reasons why you might receive such a response, none of them valid (in my opinion); just move past it until you find what you're looking for. Anyone who would take such a position in the 21st century is sadly uninformed.

[nysamurai]

And now, if I could only learn how to spell... or type!

[fanaa]

Thank you sooo much everyone! Your responses have been very helpful!

[theicychameleon]

"did you happen to ask for the reasons? why isn't it for females? all the greatest kendoist are born out of female's womb, so what's their logic?"

Macduff was not of woman born but from the womb was untimely ripped!
:) Couldn't resist, good luck training. I can't think of many martial arts these days who completely proclude women.

[Pugtm]

You mean a very old fashioned sensei as in naginata is for women and kendo is for men kind of old fashioned?!
if i remember correctly wasn't the naginata the preffered weapon for male samurai and shorter weapons like swords for female samurai?
Either way it is true on avrage women may not be as suited to kendo but it's still not a reason to refuse to train someone. Short people also have disadvantages and so do extremely tall people. if we kept going on it would be the end of kendo since we could easily disqualify everyone for some reason or another. I say get really good at kendo then come back and challenge that sensei or whoever and kick his tuchus.

[Ignatz]

. . .Either way it is true on avrage women may not be as suited to kendo but it's still not a reason to refuse to train someone.. . .

There you have it ladies, let the games begin.;)

[theicychameleon]

"if i remember correctly wasn't the naginata the preffered weapon for male samurai and shorter weapons like swords for female samurai?"

Wasn't it the other way around? Also you do realise you're after leaving yourself open to a myriad of challanges from any woman who wants to prove you wrong :) Good luck!

[Oroshi]

This is my very basic understanding, though I'm willing to be corrected:

The naginata was used by samurai on the battlefield, and is also associated with warrior monks (僧兵). However, in addition it was commonly used as a weapon for the defence of homes and other buildings, and therefore some women were trained to use it in case the castle/fort/storehouse/whatever was attacked whilst the men were away.

Women would usually carry an aikuchi, but not swords.

Obviously, none of this means that women can't be as good at kendo as men. I don't see why anyone would think otherwise.

[theicychameleon]

Cooties deeply inhibit proper Zanshin. >:|

"warrior monks (僧兵)"

Stop showing off your lingwistick skillz! ;)

[Mudansha]

I hope the dojo you first contacted wasn't one of the 20 on this list: http://www.eanet.com/sckf/dojo.htm and if it is then that dojo needs to be reported! Otherwise take your pick (probably based on location), show up, watch, and join if you like what you see!

Best of luck.

[Alison2805]

Either way it is true on avrage women may not be as suited to kendo

What would you suggest that the "average" woman is suited to?

[Pugtm]

ok im going to get cremated or forced to commit seppuku but, any ways here goes.
Women generally have less upper arm strength than men but greater leg strength. AGAIN NOT EVERYBODY BUT GENERALLY TRUE.
So styles that take advantage of that women would be better at. I am not saying they shouldn't take kendo. Im not saying they have to do anything. I am not saying it applies to all women. But on avarage it will be harder.

[Alison2805]

hehehe, I understand that youre trying to be very diplomatic about this!

Other "styles" of sport for women in general actually need more arm strength than kendo in my experience. Netball - heaps of running and throwing. Hockey - ever looked at a hockey players arms???? Lots of stick swinging there. Swimming - to compete you need really good arm strength. Gymnastics - dont even get me started on the strength needed there. Then theres womens football, rugby, baseball, waterpolo, volleyball, basketball... the list goes on.

So in terms of what a woman might chose to do as competitive activity, kendo is physically easier. The hard part is the accuracy, speed, reaction time. Which all varies from person to person regardless of gender.

OK, you may commit seppuku now.

[Alison2805]

Heres a fabulous article on why kendo is great for women.

http://www.koryu.com/library/dskoss4.html

[Kenzan]

Either way it is true on avrage women may not be as suited to kendo but it's still not a reason to refuse to train someone.

http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/250/y8001.gif

[cesarekim]

http://www.stickergiant.com/Merchant2/imgs/250/y8001.gif

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Kenzan again.

Sorry.

HILARIOUS even if Pugtm may not have quite meant it the way it sounded. ;)

[Obulco]

Women generally have less upper arm strength than men but greater leg strength.

This could only be a reason for females to do well in Kendo. I practice regularly with a female godan and definitely she has more strength in her legs (and footwork) than in her arms. This fact, in addition to her technique and experience, makes her a formidable opponent. Pugtm, if anything, we males need to learn how to “remove” strength from our upper body if we want to make progress in Kendo.

[Ignatz]

Heres a fabulous article on why kendo is great for women.

http://www.koryu.com/library/dskoss4.html

Good read.
As Obulco states below, if you are relying on upper body strength for kendo, I think you are doing it wrong.

[JSchmidt]

Pugtm, if anything, we males need to learn how to “remove” strength from our upper body if we want to make progress in Kendo.

No, we just need to apply it correctly.

[Obulco]

No, we just need to apply it correctly.

True. Your statement is more accurate than mine. Strength is of course needed. I just wanted to place emphasis on the importance of legs and footwork. Typically, male beginners like me tend to be very unbalanced and rely too much on strong, inefficient use of the upper body while using the legs very poorly.

[shred_lord]

My personal opinion is that women can have nicer Kendo than men.

Plus I was knocked out of the Thistle Cup by a woman who cut my men. So I don't quite see the height thing as she's MUCH shorter than me and she seemed to have no difficulty at all. She also had enough presence to manage me out of bounds at one point and later won a match by doing this to someone twice in encho!

[Kiki]

Thank you sooo much everyone! Your responses have been very helpful!

So Fanaa... Did you start practicing kendo yet? Assuming you have, how has your experience been so far?

[subygal]

Hmmm thats definitely not the case in Australia....our kendo clubs are wanting more girls to join - actually the last intro course that went through has its highest number of girls yet.... :)

The more senior girls are happy too - they loved the turnout at the monthly womens training...we are getting moving on trying to encourage more females into Kendo here :)

[Lady_Kitsune]

Hmmm thats definitely not the case in Australia....our kendo clubs are wanting more girls to join - actually the last intro course that went through has its highest number of girls yet.... :)



Same here in Chile, we want more girls practicing and we need more girls...

And for the ones who think of average women, two words: Tomoe Gozen (http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art18012.asp)