After receiving bogu...

[Peon]

Hi everybody,

This is my first post in this Forum, although I have been reading it for several months. I hope you overlook my lack of language skill and may be able to help me.

Iam doing Kendo for a little bit more than 1 year and yesterday I finally received
my (rented) bogu from my sensei. I was looking forward to this day because "now it's real Kendo" etc. Anyways, after several minutes and the help
of my Sensei I was ready and returned to class.

Some seconds later I received my first Mem by a beginner. And it hurt a lot. At first I thought my Mem wasnt correct and asked my Sensei but he said it was alright. I believed him because the next few Mem were ok, I didnt feel nothing.
But a few minutes later, I received Mem again that time by a far more experienced one and again, it really hurt. It continued a few times, sometimes I thought I wouldnt have had an Mem at all. At that time I thought it would be alright because it was the first time with bogu but when I later went home I was still dizzy, even today. I went to the doctor and he told me that I have a concussion and should quit Kendo because if I would continue in that way I surely would get irreparable damage.

That shocked me, because I never thought that Kendo is that dangerous. Its ok to get bruises and blue marks in training but not a concussion. It still hurts and frankly, I am afraid to go to the next training.

Besides that, moving and techniques with bogu were a lot more different than usual. Of course I expected that, but not in such a way. I barely heard anything of the commands by the sensei and breathing was also harder.

And then my first Jigeiko. It was horrible. With absolutely no clue what to do, I stood there and tried to make a technique but each time my opponent said I should "wait for the moment". So I waited "for the moment" and got hit by my opponent. Every time. A lot of fun.

So, after I have experienced the "real Kendo" I seriously think to quit it. Iam still dizzy and my whole body hurts, more than ever in the year I was practising Kendo + all the training courses. To be the "punching bag" isnt real fun either.

So I want you to tell me: Is that truely the "real Kendo" ? Dont misunderstand me, Iam training Kendo for every day even when we dont have official training in dojo because I thought I'd love it. But now Iam a little bit unsure. Is there no way to reduce the impact of the shinai or is this really the normal thing? And how to train to "feel the right moment" ?

Excuse the long text.

[swrdply400mrela]

Hmmm, sounds like you have quite a dilemma. Here are my thoughts:

How old is the rented bogu? Is it soft? It may be because it's so old, but also, some people just get concussions a lot easier than other people. Try cutting a mouse pad and using it as a cushion under your men. Also, is it a particular person, or a group of people that hit hard? Sometimes beginners have a tendency to use a lot of their right hand and hit too hard.

As for your other experiences, they are normal. You will be told what to do for awhile just because you haven't had experience. As for Jigeiko, you are a beginner. Therefore you should never worry about being hit or blocked. You should just practice until you have your technique down, and your speed will come with it. And for "waiting for the right moment" this is partially true, but you don't have to wait. You can move around a little to control your opponent and catch him/her off guard. Remember to kiai strong, because it is important that you build a strong spirit. Important thing is not to be discouraged, because everyone goes through the same thing.

[Neil Gendzwill]

You shouldn't have so much pain, definitely not a concussion. If your rental bogu is old, cheap or ill-fitting it can be a problem. I recommend inserting an extra pad in the top. Closed-cell foam works very well - you can buy cheap blue foam camping mattresses and cut a piece to fit from there, stick it in with double-sided carpet tape.

As a beginner in jigeiko, just try to do your best kendo. Remember it is not a "fight" - it is an opportunity for you to practice. Right now your practice should be to do your best basic strikes while getting used to your bogu. If other students are telling you to "wait for the moment" that is really too advanced for now. Just make your attack, go through, turn around and make a nice kamae, then try again. Later on you can look for openings or react to what your opponent is doing.

[Yowai]

Your brain is more important than kendo.

Either try to acquire a new stiff men with plenty of padding, or quit kendo. Even if a person has been doing kendo for over a decade, a concussion should immediately end the hobby.

[nodachi]

Your brain is more important than kendo.

Either try to acquire a new stiff men with plenty of padding, or quit kendo. Even if a person has been doing kendo for over a decade, a concussion should immediately end the hobby.


So if something bad happens while doing something one likes, one should quit???

Sorry, I had a lot of concussions, none from kendo though :). You just learn how to fix the problem so you can enjoy whatever it was you enjoyed doing before getting the concussion. Otherwise I would have quit a lot of the things I enjoy in life a long time ago.

The equipment is supposed to protect us. If it doesn't, the equipment is either bad or the other kendoka are trying to nail you into the ground with their shinai, whichever is the case, fix it and then go back to enjoying kendo again.

[burger boy]

Peon,
I feel your pain buddy, literally. I'm still new to bogu and just about once a class during jigeiko I get a whack to the top of the head that hurts like hell. I get dizzy for a second or two but then recover and move on. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's not just you, it happens. How is your posture? Are you leaning or ducking in when you strike? That seems to be my problem right now. I would follow the suggestion of previous posters and invest a few bucks in additional men padding, that's what I have just done and I hope that it will help during next practice.

As for being a hitting dummy, well yes, you're going to get hit and since as beginners we don't yet know what we should be doing, we are going to get hit a lot. Generally, what I've found in class, is that after a couple of strikes my opponent realizes that I am clueless and then opens a few obvious targets for me. Then they whack the crap out of me again, and offer a few more targets, etc. I would hope that the other students in your dojo would be doing similar.

Can't really comment on the concussion as I've never had one. I would get a second doctor's opinion for starters. And if kendo is something that you truly love to do, then take precautions for your head, and go give it your best. Everyone has gone (is still going through) the awkward stage of wearing bogu the first couple of times, it gets better.

Best of luck to you.


burger boy

[Yowai]

If you felt dizzy after being whacked, you had a concussion. Permanent brain damage has resulted. You are now in a greater risk of acquiring depression, having poor memory, or decreased intellectual power.

[Danny Boy]

If you felt dizzy after being whacked, you had a concussion. Permanent brain damage has resulted. You are now in a greater risk of acquiring depression, having poor memory, or decreased intellectual power.

So just do badbington instead yeah ?

*sarcasm off*

check your men, check your tenougi, see if this happens only against one person, or all of them (possible that the whole club is not taught tenouch ?).

If it still happens, use extra tenougi or make a pad for yourself (search this forum for that topic).

[Yowai]

No. Falling and hitting the head while playing badminton is a possibility. The safest bet is to sit in a chair on carpet.

[lwegerich]

Check your men together with your sensei. If he isn't really interested in supporting you there change the dojo.

I saw men which were so soft that there protection is virtually zero.

[Bane]

Your brain is more important than kendo.

Either try to acquire a new stiff men with plenty of padding, or quit kendo. Even if a person has been doing kendo for over a decade, a concussion should immediately end the hobby.

I haver suffered a concussion before (due to being kicked in the head and neck by about 8 people) but have only recently started Kendo, will it effect me when I eventually particpate in 'real' kendo?

[lwegerich]

I haver suffered a concussion before (due to being kicked in the head and neck by about 8 people) but have only recently started Kendo, will it effect me when I eventually particpate in 'real' kendo?

Looks like you were in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people. Anyway. I'd check with a doctor.

Lars

[moocow65]

keep your head straight when they go to hit your men. this way, the shinai will hit both the metal part and the padding of the men so it won't hurt as much. if you tilt your head forward, you're exposing only the padded part of the men, so when they hit it, it'll hurt. personally, i don't think you should be doing keiko yet. you should be just doing uchikomi with the bogu on so you'll get used to it. when you do keiko, just pretend it's uchikomi. if your opponent blocks it, then they block it. big deal. you should be concentrating on form more than anything right now. you don't want your 1 year of basics training to go to waste.

[Peon]

Thx 4 all replies, I will be more concentrated in Keiko and have the right posture. And I try to get an men cushion or something.

Thx again, and have a good time.