Is Kendo Realistic?

[Shu2jack]

***Sorry, accidently placed this in the History forum***

Hello everyone,

I am looking into learning how to properly use a japanese sword and have been looking into Kendo. The reason for learning to use a sword is because I love asian culture and for the love of the weapon. Back when man first came into being, the biggest ran things because he had such a overwhelming advantage. Nowadays it doesn't matter how good of a warrior you are. A 4 year old with a gun can kill the "best" fighter the world has ever known. I find the sword to be the balance. Size does not matter because if you are cut by a sword you are dead. A 4 year old with a sword would lose going up against another guy with a sword because it requires skill to use. I find it to be a warrior's weapon.

Sorry about the babble, but here is my question. How realistic is Kendo in terms of how one would actually use the weapon in war or single combat? Yes, I know I will never use a sword to defend myself, but for me if I am going to learn, I want to learn to use it realistically. How realistic is the "sparring"?

As a martial artist (Tae Kwon Do) I realise there is a slight (not much) difference between how you perform techinques in terms of forms, board breaking, sparring, and self-defense. Even in watching the Pride fights (supposedly "real" fighting) they hold back. I watch them and see on so many occasions techinques that one who studys a tradional martial art practices that could be used, but cannot because it would seriously injure/kill your opponent. (That is part of the reason I think "traditional martial arts do not do as well in those type of competitions. If they truly had "no holds barred" and they had a desire to seriously injure the other person, they would do SO much better.) So what I am asking I guess is if Kendo "changes" techinques or teachs a different way of sword fighting that is not as combat effective because it is safer.

Thank you all for your time.

[Fantasia]

I don't know if I'm the best person to answer this question, but I'll give you my take.

I've studied a lot of different weapon arts, and kendo has to be one of the most realistic out there. Fencing is a joke, the sensors are electric and have nothing to do with the strength behind the blow, but in kendo you can hit your "target" 1,000 times, but if you don't do it properly (right technique, side/section of the shinai, strength, spirit, and focus) you don't get a point for it.

The armor (bogu) kendoka wear allow for strokes with what would be lethal strength if they were holding a sharp katana instead of a blunt shinai. Also, the angles used in Kendo are based on how a katana would have to be swung to penetrate "traditional" samurai armor.

So I guess my answer can be summed up by saying Kendo is definitely up near the top of "most realistic" martial arts.

[JSchmidt]

:).

No, kendo isn't especially realistic. Over the years it has been stylized into a restricted martial art (In terms of targets), but still with it's roots firmly embedded in 'sword fighting'.
You could easily say the same about Taekwondo, with it's restrictions of where you can punch and kick.
Kendo is, though, one of few martial arts where you have 'full contact', due to the design of the armor and weapons.
European fencing is actually relativly realistic. It's roots is from duel-fencing and by far the most duels were fought to first blood, not death. (otherwise you'd run out of aristocrats fairly quickly). Allegedly, the pressure required to activate the switch on the foil (500 grams), is the same as it took to puncture the skin with a live weapon.

Jakob

[Old Warrior]

"Fencing is a joke, the sensors are electric and have nothing to do with the strength behind the blow"

I don't know much about kendo but I know a heck of a lot about fencing. A dueling epee would go right through your chest with the power of rather weak hit. After a hard "sport" bout you can expect a few welts the size of quarters on your body. There is nothing more realistic than an epee bout if you want a "combat" experience. The whole body is a target and a hit to the wrist counts the same as one to the head. If a live blade went through your wrist the encounter would be over just as quickly as if it went through your chest.

[Fantasia]

"Fencing is a joke, the sensors are electric and have nothing to do with the strength behind the blow"

I don't know much about kendo but I know a heck of a lot about fencing. A dueling epee would go right through your chest with the power of rather weak hit. After a hard "sport" bout you can expect a few welts the size of quarters on your body. There is nothing more realistic than an epee bout if you want a "combat" experience. The whole body is a target and a hit to the wrist counts the same as one to the head. If a live blade went through your wrist the encounter would be over just as quickly as if it went through your chest.

Sorry about that, I know more about foil than I do epee and saber. I was not fond of the experience, and wasn't able to study either of the other two forms. Perhaps I just had a poor venue :)

[Shu2jack]

JSchmidt,

You mentioned that Kendo has been restricted in terms of targets. Though Tae Kwon Do sparring may also be restricted, when training for street fighting and doing free style "one step" we are allowed to use pretty much any attack and use any technique (joint locks, pressure points, regular striking, grappleing) to take our partner down as long as we are in control of ourselfs. The strikes in our _point sparring_ are limited, but all of our strikes and techiques are done and taught as one would use them in a fight. A buddy of mine that I used to train with regularly attended the same dojo I did for 5 years, then he went into the army and is undefeated in hand to hand combat. We limit ourselfs in sparring, but in terms of "real" fighting all of our stuff is realistic. So, is it the same in Kendo? Are the strikes, stances, movements, sword positions realistic and you just tone it down when you spar like in TKD (at least the one I train at...quite a few bad schools out there) or is everything "dumbed down"?

[AlexM]

I vote for kendo being non-realistic. It's stylised fighting, like Jakob said.

If you want to learn how to properly use a sword you might want to check out iaido or the various kenjutsu schools. Of course, there's no sparring in those and the emphasis is placed on set forms I'm told.

Not that there's much use in learning to swing a sword. And yes, modern fencing is still closer to its original roots than kendo is.

Kendo's only "practical application" is self-improvement.

[mystic_kendoka]

kendo IS sword fighting, but is still completely different from real japanese sword fighting, it at first originated from kenjutsu, which was this sort of safe training/practice for warriors. nowadays kendo has evolved into wat it is now because it has been adapted to a sport. it's all about scoring points etc. also, the shinai (sword used in kendo) is straight and not curved, if u hacked with a japanese sword, it would not work as well compared to if you sliced with it, with a shinai you never slice, you ALWAYS hack or sometimes poke.

so kendo isnt really the sport for you if you want to learn to use a sword, you should better look for iaido, which uses the bokuto with is more like a real sword than kendo, but i dont like iaido because you hardly ever hit you opponent, whereas in kendo you do. so if you want to have fun, do kendo, if you want to learn the ways of the sword, do iaido

[Old Warrior]

In real combat a cruise missile is launched 200 miles off shore and the enemy is eliminated. In real combat, you hide until the enemy is in range and you shoot him in the back. In real combat, when all you have is an edged weapon, you would never confront the enemy absent the element of surprise and an advantageous attack.

No sword fighting resembles military conflict. The closest that history has ever recorded to Kendo is various societies version of dueling. Even then, I doubt that the action resembled what occurs in any hall where sword use is practiced.

But Kendo is absolutely real. You stand opposite an opponent and you theoretically attempt to kill/main. The rules are designed to enable you to practice regularly without injury. There are hundreds of years of wisdom packed into the techniques that are learned. I don't know about you, but I couldn't fight any harder if I had a live blade in my hand. Real is a relative term. Something is "not real" just because it doesn't fit into some predesigned notion of what sword conflict really is. It's plenty real for me.

[Future Head]

Sorry about the babble, but here is my question. How realistic is Kendo in terms of how one would actually use the weapon in war or single combat?
Not to be picky or anything, but nowadays people don't actually use swords in war or single combat, Kill Bill notwithstanding.

Like people have said, though, Kendo certainly isn't fake. It's way beyond kids trying to hit each other with sticks, and the fact that it takes years upon years to get good is certainly testament to that. While Kenjutsu and Iaido might be considered "more realistic" in terms of adherence to historical methods, I've heard that you shouldn't do either without some grounding in Kendo.

As far as the target areas, they might be limited, but they represent what you would generally aim for if you had a katana in your hands. A properly executed hit that will pass a kyu exam also resembles the way you'd actually kill with the weapon - a full swing, somewhat squeezed off at the end, as in a Do hit.

If you want to learn to fight with swords the way people REALLY faught with swords back in the day, hop in a time machine. You'll find that it's not too much of a stretch to learn today's standard, though.

[A P]

Back then, when the japanese sword was more of a straigth sword with

little curve and one handed. It wasn't utill (I think) around 1600 or maybe less

that the sword was improve in to a more curve sword and two

handed(kanata). So, could it be that the shinai represent the old fashions

japanese sword and the kanata represent the more modern japanses sword?

From my point of opinion, I believe that kendo is a realistic sword fight. If

you are in an actual fighting stituation that have no rule.

[Neil Gendzwill]

In a word, no. The Japanese sword has been curved since around 800 AD. The shinai is not even 300 years old. It absolutely is meant to represent a katana.

[Rawoo]

Kendo is definitely realistic
Kendo teaches some aspects of a real sword fight
More of a mental and strategetic aspect of a sword fight than cutting or blocking or etc
Kendo is definitely a basic element of a swordsman(does not only apply to Japanese).

[Chook]

Kendo is exactly that, a do, or way, rather than a jitsu. It's not meant to teach you how to kill people. It's an artform designed to cultivate a healthy spirit.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Couldnt resist a posting :-)

Kendo is one of a number of cloesley interelated arts (related by the sword of course)

You could study cutting by getting a Tameshigiri to, makiwara and bales - thats one form of 'real' sword art and that would enable you to learn how to cut for real - cutting a static target though

You could study Iaido - basically get the sword out and use it quickly in an emergency situation - typiclly when trouble is not expected. Thats not really 'real' any more in a social context but was real when the sword was commonly carried - its based on solo kata

You could study Kenjutsu - battlefield form - where you would learn how to move and fight over rough ground in battle situation - thats another 'real' form - based on partner kata with bokken


These are the traditional ways of learning how to use the sword itself - note that none of them allow for sparring practise - its just impractical to fence with a live blade or bokken - injuries would diminish the squad fairly quickly

If you want to learn about the dynamics of a sword fight then Kendo is as real as youre are going to find. To think of kendo of a sport that is not relevant to real fencing is OK i suppose but I think it misses a lot of whats really special about this art. I think its only a sport of thats what you carry in your heart - for many of us its much more elemental than that.

A good example is when i was introducing a friend who just wanted to understand what we were doing - and a fellow kenshi put it very simply - " when the hat is on we are trying to kill each other - its serious but when the hat is off we go and drink beer"

dont know if that helps - but who cares :-)

cheers

[Yowai]

Not one of these again.

Kendo is 100% sport. Any mention of real world "duels" will signify a detachment from reality. Too much day-dreaming is unhealthy for you.
If we renamed Kendo as "Hitting each other with sticks," replaced bogu with American football equipment, and removed all references to anything Japanese, would you practise this "art"?

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Not one of these again.

Kendo is 100% sport. Any mention of real world "duels" will signify a detachment from reality. Too much day-dreaming is unhealthy for you.
If we renamed Kendo as "Hitting each other with sticks," replaced bogu with American football equipment, and removed all references to anything Japanese, would you practise this "art"?


NO, precisely because it would no longer be kendo and it would be 100% sport

QED

[lwegerich]

From my point of opinion, I believe that kendo is a realistic sword fight. If

you are in an actual fighting stituation that have no rule.

Don't think so. In a realistic fighting situation you'd kick and throw your opponent like in Karate / Ju Juitsu.

In Kendo you're not even allowed to push your opponent around.

Lars

[New Guy]

Whoa, this thread looks almost exactly like the one at Gamefaqs. Not only because of the initial topic post, but also because of the replies. Weird.

[Shu2jack]

Sorry it took so long to reply, I got busy.


I guess when I asked if it was realistic I was asking in terms of strikes, blocks and movements. I study Tae Kwon Do, but when I fight I pull hair, poke eyes, brake a glass bottle for a make-shift knife, and basically do what ever it takes. Not very "martial art" like, but I look at the arts like this; It is a martial ART. It should build a person's character. That is why it is a "art". Body AND mind. When it comes to fighting my instructor tells his students this, "I am not here to teach you how to kick and punch, anyone can do that, I am here to teach you how to do it correctly." So I learn how to punch and kick so that I reduce the risk of injuring myself and to do the most damage with each attack as well as learning how to move my body and how to react when people attack me. If someone punchs at me, my reaction to at the very least throw my own attack. By sparring, though not "realistic" gets me used to someone attacking me and having blows aimed at my head and body and learning to react to that. I am honorable and respectful to people and I try to avoid fights like how we are taught, but when forced to fight I will fight like an animal if forced to.

Is it the same idea in Kendo? Do you learn to do "proper" cuts that one would use in sword fighting or do you just swing? Do you learn how to block "properly" like you would if someone swung their sword at you? Are you moving like you normally would? Honestly, If I had a sword and had to fight with it, I would still do things like grap my opponent, trip him, pick up a rock and chuck it at him so I can get an opening and the like, but are the strikes you are taught with your weapon the ones you would use to cut someone down effectively?

I know I will never fight with someone with a sword. I know on a battlefield one does not "squre off" and fight, they are underhanded. What I want to know is if the strike you all practice are how you would actually wield a blade.

[Jagaimo]

Not one of these again.

Kendo is 100% sport. Any mention of real world "duels" will signify a detachment from reality. Too much day-dreaming is unhealthy for you.
If we renamed Kendo as "Hitting each other with sticks," replaced bogu with American football equipment, and removed all references to anything Japanese, would you practise this "art"?
One of my instructors put it this way; Kendo is a martial art until you hit somebody, THEN it's a sport!

[hamish]

Couldnt resist a posting :-)

"when the hat is on we are trying to kill each other - its serious but when the hat is off we go and drink beer"


I like that one Phil, maybe we'll use it for our new slogan!

Hamish

[Rawoo]

I think this issue of "is Kendo realistic" or "is Kendo a sport"
is totally meaningless to discuss
personally I would not want kendo to be a morden sport
because kendo is like a white piece of paper, pure and spotless.
we dont want to ruin it dont we.

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Sorry it took so long to reply, I got busy.



Is it the same idea in Kendo? Do you learn to do "proper" cuts that one would use in sword fighting or do you just swing? Do you learn how to block "properly" like you would if someone swung their sword at you? Are you moving like you normally would? Honestly,




Hi Shu2Jack

the basic answer is yes - a cut with a shinai should be as close as possible to a cut made with a katana. - there will probably be all sorts of discussion over this but the basic principle of kendo is that the shinai IS a katana and should be handled like one.

Quite often it isnt - especially by those who havent studied Iai or other sword arts but that doesnt make them right and a major part of learning kendo is about learning to cut properly. It can be very instructive to actually get a shinken and try cutting - it points out many basic faults

Having said that there is a sporting element to Kendo and sports have rules. you gain an edge by taking the interpretation of the rules to the limit and that my well mean that a 'point' has been scored that wouldnt be an effective cut - is that kendo ? yes it is but not in terms of the mechanics of cutting.

So if you want the 16th century battlefield experience study kenjutsu but bear in mind that they didnt practise combat - they went out and did it. the survivors founded schools :-)

Kendo done properly should be about the life or death experience of a sword fight with the cutting done as cloesly as possible to the use of a rela sword & it is significant to see just how quickly the carefuilly studied kata can fall apart when you go for it.

On the other hand if people want to study kendo as a stick hitting sport then thats ok - its common for younger guys to do this & its encouraged because some of them go on and gain deeper understandings later on. One of the nice things about this art is that it is very INclusive

Does that make it any clearer (or should i have had more coffee before replying ? ;-)




If I had a sword and had to fight with it, I would still do things like grap my opponent, trip him, pick up a rock and chuck it at him so I can get an opening and the like, but are the strikes you are taught with your weapon the ones you would use to cut someone down effectively?


Why on earth would you grab your opponent when you have a 3 foot razor blade in your hand ? (i like the idea of chucking rocks at people though - i may try that one :-)

In pre war kendo trips, sweeps and throws were common as was grappling your opponent to the floor and stabbing him / her in the neck - it has been taken out of most practices for safety sake.

bottom line - why not just go and find a club, have a go and see if suits you. If is doesnt well it wouldnt be the end of the world and if it does then there is another kendoka and that wouldnt be a bad thing :-)

cheers

I know I will never fight with someone with a sword. I know on a battlefield one does not "squre off" and fight, they are underhanded. What I want to know is if the strike you all practice are how you would actually wield a blade.[/QUOTE]

[sjp]

- " when the hat is on we are trying to kill each other - its serious but when the hat is off we go and drink beer"



Phil

Maybe we should keep the hat's on.... just buy a couple of straws. :)

[PhilMcLaughlin]

Phil

Maybe we should keep the hat's on.... just buy a couple of straws. :)


As ever I bow to your great wisdom in the matter ;-)

[cazoo]

i n real fights, yes you would kick and trow like u do in judo,etc but that's IF you don't have anything that you can use. if u did, obviously people will fight with a weapon, even if it's a stick or peice of rock.

also, kendo is a martial art, it isnt any kind of sports. this is because keo focus' on the mental spiritual part of fighiting. you train to be able to "sense" when your opponent is comng and to be able to respond in any situaion. it's not a sport because in sports, basically all you have to do is score points to win, but in kendo you have to "cut" it "properly" not just hit it.

and yes, kendo is realistic. it resembles how you would fight in a situaion where you had some long weapon inyour hands. people naturally swing up and swing down. kendo also focus' on the most "efficient" body movement. the movement in which one can waste the least amount of evergy. this is because if your opponent is good, and you move, moving creates openings in everyone, your "good" opponent will beable to se through that and you'd be "cut."

therefore, kendo IS realistic and is IS NOT a sport.

[Eldritch Knight]

I say that it is a sport, but that it differs from other sports in that it is far more mental and spiritual than, say, football. Proper zanshin, form, etc. are great, and in any other context I'd consider them indicative of a martial art, but keep in mind that the entire be all and end all to kendo is scoring points in shiai. For the martial arts aspect, I'm gonna have to say that kenjutsu, and the various iai schools have that covered.

[mystic_kendoka]

i agree with this, iaido/jodo/kenjutsu is better if you want to learn wat 'real' sword fighting is like... but kendo allows you to feel real sparring, which is limited by its points system... but i feel kendo is better because its more fun and more physical than iaido, and iaido is fun but is mostly mental and not much physical as there are no sparring... also kendo is the most popular statistically, so i recommment kendo..

btw have u started at a club yet? its been about 20 days now you know..

[ALI G]

would you practise this "art"?

Wellz itz obviouz youz dontz practiz diz art or sportz anymorez....

[J. Schitt]

[QUOTE=Shu2jack]
I am looking into learning how to properly use a japanese sword and have been looking into Kendo.

here is my question. How realistic is Kendo in terms of how one would actually use the weapon in war or single combat?

How realistic is the "sparring"?
QUOTE]

Kendo is realistic, because if done correctly you will need to put EVERYTHING into a cut. Research "yuko-datotsu".

To learn swordsmanship, you (IMHO) need to also learn iaido and batto (Cutting).

Study diligently, train hard and regularly, put all that together and in some years you will be on your way toward an understanding of how to use the Japanees sword.

[Nanbanjin]

I have trouble understanding this argument.
I play kendo because I like playing kendo. It feels real enough to me.
I don't think about using real swords that much because it scares me.

[mystic_kendoka]

hehe, i kno wat u mean, last wednesday, the teacher brought her katana, and some of us were alllowed to pull the sword out, do some kirikaeshi with it, then sheathe it again...

i dont ever remember sweating so much in my whole life...

[mystic_kendoka]

o ya, and i also felt that kendo didnt properly prepare me for a sword, the technique and all were good, but the whole problem was the weight difference, when i pulled the katana out, it was like holding up 5 bokutos... but still i think kendo is the best compared to iaido/jodo...

[Yowai]

o and i almost cut my finger off, resheathein the sword.. the sensei got angry by my carelessnes...

[edit] o no i posted under yowai account by accident... argggg..

[Nanbanjin]

o and i almost cut my finger off, resheathein the sword.. the sensei got angry by my carelessnes...

[edit] o no i posted under yowai account by accident... argggg..
Glad I have found something I can agree with you about.

I love playing kendo but don't have a compulsion to do Iaido just because it is a chance to put my hands on a katana.
I have been told by some high level instructors that Iaido can lead to bad habits in kendo. Some people do argue that they compliment each other though.

Sorry about calling you a wanker over the zekken thing.
Also please don't laugh at my zekken if you ever meet me.

[mystic_kendoka]

o and i almost cut my finger off, resheathein the sword.. the sensei got angry by my carelessnes...

[edit] o no i posted under yowai account by accident... argggg..

hmmm... impersonation...

[Alex]

Maybe you could aim for your tongue next time. :hurt:

[Yowai]

hmmm... impersonation...

Hey, just poking fun. You shoudn't awateru so easily.

[mystic_kendoka]

wat is awateru?

[Nanbanjin]

wat is awateru?
http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/search.php?MT=%B9%B2%A4%C6%A4%EB&je.x=34&je.y=10&je=%CF%C2%B1%D1&kind=ej&mode=0

あわてる　慌てる

《狼狽( ろうばい )する》be confused; be upset; be flurried; be flustered; 《 平静を失う 》lose one's composure; 《急ぐ》be hurried; be in a hurry.
・～乞食は貰( もら )いが少ない　The impatient beggar receives little.
・～な　《 落ち着け 》Cool it!
・慌てて　in confusion [ bewilderment ]; hurriedly.
・慌てて家に帰る　hurry home.
・慌てて結婚するな　Don't rush into marriage.
・慌てない　keep quiet; remain calm.
・慌てさせる　throw a person into confusion.

[mystic_kendoka]

thank you...

[Ren Blade]

In regards to Kendo and real fighting, I have a friend who told me of a girl he knew that trains Kendo alot. This girl was young around her 20's and is short, around 5 feet. Her family ran a restaurant and she worked in it with them. One night a group of 4 or so young guys came in and got a table. They were being loud and rude to everyone. Her brother ask them to leave and they started pushing him around. She immediately grabbed a broom stick and attacked those guys. Beating them all fast and hard with Kendo techniques. And she didn't stop hitting til they all ran outta the restaurant. That must have been quite a sight. :)

Another incident with the same girl is that she and her boyfriend, who was bigger than her, got into an argument. It got a little physical and she retaliated by grabbing a magazine, rolling it up tight and attacked her boyfriend fast and hard. He was getting smacked around left and right and she rendered him helpless that he gave up. That must have been an even more interesting sight than the restaurant incident though I would've loved to have been there to see both.

So those are 2 examples where it shows Kendo to be usefull to train aside for the art and love of it. Though you're not carrying a sword around with you, you can always grab something similar to the weapon you train with and execute the techniques that are ingrained into your muscle memory.

The only thing my friend said about Kendo in regards to real, he trained Kendo for a few years so he's familiar with it, is that one of the Kendo techniques where you hit your opponent on their head, that with a real sword, the blade would get stuck in their skull. And on the battlefield as you're trying to remove your sword, someone or people are coming up to attack you and you may get killed while trying to get your blade out of someone's skull. But how many of us are in the battlefield anyway with a Katana let alone carrying one around with us in everyday life?

All Martial Arts are good if learned from a good teacher. In a real fight, you don't have to perform and do things exactly the way you do in the training hall. Your training gives you some advantages in a fight. And when you fight, you do what you can do to survive regardless if you're in a proper stance or executing a perfect technique or not. Strive for perfection in your art in training, do what you can to survive when you are engaged in a real fight.

[bob138]

I have studied martial arts for about 5 years now and have been studying sword fighting for about 10. What I've learned is that for the most part, what you learn in schools is discipline and strength. Most of the forms are either void of actual techniques or antiquatied. Beyond that there is no perfect anything. I have yet to see a perfect stance, strike, swing or style. This is due largely to the fact that combat is completely situational, katas all line up imaginary foes to get their butts kicked by your dance. Every move in a kata is practiced to function in one sepecific situation. Bridging the gap with sparring helps, but for me the true understanding comes from the disection of every moment of a simple punch. Where my feet start and finish. How the weight is distribuited and transferred. How to get the energy from the ground to your fist smoothly. Applying this exercise has helped me in every endevour. For me it seems the more I do it the less I have to do. Eventually you find your groove with footing transitions and they become automatic letting you then start to concentrate on disecting your sword or hand work while moving. Eventually in sparring you see how you can get to a point of true adaptive fighting. Not just reacting to your opponents swings but reacting to your opponents slightest movements or eye movements or breath. This is my take on it, works for me.

:)
Bob

[Reikon]

In regards to Kendo and real fighting, I have a friend who told me of a girl he knew that trains Kendo alot. This girl was young around her 20's and is short, around 5 feet. Her family ran a restaurant and she worked in it with them. One night a group of 4 or so young guys came in and got a table. They were being loud and rude to everyone. Her brother ask them to leave and they started pushing him around. She immediately grabbed a broom stick and attacked those guys. Beating them all fast and hard with Kendo techniques. And she didn't stop hitting til they all ran outta the restaurant. That must have been quite a sight. :)
This is stupid.

1) It's assault, and depending on the size of the stick, assault with a deadly weapon.

2) If any of those guys wanted to hurt her all they had to do was pick up a chair or pull out a gun

3) Any person with common sense would call the police before they resorted to violence...


Another incident with the same girl is that she and her boyfriend, who was bigger than her, got into an argument. It got a little physical and she retaliated by grabbing a magazine, rolling it up tight and attacked her boyfriend fast and hard. He was getting smacked around left and right and she rendered him helpless that he gave up. That must have been an even more interesting sight than the restaurant incident though I would've loved to have been there to see both.
Once again, if he wanted to hurt her, a rolled up piece of paper wouldn't have stopped him.


So those are 2 examples where it shows Kendo to be usefull to train aside for the art and love of it. Though you're not carrying a sword around with you, you can always grab something similar to the weapon you train with and execute the techniques that are ingrained into your muscle memory.
No, if Kendo is about self growth and enlightenment, there is two examples where she didn't use Kendo.

The rest of your post was good.