Need help foming a Kendo Club...

[UstlerUSMA07]

Hello,
I am a Cadet at the United states Military Academy at West Point. We have been attempting to form an offical club here. So far we meet once or twice a week and practice with a Sensei who comes from New York City. As members we are trying to convince the administrators to make us an offical club sport to get funding and recognition by the academy. I am relativly new but I have to write a letter to one of our officers explaining why it would be beneficial to make Kendo a club sport here. I know many of the obvious reasons such as developing ourselves mentally and physically, but are they others you can tell me about, expirence from other college or university teams or any articles I could use to support my proposal. All of your help would be very much apprciated. Thank you.

Respectfully,
CDT PVT Ustler
USMA 07
Co. G-2

[Old Warrior]

What are the benefits of learning Kumdo?
Respect: Kumdo is not only about the techniques of the sword. It is about the truth of the sword. Therefore, its teachings emphasize improving character and showing respect for others. The first teaching of Kumdo is respect. Then it teaches a philosophy of protecting weaker people. Before and after training, Mook-sang (the meditation time) will help you reconsider yourself, and it will help you to have a good body and soul. The philosophy you learn from Kumdo will give you good life values in this modern society.
Concentration: : Kumdo originated from real sword fighting, so this sport is based on real life and death situations. Concentration that will not allow a single mistake will be gradually built through constant training and sparring.
Stress: Kumdo requires Ki-hap (yelling from the abdomen) to have energy exceeding that of the opponent. While yelling out loud is inappropriate in city life, yelling with powerful Ki-hap and hitting a target with a Jook-do (bamboo sword) will relieve all stresses.
Confidence: Kumdo is a sport for everybody. Men, women, old people and young people can train and spar together. An older person beating a youth and a woman beating a man are scenes that can easily be seen in Kumdo. During the process of training with powerful Ki-hap and sweating with young people, you will gain more confidence in your life.
Health: Unlike other sports you can actually feel the fast reinforcement of health in Kumdo. All the techniques of Kumdo start from Dan-jun (the power supply from the abdomen). Training in Kumdo modifies Dan-jun and helps the circulation of energy. In addition this training gives the efficacy of acupressure on the hands and feet. So after training the body gets rid of tiredness and feels lighter.
Spiritual Strength: Kumdo is modified from real sword fighting. Since sword fighting is a life or death situation, Kumdo demands a powerful spiritual effort. "If you keep it you will lose. If you give it up you will win." This is one of Kumdo's tenets, meaning the way to get victory over your opponent is giving up all of your strength.
Correct Posture:Kumdo's basic stance emphasizes the straight back and open chest with stable balance between the right and the left sides of the body. Therefore, Kumdo is very beneficial in correcting ones posture and complimenting the outward presentation of oneself.
Self-Defense:Kumdo minimizes unnecessary movements and optimizes the efficiency of ones speed and power. Therefore, a strike or a counter-strike executed by a black belt expert carries with it overwhelming velocity and force. A common misconception involving Kumdo is that it is useless without a sword. However, Kumdo optimizes the basic concept of applying a great velocity and force to a certain point of attack with correct timing. Even with bare hands an expert Kumdo martial artist can be extremely powerful in combat. Kumdo basic training for striking, blocking and counter striking an opponent improves ones reflexes and muscle responsiveness and quickness. In addition to the effects of physical training, the sense of quiet and unmovable confidence that comes from training in Kumdo will be essential in ones self-defense both physically and mentally.

[UstlerUSMA07]

Very good, thank you! Also does anyone know of any news artiles that I can specifically site to use, We have to back are stuff up with support to get anywhere here, but what I read above does sum up all of what Kendo is all about

[KendoShiai]

UstlerUSMA07
The best people that I could tell you to contact would be the guys at the Citadel. They already have a Kendo Club and its run by the instructors there and its part of the schools curriculum. The contact person is John Murden.
http://cee.citadel.edu/kendo/
All the information can be found there along with Mr. Murden's e-mail.

Eddie Miller
Orlando Kendo Kai

[Shazzanzzz]

I guess you can tell your school that in a kendo team tournament, everyo one on the team is a vital part of the team, and everyone has to work as a team to win. It's kinda like baseball, which individual skills are important, but, you still have to work as a team to win.

[JSchmidt]

I guess you can tell your school that in a kendo team tournament, everyo one on the team is a vital part of the team, and everyone has to work as a team to win. It's kinda like baseball, which individual skills are important, but, you still have to work as a team to win.

That analogy is very weak. The level of teamwork in team-shiai is minimal compared to baseball.

Jakob

[Shazzanzzz]

Hehe, i gues so, JSchmidt. But, kendo team shiai really is very team oriented. If you ever belong to a team, you would know. Compared to individual matches, it's a lot more spirited, a lot more adrenaline rush, and a lot more emotions in it, and winning as a team is all it matters.

And as for wkc and such big tournaments, self sacrifice is necessary i think. You can't always play to win, sometimes you have to play to not to lose and trust your teamates to get the win for you.

This is more of what i meant to say.

[tango]

i would also recommend you talk to John Murden at the Citadel. or... i think James Parker is also associated with the club there.. I could be wrong.. he might just be an instructor at the Citadel, but not associated with the club.

I'm sure they'd have a lot of good pointers.. good luck setting up your club!

[Yowai]

That analogy is very weak. The level of teamwork in team-shiai is minimal compared to baseball.

Jakob

Just tell a lie. This is some kind of an United States Military Fort Bastion Castle Battery Installation Whatever, correct? You must be accustomed to lying then.

[kendomushi]

Ignore the pointless and childish personal attack by Yowai. His comment is obviously born out of political ingorance at worst and political innosence at best.

You can also point out that kendo is taught at other places, I believe the AF academy has a club still, as well as the citadel, and I am the senior student at the kendo club on Yokota Air Base in Japan. The existance of these other clubs provides your members with an opportunity to practice with members of other services, build esprit de corps, healthy competition, and better understanding on an interservice level. Just as other sports teams like football and basketball do.

[Yowai]

Neither. I have a fair and balanced, unbiased views. I am not bigoted.

[kendomushi]

Neither. I have a fair and balanced, unbiased views. I am not bigoted.

They why make even a joking personal attack on someone about whom you have no personal knowledge and place into a broad stereotype?

It shows a small, closed mind with very biased views. Your personal politics or opinions should be kept to yourself unless they are valid and related to the topic at hand.

[Yowai]

They why make even a joking personal attack on someone about whom you have no personal knowledge and place into a broad stereotype?

He or she volunteered to be in the Academy. He or she pays taxes. He or she swore allegiance ( or affirmation or whatever ) to that country. I believe he or she is affiliated enough with that country that feelings I have for that country can fairly be applied to him/her.

[xvikingx]

Yowai, what country are you from? Where do you practice? What rank do you hold? Who is your sensei? Does he know the way you treat fellow kendoka? Matsuda sensei had called you out once before but like the cowardly little shit that you are you failed to respond to his inquires. You are self-righteous, pseudo-intellectual, who is more concerned about starting fights instead of improving yourself through kendo. Your a burden on this website.

[Yowai]

Yowai, what country are you from? Where do you practice? What rank do you hold? Who is your sensei? Does he know the way you treat fellow kendoka? Matsuda sensei had called you out once before but like the cowardly little shit that you are you failed to respond to his inquires. You are self-righteous, pseudo-intellectual, who is more concerned about starting fights instead of improving yourself through kendo. Your a burden on this website.

You're... American? I wrote a long story before I reconized your political stubborness. Why should I post it for a prejudice person such as yourself that continues to insult me? Because I am such a great guy (you may now add narcissism to that list) I will tell you some of the information you requested.
Born in Tokyo. 3rd dan. Haven't touched a shinai or even looked at Kendo in general (outside of this forum) for four years, or since I visited Canada. I will be moving back soon because I am unemployed, bored, and because the grass and the trees here are not fake. Yawn.

For a supposedly flame-hardened forum, people here seem to be extraordinarily prone to having temper tantrums. Do you people realize that that (short fuse) is the reason so many people come here to intentionally stir up trouble? Of course, I have no understanding of the psychology of these so called "flame-baiters" since I do not engage in that practice (seriously).

[ALI G]

Deyz juzt givingz 3rd Danz 2 juzt any1z deez deyz arenzt dey??????????????????????????????????? All talkz no practiz inz 4 yearz makez youz da weakboy...........

[xvikingx]

Yowai, I have insulted you quite a bit and I am sorry. I hope someday you can get rid of all that hate you have built up.