New to kendo, got questions

[slacker]

Hello.
My name is ray and i am new to kendo. Ive always been fascinated by swordfighting, and eastern lifestyles, so ive decided to take on kendo. However, i have one problem. Due to lack of money, i am forced to learn on my own. Ive been looking everywhere online (to very little aactual learning experience) and im going to book stores everywhere and reading. As of this moment I basically have two bamboo shinai (that are wearing down quickly) that I spar with friends. I am trying to implement things learned in books but its becoming exceedingly rough and frustrating because all I seem to be doing is making myself run out of breath and sweat profusely without actually getting any better. If anyone has any suggestions or comments...or anything that might help me, I would appreciate it. Feel free to email me too, i would love that..

Perfectantipothesis@hotmail.com

[hyouriittai]

Hello.
My name is ray and i am new to kendo. Ive always been fascinated by swordfighting, and eastern lifestyles, so ive decided to take on kendo. However, i have one problem. Due to lack of money, i am forced to learn on my own. Ive been looking everywhere online (to very little aactual learning experience) and im going to book stores everywhere and reading. As of this moment I basically have two bamboo shinai (that are wearing down quickly) that I spar with friends. I am trying to implement things learned in books but its becoming exceedingly rough and frustrating because all I seem to be doing is making myself run out of breath and sweat profusely without actually getting any better. If anyone has any suggestions or comments...or anything that might help me, I would appreciate it. Feel free to email me too, i would love that..

Perfectantipothesis@hotmail.com

Well, I've only been studying kendo and iai for a year, but I think that most everyone on this forum would agree that it is very difficult to learn, nevermind improve, without proper instruction.

[Gen'ei]

Here's some advice training from book's and studying the tactic's outside are better because what you see in the pictures could be hideing some fault's that have to be written and perfected but training and honeing your own skill is well better then a sensei and plus what you learn can be taught to future students for recognition of your own style if you want more info send me a message.

[slacker]

Thanks. Ive been training myself for about an hour a day using my shinai and hitting target points ive marked on a tree we have. I make myself become more in tune with the weapon, marking my points faster and faster. Im just losing optimism in this because of people like the one who responded first, telling me that i wont get far if im not being instructed..

[Nanbanjin]

Thanks. Ive been training myself for about an hour a day using my shinai and hitting target points ive marked on a tree we have. I make myself become more in tune with the weapon, marking my points faster and faster. Im just losing optimism in this because of people like the one who responded first, telling me that i wont get far if im not being instructed..
You shouldn't start by hitting targets. You need to be able to swing to a natural point of focus, so you should start by hitting in mid air to get the feel of it. In kendo you basically lift the shinai straight up and then let it fall down naturally. The down swing of your arms and the shinai should be natural, not forced. Starting by hitting targets tends to lead to too much tension in the arms. Just relax and practice swinging up and down repeatedly a couple of hundred times a day till you can find somewhere to train.
The following URL has some gifs that might provide a reference for you.

http://www.st.rim.or.jp/~shimano/doujo/kendolab/kendolab_eng.html

Take it easy on the trees!

[hyouriittai]

Thanks. Ive been training myself for about an hour a day using my shinai and hitting target points ive marked on a tree we have. I make myself become more in tune with the weapon, marking my points faster and faster. Im just losing optimism in this because of people like the one who responded first, telling me that i wont get far if im not being instructed..

Actually, I said that it's 'difficult' to improve without instruction, not that you definitely 'wouldn't'. I know, because I tried the same with different books on kenjutsu drills, reading from internet sites and etcetera. However, I was later hinted on that, if what I was doing was wrong, I would easily build bad habits that would later be difficult to get rid of when the time came for me to join a dojo. In no way do I want to discourage anyone from practicing any martial art, so sorry if it seemed like it.

So, I don't know. I guess there are books out there that you could take a look at. Practice Drills for Japanese Swordsmanship by Niklaus Suino is available at most big American bookstores -- but I don't know about other countries. It goes over a few exercises and kata, but the illustrations aren't very helpful. Though I haven't read it, The Definitive Guide to Kendo is supposed to be a helpful read.

I know it's tough to find dojo with reasonable prices (and ontop of that, there will probably be federation fees,) but I think it's definitely something to keep looking into.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Kendo is normally pretty cheap. If you can afford to be busting up shinai on trees, you probably can afford to attend classes. Where do you live?

[Khabbi]

If u want to learn how to drive , u go to a driving school
If u want to learn how to skydive , u go to a skydiving school
If u want to learn kendo or Iaido , u go to a dojo with a good sensei

I sure as heck wouldent skydive with lessons taught from a book , sure trainin kendo without a Doja wont kill u but its the same principle.

anybody can by a iaito and go out and fling the sword around , but that isent realy iaido , theres so many details that a book cant teach u , but a seinsei could


Khabbi

[slacker]

Oh well. Im gonna do it anyway. I asked for help, not discouragement. If you want to discourage someone, do it elsewhere. For those of you whove offered real advice, thank you.

Im going to continue training on my own, and im not going to some dojo so people can tell me im wrong.

[Yzakj]

If u want to learn how to drive , u go to a driving school
If u want to learn how to skydive , u go to a skydiving school
If u want to learn kendo or Iaido , u go to a dojo with a good sensei

I sure as heck wouldent skydive with lessons taught from a book , sure trainin kendo without a Doja wont kill u but its the same principle.

anybody can by a iaito and go out and fling the sword around , but that isent realy iaido , theres so many details that a book cant teach u , but a seinsei could


Khabbi

The thing about driving, is that you can actually practice driving by yourself, by driving a car. The thing about skydiving, you can skydive, by skydiving, it's just not as safe as if you take instruction. But eventually with both of these you will learn how to do it, if you don't die in the process. But with Kendo, you need two people to do kendo. You could have probably learned to do kendo on your own along time ago, when there were still people wandering around with swords looking for fights, but they're gone. So now, what do we do, we go to a dojo, and there are people there looking to spar. That is why you should go to one, you don't need to listen to them saying you are doing anything wrong. Hell just go to school, they'll tell you that you are doing everything wrong, but who cares, you'll improve by doing the same wrong procedures.

[Gen'ei]

You don't have to listen, But I truly understand were your coming from Training without a sensei is just you honeing the skills of a new warrior and there is only one way to truly learn the true furiousity of the blade you will weild one way. But I will be hanging around to tell you some tip's that can really help you.

First: do you know how to properly weild the blade?
Second: do you have the stamina required?
Third: can you step right and breath right when hitting and opponent?
Forth: do you have the will to look the opponent in the eye and let go of everything to hit the opponent and show no mercy and watch he/she groan in pain because those that weild the sword must know all expectations of the consequences that come with learning the art of Kenjutsu.

If you think these words are to harsh and will tell me to shut up then you will not know the truth of Kenjutsu's strength.

The sword is a lethel weapon, the sword skill is the skill of killing, no matter how beautiful the words you use to call it, killing is still the fact.
Sincerly: Gen'ei, Ryusaki

[mingshi]

Im going to continue training on my own, and im not going to some dojo so people can tell me im wrong.
Why train at all?

If I train/exercise on my own without a Sensei/dojo , I'd find a place with a mirror, or some where I can see my own shadow. There is nothing worth working on if you never know what you need to correct and improve.

[slacker]

You don't have to listen, But I truly understand were your coming from Training without a sensei is just you honeing the skills of a new warrior and there is only one way to truly learn the true furiousity of the blade you will weild one way. But I will be hanging around to tell you some tip's that can really help you.

First: do you know how to properly weild the blade?
Second: do you have the stamina required?
Third: can you step right and breath right when hitting and opponent?
Forth: do you have the will to look the opponent in the eye and let go of everything to hit the opponent and show no mercy and watch he/she groan in pain because those that weild the sword must know all expectations of the consequences that come with learning the art of Kenjutsu.

If you think these words are to harsh and will tell me to shut up then you will not know the truth of Kenjutsu's strength.

The sword is a lethel weapon, the sword skill is the skill of killing, no matter how beautiful the words you use to call it, killing is still the fact.
Sincerly: Gen'ei, Ryusaki
Reponding to your questions:
First: I am learning how to properly wield the blade. I make no assumptions as to my skill right now as i am still in a learning process.
Second: Yes
Third: My first style of "training" was yoga, which teaches proper use of breathing. When i am in a spar with a friend i always make sure i am breathing in a fluid motion in the same way my body moves.
fourth: I do indeed. When sparring with a friend im known for being fierce. Being able to give a blow as well as take one with the honor to know if I recieve a hit, it is a learning experience, and if i give one out, it is a learning experience as well. Although i will not show mercy during a spar in which the opponent still can attack, i will not hit one who falls or whatever.

I am attempting to utilize both strength and compassion. Breath and movement. Im studying the samurai and thier codex, and trying to integrate that into my life. I would never strike an opponent who cannot defend himself, but i will strike hard and without mercy if i am in true danger. does that answer your questions? :)

[slacker]

I am learning in order to better myself. I want to experience the sense of calm awareness that the samurai supposedly posessed at all times. But I suppose I have mixed thier words and experiences with my own. I am not a big fan of killing, ive never liked the idea of taking another life. But in knowing myself, my strengths and weaknesses via the art of swordfighting, I feel that if i was ever in a need to protect myself or those I love, I would be capable of doing so.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Im going to continue training on my own, and im not going to some dojo so people can tell me im wrong.
Fairly insecure in our fantasies, I see. I think overall you are better off staying out of the dojo, in my experience guys with your attitude quit within a few weeks anyways.

[Khabbi]

Both Slacker and Gen'ei sound nuts

specialy Gen'ei , ive seen some posts and he's usualy of in outer space doing waza .

Khabbi

[aru-ma]

You don't want to go to a dojo because you don't want people to tell you you're wrong, not to sound rude but do you go to school? if nobody told you what you did was wrong how are you going to improve? unless improving is not one of your main aim then don't even bother doing it.

whatever you do don't go around making those "sword death" news, life's already hard for us kendoka and iaidoka with these increased regulations.

[slacker]

Thanks. Ill keep that in mind.

[xvikingx]

Slacker,

Don't listen to people like Neil. You just keep on buying shinais and continue hammering the shit out of that tree. You'll be improving yourself with every mighty whack. I know what a bummer it can be going to a dojo and just have someone with a life time of experience try to help.. I mean, tell you you're wrong.

[KhawMengLee]

I foresee the tree falling on Mr Slacker troll and wiping his useless seed from the earth...amen

[Dan Shea]

If you want to learn, you need a teacher. All the books in the world will only get you so far. Beyond that, you need someone to instruct you and tell you what you are doing wrong/right.

Your attitude does not indicate that you really want to learn anything at all. It sounds like yet another juvenile samurai fantasy. If that is the case, by all means continue to wack the hell outta the tree in your backyard.

If you honestly want to dedicate your time and energy to learning something and improving yourself, find a local dojo and start taking classes. Everybody wants to get something for nothing. The only way to learn and improve is through hard work and dedication. It might not sound glamorous or easy, but most things in life rarely are.

I wish you luck with whatever you choose, but if you decide to forego instruction please be careful, for your sake and for the sake of others.

Regards,

[Saito]

Slacker,

Don't listen to people like Neil. You just keep on buying shinais and continue hammering the shit out of that tree. You'll be improving yourself with every mighty whack. I know what a bummer it can be going to a dojo and just have someone with a life time of experience try to help.. I mean, tell you you're wrong.Yes true is your word just keep practicing and you'll do great Slacker just don't pay attention to people that don't know what there talking about just how Xvikingx said.

[Saito]

If you want to learn, you need a teacher. All the books in the world will only get you so far. Beyond that, you need someone to instruct you and tell you what you are doing wrong/right.

Your attitude does not indicate that you really want to learn anything at all. It sounds like yet another juvenile samurai fantasy. If that is the case, by all means continue to wack the hell outta the tree in your backyard.

If you honestly want to dedicate your time and energy to learning something and improving yourself, find a local dojo and start taking classes. Everybody wants to get something for nothing. The only way to learn and improve is through hard work and dedication. It might not sound glamorous or easy, but most things in life rarely are.

I wish you luck with whatever you choose, but if you decide to forego instruction please be careful, for your sake and for the sake of others.

Regards,That is also true Slacker from this person he/she knows what common sense is.

[Yowai]

Could this be the "Last Samurai" fallout?

I won't comment further because of a possible YHBT YHL HAND. I am almost certain that this is a troll.

[slacker]

Insecure? Thanks! Ill keep that in mind.

[Rurouni]

I am not a big fan of killing, ive never liked the idea of taking another life. doing so.

Wuss...

...just kidding. there is a thin line between killing, and murduring...For example: One of the ten commandments stated Thou shalt not MURDER, not thou shalt not KILL...difference is killing is taking a life for a rightous or reasonable reason, murdering is taking a life for an ignorent, greedy(etc) reason. If someone killed my mother and father, I would take vengence upon the one who did so...anyone who disagrees with this concept has succumed to agnosticism and cowardice or what me and my brother like to call, pussification...in other words, if you respond to this in a negative comment, you have succumed to pussification.

Slacker keep wacking away at that tree, more power to you(im not being sarcastic). Everyone starts somewhere...keep doing what you have to do until you find a dojo you are comfortable with. I started with books as well.Broke a couple of bokutos till i found my dojo...

[JSchmidt]

Wuss...

...just kidding. there is a thin line between killing, and murduring...For example: One of the ten commandments stated Thou shalt not MURDER, not thou shalt not KILL...difference is killing is taking a life for a rightous or reasonable reason, murdering is taking a life for an ignorent, greedy(etc) reason. If someone killed my mother and father, I would take vengence upon the one who did so...anyone who disagrees with this concept has succumed to agnosticism and cowardice


Huh, why would you take vengence on someone who had a righteous or reasonable reason for killing your parents?

[Rurouni]

Huh, why would you take vengence on someone who had a righteous or reasonable reason for killing your parents?I dont believe I said this person killed my parents for a "reasonable" reason... next time read more carfully...

If this person did do it for a reaonable reason...then I would simply accept the fact my parents deserved what they had comming to them...would I still take vengence on this person, or seek the reason for their death, or both??...I do not know...and may very well never know unless it actually happens. You can't tell what your going to do unless it happens...whach "Pulp Fiction", u'll know what I mean...

[JSchmidt]

I dont believe I said this person killed my parents for a "reasonable" reason... next time read more carfully...


Why not learn to write a bit more carefully. You just claimed that 'killing' was for a righteous and reasonable reason.

Here's your quote again:

"difference is killing is taking a life for a rightous or reasonable reason, murdering is taking a life for an ignorent, greedy(etc) reason."

[Rurouni]

Why not learn to write a bit more carefully. You just claimed that 'killing' was for a righteous and reasonable reason.

Here's your quote again:

"difference is killing is taking a life for a rightous or reasonable reason, murdering is taking a life for an ignorent, greedy(etc) reason."
See now we are moving aside from the point of my post...so unless you have something to add to it, besides spelling/grammer errors, dont respond to this...

[JSchmidt]

See now we are moving aside from the point of my post...so unless you have something to add to it, besides spelling/grammer errors, dont respond to this...

Spelling & Grammar?..You go to great lengths to define 'to kill' and 'to murder' and promptly goes of using 'to kill'.
Congratulations: You have just completly underminded your own argument. (And in the process the whole argument with the translation of 'Thou shall not kill/murder'.)
Oh and please don't tell me what to respond to or not...I'll decide that, thankyouverymuch.

[Rurouni]

Spelling & Grammar?..You go to great lengths to define 'to kill' and 'to murder' and promptly goes of using 'to kill'.
Congratulations: You have just completly underminded your own argument. (And in the process the whole argument with the translation of 'Thou shall not kill/murder'.)
Oh and please don't tell me what to respond to or not...I'll decide that, thankyouverymuch.Ok ok, I just underminded my own argument...lets just change back to what we were talking about...what would you do if someone 'killed' (not murdered) your parents...better yet, what is your opinion on murdering and killing? Are you afraid of death???

(Im not arguing with you, just trying to have a decent conversation)

[JSchmidt]

(Im not arguing with you, just trying to have a decent conversation)

That was most certainly not the impression I got from this quote in your earlier post.

"anyone who disagrees with this concept has succumed to agnosticism and cowardice or what me and my brother like to call, pussification...in other words, if you respond to this in a negative comment, you have succumed to pussification."

How can you have a decent conversation when you start out by name-calling anyone who disagrees?

[Rurouni]

"anyone who disagrees with this concept has succumed to agnosticism and cowardice or what me and my brother like to call, pussification...in other words, if you respond to this in a negative comment, you have succumed to pussification."

How can you have a decent conversation when you start out by name-calling anyone who disagrees?
to be Agnostic means to deny the truth.

I said...


"anyone who disagrees with this concept has succumed to agnosticism and cowardice or what me and my brother like to call, pussification...in other words, if you respond to this in a negative comment, you have succumed to pussification."
....as a fact, not an opinion. When i mentioned 'concept', I was refering to the concept of taking revenge or simply reacting to a situation. It is a fact that someone who takes no action in a negative OR positive situation shows cowardice, im not CALLING you a coward, im just saying you show cowardice, thats all. Trying to deny this fact also shows you have succumed to agnosticism(or denying the truth, which i mentioned further up).

So to sum it up, the above quote was me trying to say you can agree with this fact, or disagree with this fact, by disagreing, you show cowardice and are being agnostic. Abviously we won't be getting back to the 'taking revenge of murdered parnets' (im sorry, i know i said killing, i made a simple mistake, i ment to say 'murdering') discution so ill give you a new question...do you agree with this fact (the quote i made on myself, which is in fact a fact), or disagree???

[JSchmidt]

to be Agnostic means to deny the truth.



Main Entry: 1ag·nos·tic
Pronunciation: ag-'näs-tik, &g-
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
Date: 1869
: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and prob. unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
- ag·nos·ti·cism /-t&-"si-z&m/ noun

P.S. I'm not agnostic.

[Rurouni]

Main Entry: 1ag·nos·tic
Pronunciation: ag-'näs-tik, &g-
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
Date: 1869
: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and prob. unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
- ag·nos·ti·cism /-t&-"si-z&m/ noun

There is more than one definition of agnostic...your quote is one of them...another is 'to deny the truth', ive heard scholars use this words in this way, ive never heard them use it with your quote on its definition. I'm not saying no one ever uses your definition, i know that is ONE of the definitions but there are many words in the dictionary with more than one definition, sum only have yours for reasons i dont know of, but others(same year of publication) DO have more than one definition for this word.


P.S. I'm not agnostic
Answer my question...do you agree with this fact, or disagree???(read my last post) Like i said, if u disagree, you ARE being agnostic...

[JSchmidt]

I'll say again..how can you have a debate when you insist on branding people with various names before they even answer your question?...even more so when you use obscure secular definitions of words (that you "heard"), regardless of their official meaning. You aren't even willing to respect my beliefs before I have even stated them.

[Yowai]

Mr. Rurouni: Please put away the dictionary. You do not have sufficient IQ points (it's a game) to operate a dictionary. Tell your parents to return the dictionary to the bookstore. You will achieve success more readily if you study your anime instead.

Good luck! By the way, JSchmidt's (Webster's) definition for 'agnostic' is correct. I have always and only seen the word used according to that definition. Maybe you confused similarly spelt words? Letters can be confusing, especially to you.

[slacker]

Kind of hard to continue when people like these just call me names and bring me down. Honestly its as if theyd take any oppurtunity to twist my words to make me give this up. "Im an idiot for even trying" seems to be the common meaning in these postings. No wonder there arent more martial artists out there. They get slammed too freaking often for anyone to take.

[Will]

No wonder there arent more martial artists out there. They get slammed too freaking often for anyone to take.

You're not a martial artist if you go around doing your own thing...are you?

secondly, animefan person guy...ruruni or something, let me get your argument straight... if someone kills your father, you have permission to kill them...and then technically his(or her, you politically correct bastards) family could kill you, and then the rest of your family could kill him.... right? Sounds kind of like a cycle of death until both families are dead...isn't that the old English, anglosaxon blood fueds that eventually left both families dead.

But yeah...you think someone is a coward because he doesn't believe in revenge, right? think about it, maybe revenge is just really petty. You're probably pro-death penalty too Texas boy. Honestly, for not wanting to kill someone you're considered a cowards. As Ghandi said it, "An eye for an eye just makes the world blind."

Hell you're probably a kenshin fan from your name, are you telling me that Kenshin shoudl have been killed? isn't that the point of the show is so he's not killed? yeah...

and you'll probably deny the kenshin fan relation...don't lie...

[Will]

Oh, about Agnostic. Rurouni, you're wrong, once again.

Use an oxford english dictionary please, the closest thing to your definition, "to deny the truth," is "to be uncertain of the truth." There is a clear distinction between deny and uncertain.