The Wave of Pseudo Samurai

[Will]

I was reading some posts, saw some of the new members, and began thinking...What's the group opinion about this new wave of pseudo kenshi lately due to the influx of budo films from hollywood?

[Yzakj]

I was reading some posts, saw some of the new members, and began thinking...What's the group opinion about this new wave of pseudo kenshi lately due to the influx of budo films from hollywood?

Well it is nice to have more people doing kendo, but usually the beginners quit at our dojo. Either that or they take long ass breaks, but hey who cares they still payed the fee. You should have also added, I love the new guys, they give the dojo more money!

[xvikingx]

Although I enjoy ruining their fantasies, I am tired of the sudden boom in wannabe samurai/ Japanese. True it's a nice fund booster for some dojos but I think it is a waist of sensei's time and disruptive to the rest of the class. [This only applies to those who quit after reality grabs them by the gonads] Too many people starting kendo (and other budo) because of manga, anime, or movies.

[hyouriittai]

I think they're great for the board. I miss Gen'ei -- I think he got exposed too soon. I was enjoying his chambara-esque rants, and his invitations to duels. It's good to have a few resident "trolls." As for anime and manga fans, if they decided to join kendo, I guess you can just let them. I mean, I think alot of people do things for the wrong reasons, but sometimes after some experience they begin to pursue the right ones.

[Khabbi]

I only started Kendo because of the scene in MoonRaker , where James Bond gets attacked by Drax's assistent wearing a bogu and trying to kill Bond with a shinai .

Khabbi

[xvikingx]

I mean, I think alot of people do things for the wrong reasons, but sometimes after some experience they begin to pursue the right ones.
If that is the case I am all for it.

[Shiro]

I was reading some posts, saw some of the new members, and began thinking...What's the group opinion about this new wave of pseudo kenshi lately due to the influx of budo films from hollywood?

Very good question.

It's funny to hear them talk, but it could be harmful for kendo.
A bit like basketball in europe after the Dreamteam I came, all those Jordan-wannabe's...... :)

[Andoy]

Better for me! They make me SO MUCH better than what i really am!

[Musha]

I don't think any one is going to listen to you xvikingx. "Oh if Viking thinks I am a samurai loving $%$£%" maybe he’s right... :D.

Any way, what is wrong with some Samurai films? I mean Japanese ones like Akira kurosawa, every time I do kendo kata I think about the part in Kurosawa. Where two men are having a fight with wooden sticks. One goes into Jodan and the other wakigamae. Wish I could see Musashi, I wonder how many people really did this.

I was also watching the new Azumi film about a female samurai bases on a comic. At the beginning Azumi and some other Samurai are training in the wood, one makes a mistake and falls into a river and the others laugh saying "You are using too much muscle to cut". Made me think maybe that is what’s wrong with me and I did not even put up a sweat last practice :D.
Also in the same film the bad guy says I don’t have a tsuba because I never block.
If you watch 'The last samurai' the guy is always swashbuckling I don't think your katana would stay sharp long doing that all the time :D, Hollywood never gets the point...

[Shiro]

Any way, what is wrong with some Samurai films? I mean Japanese ones like Akira kurosawa, every time I do kendo kata I think about the part in Kurosawa. Where two men are having a fight with wooden sticks. One goes into Jodan and the other wakigamae. Wish I could see Musashi, I wonder how many people really did this.

There's nothing wrong with samurai movies :). In fact, I love Kurosawa's work and I love the scene you're referring to :).
I just don't like those who really think they are samurai, that's all.

[hyouriittai]

If that is the case I am all for it.

Yeah, but then again, what about when people start preaching to you about budo or even Japanese history based on what they've read in comics or seen in cartoons? Now that's going a bit overboard, even in a forum, heh.

Maybe anime and manga-motivated kenshi should be licensed, yeah?

[hyouriittai]

I don't think any one is going to listen to you xvikingx. "Oh if Viking thinks I am a samurai loving $%$£%" maybe he?s right... :D.

Any way, what is wrong with some Samurai films? I mean Japanese ones like Akira kurosawa, every time I do kendo kata I think about the part in Kurosawa. Where two men are having a fight with wooden sticks. One goes into Jodan and the other wakigamae. Wish I could see Musashi, I wonder how many people really did this.

I was also watching the new Azumi film about a female samurai bases on a comic. At the beginning Azumi and some other Samurai are training in the wood, one makes a mistake and falls into a river and the others laugh saying "You are using too much muscle to cut". Made me think maybe that is what?s wrong with me and I did not even put up a sweat last practice :D.
Also in the same film the bad guy says I don?t have a tsuba because I never block.
If you watch 'The last samurai' the guy is always swashbuckling I don't think your katana would stay sharp long doing that all the time :D, Hollywood never gets the point...

Heh, samurai flicks are another matter, though. I'm guilty of bingeing (binging? spelling, soemone?) on those, myself, particularly Mifune Toshiro films.

[xvikingx]

I don't think any one is going to listen to you xvikingx. "Oh if Viking thinks I am a samurai loving $%$£%" maybe he’s right... :D.

Oh, boo-hoo... Let me go find my hanky. Bringing your personal grudge against me into another thread? You sink lower everytime I run into to you.


Yeah, but then again, what about when people start preaching to you about budo or even Japanese history based on what they've read in comics or seen in cartoons? Now that's going a bit overboard, even in a forum, heh.

Maybe anime and manga-motivated kenshi should be licensed, yeah?
Those people are included in my previous statements.

[Raiza]

Oh, boo-hoo... Let me go find my hanky. Bringing your personal grudge against me into another thread? You sink lower everytime I run into to you.

He's done this with me too. Don't bother. It's not worth it.

I think it's great that people want to learn kendo. I think it sucks when people really think they're samurai or they want to be samurai. Those sorts of people are better off here (http://www.legendofthefiverings.com/) where they can play out their fantasies to their hearts' content without hurting people in real life.

Usually the samurai-wannabes don't last long in a dojo, so I'm not too worried that kendo is going to change at all because of a couple mainstream movies. I'm annoyed that there's a few bad apples that have come onto the board. However, it wouldn't surprise me if for every one of them, there's far more genuinely interested people who are visiting here. These people are quietly learning what we have to offer in our archives and incorporating it into their newfound kendo journey.

[eli1021]

Kendo needs a Society for Creative Anachronism (or whatever it's called) equivalent to act as a honeypot for those types. That way people who want to look like a samurai (and maybe even think they ARE a samurai) and bask in the samurai aesthetic can go do that without bothering actual Kendo practitioners or having to do any actual work.

[AlexM]

It's good that more people come to kendo. Even if it's initially because of a movie or Japan-craziness... We all have to start for some reason.

"Come for the samurai, stay for the budo" sounds like a good motto to adopt :D

I'll let you guys know how the first class of the semester goes tomorrow. We'll see if anyone shows up in a top-knot. Assuming I can attend... I hate being sick as a dog..

[mingshi]

Gee... I received an email earlier... This school term my dojo in London is having FOUR beginners groups. One group usually contains around 12 people, meaning there will be at least 50 people starting out... They are even having an extra gym to accomodate them.

I am so glad that I don't have to take any group as I have moved away. Phew.

p.s. Die Tom Cruise, Die!!! :devious:

[Shiro]

Die Tom Cruise, Die!!! :devious:

Actually he was almost decapitated during the making of the movie :).

You mentioned somewhere you were in Belgium recently, wasn't it at the Nakakura Cup & Winter Seminar?

[AlexM]

I'm disappointed to report that very few, if any, Neo-samurai showed up for the first day of kendo. No one in a top knot, no one with a katana... just the usual mix of people.

One guy showed up in hakama and gi already but that's not extraordinary.. we always get one or two like that every year: buying more equipment than required from us.

No neo samurai in outward appearance to report just yet... They seemed sort of relaxed bunch of people. Just the usual I'm afraid.

[hyouriittai]

I'm in the middle of transitioning to a new dojo, as my old one has been out of order for a while now. The kendo is alot different in this dojo, as my last wasn't a part of the AUSKF. Though I never considered myself otherwise, I'm only beginning to realize how very novice I am -- but I think this is just all the more reason to keep at it.

Anyways, I felt a bit weird when I visited the new dojo as a beginner, already wearing kendogi. There were a few who also had uniforms in the beginner's section, but that was a minority. I was hoping that sempai didn't think I was one of the people who were joining because they saw Last Samurai.

Just for kicks, I'm thinking of going out of my way to show up at Alex's dojo in kabuto. You guys down?

[orayakab]

I'm in the middle of transitioning to a new dojo, as my old one has been out of order for a while now. The kendo is alot different in this dojo, as my last wasn't a part of the AUSKF. Though I never considered myself otherwise, I'm only beginning to realize how very novice I am -- but I think this is just all the more reason to keep at it.

Well its a good thing that you have made the move to an AUSKF Club. If you ever make it to bogu and test, your rank will be recognized throughout any IKF affiliated organization.

Hopefully you will receive quality instruction and will not have to relearn or correct everything you have learned...

Orayakab, U.

[xvikingx]

hyouriittai,

You practiced at a Classic kendo federation dojo right? Perhaps I am confusing you with another member. I thought they were recognized by AUSKF.

[Katana]

I don't like that fact that people assume that's what all newbies to kendo are. I've been doing Iaido for two years and as soon as I start kendo alot of people dismiss you as some sort of neo-samurai just because you started after these popular budo movies. It's incredibly frusterating for people to tell you that your going to quit in the first three months, or that 'we don't use real swords here,' or 'so are you looking for revenge or something?' It happens more often after keiko then you'd think.

[xvikingx]

I don't like that fact that people assume that's what all newbies to kendo are. I've been doing Iaido for two years and as soon as I start kendo alot of people dismiss you as some sort of neo-samurai just because you started after these popular budo movies. It's incredibly frusterating for people to tell you that your going to quit in the first three months, or that 'we don't use real swords here,' or 'so are you looking for revenge or something?' It happens more often after keiko then you'd think.
If you are determined and plan on sticking with it, then it really doesn't matter what they say does it? A couple of years down the line and you can make them eat their words. But this doesn't change the fact that movies like "The Last Samurai" make all the kooks come out of the wood works. You ,just like every other person who started out, has to prove that you are determined because of the large amount of people who do quit after three months.

[HEIJO SHIN]

Its nice to see the replies are so open minded on the whole, if for different reasons.
Many sports attract people that come to it, buy all the cloths etc, stick it for a while and then quit. Again the quiting my be for different reasons, health,family, money not enough time to practice, it doesnt always mean they are not able to "cut the mustard"
My excuse when I lived in England was the nearest class was a 400km round trip, on an evening, in the middle of the week. I expect when I stopped going to the class, most people thought I was not up to it, and that would be true in part. Its very easy to judge others by our own circumstances. Now I have unlimited time to practice.
I admire people that stick at things, even if their progress is not as rapid as others it shows real character.
Surely the more people that come to the sport will mean better facilities and recognition in the long run for everyone, and even the ones you dont like too much, must have something in common with you or they wouldnt be here.

See the good in everyone.

HEIJO SHIN

[orayakab]

I don't like that fact that people assume that's what all newbies to kendo are. I've been doing Iaido for two years and as soon as I start kendo alot of people dismiss you as some sort of neo-samurai just because you started after these popular budo movies. It's incredibly frusterating for people to tell you that your going to quit in the first three months, or that 'we don't use real swords here,' or 'so are you looking for revenge or something?' It happens more often after keiko then you'd think.

Unfortunately, they are probably telling you this out of experience and statistical fact.

There have been 3-4 surges in the past few years that have brought in an influx of new people...Crouching Tiger, Star Wars, Kill Bill, and Last Samurai...

If people who were genuinely interested in Kendo before these movies came out quit, I don't think people inspired by a movie and join on impulse will last.

Many people come in with certain expectations and leave when their experience don't meet them: especially in the beginner stage.

Fortunately there are some gems in the bunch and those are the people who stay and enjoy practicing Kendo.

Orayakab, U.