Personal purposes, thoughts, and reasons for Kendo

[yourlordmoses]

Frequently I am asked why or for what reason do I practice Kendo. I have the hardest time describing my feelings and thoughts on the matter with out sounding like I am parroting the motto or being ridiculously cliche (or so I am told). Any thoughts on the matter. Also if you got some personal vendetta/goal/purpose for Kendo I would like to compare or something. I would like to see what others think individually. :grin:

P.S. if I happen to sound like I am full of it to you, I am still green to Kendo so let me know if I missed something.

[1stdan]

I started to foster my fighting spirit. After several years in TKD I found something missing in my fight. I could stand there and defend myself well enough, But I wanted more. I had always had an interest in Japanese Swords. Found kendo. It seemed to combined the things i was seeking and another added benefit or two. After a year or so I went back to my TKD class and and felt out of place. Oddly enough it didn't seem to show. I felt very uncomfortable with the level of discipline. I dont just mean yes sir, no sir aspect. I found a lot more distasteful in the upper echelons of my group. I decided to devote my time and effort to Kendo and Iaido. When I leave class i feel enriched by the level of respect, training, discipline, devotion, and overall feel ing of the class. My instructors both sensei and sempai are class individuals that bring a lot more to the table than how to hit each other with a stick. Kendo is one of the hardest thing i have ever done, i leave almost every class tired, sore and wondering which body part will fall off first, but i also have avery calm focused feeling tat is as hard to give up as any drug must be.

I believe this is straight from the ZNKR - "the purpose of practicing kendo is to mold the mind and body, to cultivate a vigorous spirit, and through correct and rigid training, to strive for the improvement in the art of kendo, to hold esteem human courtesy and honor, to associate with others with sincerity, and to forever pursue the cultivation of ones self."

This could not describe any better what i have found in my dojo and was lacking in my TKD Association. As tough as it is I have never eft the dojo mad, disappointed, defeated, or any thing negative. I always leave with a smile, and sometimes a limp.

I hope you find the same experience. If you cant, move to Texas its here.

[MikeW]

I do it primarily for no other reason than I enjoy it.

[yourlordmoses]

I like those reasons. I myself find my reasons and feelings to align more with the first reply, but it des come down to just enjoying it at some point.

[annoraderenart@]

Like a calling, it is what I am supposed to do.

[Neil Gendzwill]

First, foremost and always, for the chicks.

[ender84567]

I like to beat people up, also the pajamas are stylish, whoo-ha, abundance of fancy moves is also a plus.

[Missingno.]

I like to put on a skirt and do large men.

In all seriousness, I do it so I have something to get better at. That and I enjoy it immensely. I've also met some really great people because of kendo.

[pgsmith]

have the hardest time describing my feelings and thoughts on the matter with out sounding like I am parroting the motto or being ridiculously cliche (or so I am told).
If you try and do that, you will bore the snot out of just about everyone that doesn't actually practice JSA, and quite a number who do. The best thing to do when asked why, is to say because you enjoy it, and it's a lot of fun. If someone is really interested, they'll pursue the issue and ask for a deeper explanation. 99.5% of all the people that ask you why you do it will NOT want a deeper explanation. :)

First, foremost and always, for the chicks.
I've heard that, but it didn't work out for me. When I finally moved onto a large enough piece of land to keep my own chickens, I went to the local kendo dojo and asked for some of those chicks I'd heard about as I finally had my own coop. They looked at me like I was loony!

[1stdan]

They looked at me like I was loony!

It wasn't just a look.

and i lieu of everyone else reply forget all that heart felt stuff I said. I just like to get hit with sticks, and that seems to happen every time I approach chicks.

[hyuna]

habit

[Alicia]

This is kind of a weird answer, but I do kendo because of the 80+ year old little old men that can barely move or see, who can come to training and paste everybody in the country. There is something about them being able to do this that I find fascinating. Sometimes I will fight a beginner, and make them react whenever I want, and I realise how the hachidan sensei must feel when they fight normal people, and I want to work towards this.

Oh and cos its fun.

[cr720]

I like to put on a skirt and do large men..

I almost spit water all over my computer monitor when I read that :D

The enjoyment I think is what keeps me going. Also the other factors that it brings into my life. Discipline, respect, confidence, the list could go on and on.

Plus it's a great conversation-starter :D

[JByrd]

Over the years it seems like different reasons have motivated me. I'd like to say something simple, like I do kendo because it's fun, but there have been times when it hasn't been fun, and I kept doing it anyway. Most of the time kendo is fun to me, though.

Right now I think a big part of my motivation is that kendo is the only thing I do where developing myself as a person is a primary goal. It's like the nutritional equivalent of eating my veg. I would like to think that the perseverance I practice in the dojo is making me a stronger person. Life can be hard, and I'm sure it won't be long before I'll need that strength.

I also keep at it because I really enjoy the time I can spend with high quality people. Many of my kendo friends are very impressive and admirable individuals, and hanging with them has made my life a lot richer. I learn about a lot more than just kendo from them.

[MartialArtsGirl]

I have no idea. I just keep showing up.
Recently I've hit a nasty slump with it, but, what kind of person would I be if I stopped because it got too difficult?
I have (recently) thought about quitting. But that's not the kind of person I want to be- stopping something just because it's hard? No.

So I'm going to keep going. No matter how hard it gets.

[b8amack]

Watched a lot of swashbuckling and lightsabery as a kid. I'd like to pretend it was something more ennobling, but that would be bullshit.

[Raindrop]

I do Kendo because it's fun. Simple and cheesy, but true. If it wasn't fun I wouldn't do it.

[atgm]

I always sucked at sports as a kid. Which isn't to say that I don't suck at kendo.

But I do kendo because it's fun and it feels like I can actually get better if I practice more. Never felt like that with any other sports.

[rfoxmich]

When I was playing chess I came across a quote attributed to Siegbert Tarrasch that I'll paraphrase.
Kendo, like women, like wine, has the power to make men happy.

[Josh Reyer]

First, foremost and always, for the chicks.
The last time I got involved in one of these types of threads (on a different forum), I tried to give honest, serious answer amid all the joke responses, relating a personal experience that made me question myself and my self-image, and thus what I hoped to improve in myself through such an impractical martial art. For my trouble I was called a sissy.

So, this time I'm going with Neil here: chicks and beer.

[Neil Gendzwill]

So, this time I'm going with Neil here: chicks and beer.Hang on, the last half of that answer is pretty damn serious for most of us.

[pgsmith]

So, this time I'm going with Neil here: chicks and beer.
That's OK, you're still a sissy! :D

[Ryan P]

When I shout at the top of my lungs and smack someone in the head in a boardroom, I get funny looks (and maybe arrested). When I shout at the top of my lungs and smack someone in the head in Kendo, I get a point.

I like Kendo better.

[cr720]

I have no idea. I just keep showing up.
Recently I've hit a nasty slump with it, but, what kind of person would I be if I stopped because it got too difficult?
I have (recently) thought about quitting. But that's not the kind of person I want to be- stopping something just because it's hard? No.

So I'm going to keep going. No matter how hard it gets.

Hi MAG, Just remember you have a whole internet community supporting you and your hobby. We're all behind you, and I find it very admirable that you choose to persevere instead of taking the easy road out!



When I shout at the top of my lungs and smack someone in the head in a boardroom, I get funny looks (and maybe arrested). When I shout at the top of my lungs and smack someone in the head in Kendo, I get a point.

I like Kendo better.

Kendo is the only place where I actually got in trouble for NOT wanting to hit a pregnant lady :D.

[MartialArtsGirl]

I always sucked at sports as a kid. Which isn't to say that I don't suck at kendo.

But I do kendo because it's fun and it feels like I can actually get better if I practice more. Never felt like that with any other sports.

I wasn't bad at sports, but not great either. My problem was not so much the doing of the sport. Rather, I was kinda ADD as a kid. :\ The more action there was, the less this was a problem. In gym class one day (elementary school), we were playing baseball and some genius decided it would be better if I was in the outfield. I remember I got really bored and zoned out. Then the ball came my way. Oops! There it went. I later figured out that I needed to put myself in the MIDDLE of the action. Then I focused better. :P

I definitely feel like there are sports I could have been better at in school. Better than I am at kendo. (Not baseball!) I never pursued them very much, but I do feel like I was better at them. I think I'd have to put in a lot more hard work in kendo then I would for other things, just to get good.

[Shinsengumi77]

I was a sparring junkie. Never got to do any weapons-based stuff, and Kendo looked really cool, and I just happened to know someone in the club. I joined. Everything has changed since then. I still am fascinated by martial arts and combat and violence, but I feel more like a spectator now, and have less of an urge to fight. Short story -it's a great time, and I feel like I can always enjoy it, because I'll never be perfect at it.

[kanyil]

So, this time I'm going with Neil here: chicks and beer.


Hang on, the last half of that answer is pretty damn serious for most of us.

At my judo dojo we have fresh Heineken on tap (to be consumed after practice of course). Too bad the same hasn't yet managed to catch on at my Kendo dojo.

[GothMelancolia]

At my judo dojo we have fresh Heineken on tap (to be consumed after practice of course). Too bad the same hasn't yet managed to catch on at my Kendo dojo.

That’s because it’s Heineken :p

Well let’s see…I saw allot of Kurosawa movies…got an obsession for Japanese Sword Arts….tried to find a iaido club…found kendo instead…kept on going because it kept my body physically fit for a while…thought of quitting …got into bogu…got the kendo virus after the first jigeiko :D…and now it’s a bit part of my life
Ohhhh did I mention its fuuuuuuuun and you have allot to learn and you never stop learning and there are great people practicing it and……..and……
..........and................

[cesarekim]

Habit is a big part of it as is a sense of obbligation to the people who wasted their time trying to make me into a decent player. Recently, in the last couple of years, I have found that Kendo can actually be fun sometimes too.

[cr720]

I've also grown quite fond of my Kendo mates and enjoy the social aspect of going to Kendo practice. Seeing my friends and having time to chat before/after class and get some pointers on what to work on. It's practice for me, but it's also a time to get together with friends and enjoy sharing a common passion for Kendo.

[michaelm]

chicks, beer, prize money

[TheJRK]

<After watching my first practice and speaking with the sensei>

Sensei - So what do you think?
Me - It's very interesting.
Sensei - Do you drink?
Me - Yes.
Sensei - Can you hold your liquor?
Me - Yes.
Sensei - Then you may join.

-------------------------------------

For that reason. :grin:

[sirius1906]

uh...dudes, dudes, dudes, and the shower with dudes after practice.:wink: yeah, i am secretly gay.

[Toecutter]

uh...dudes, dudes, dudes, and the shower with dudes after practice.:wink: yeah, i am secretly gay.
Four words, soap on a rope.

[cjjrwe]

Sorry, no deep, insightful, philisophical answer...I do kendo because I enjoy it.

[kanyil]

[QUOTE=GothMelancolia;417935]That’s because it’s Heineken :p[QUOTE]

Well, we use to do Carlsberg but the quality of the Carlsberg kegs we get in HK can vary. Rumour has it that in the old days we used to have someone at the dojo who works for Sapporo and were able to hook the dojo up with some sort of ice brewed Sapporo beer - according to the sempais it was heaven...

[yourlordmoses]

Where do you guys practice Kendo I haven't seen any of that stuff in my short insignificant time practicing...

[adman]

other then boxing and MMA fighting (where you can only do it part of your life and tend to get disfigerd) were else can to test yourself with another hurman give it your all like live and death and let the best man live its a great feeling

o and its choice

[stealth_monkey]

other then boxing and MMA fighting (where you can only do it part of your life and tend to get disfigerd)
Off topic, but unless you're a professional fighter (where minor disfigurement of the ears is pretty common) that's entirely innaccurate. In terms of safety, if I may point out, MMA has had less fatalities in licensed matches (being 1, and that's arguable) than kendo.

As for my own reasons for practising kendo, while it may be seen as boorish, I do it because it's fun and for no other reason. In all honesty, I've heard constantly that after a while everyone goes through a phase where it's just not fun anymore and a lot of hard work and I honestly don't know what will happen when I get to that stage. And while my sensei wishes it was otherwise, I practise a fairly wide variety of martial arts, of which kendo and iaido are just two, so it's not like I don't have other arts I could fall back on.

[GothMelancolia]

After a really hard practice….smell….sweat….hard breathing….lots of people crashed on the floor…you can move even one inch, the pain, and every little muscle in your body hurts
Suddenly Sensei gets near the beer ….everyone smiles and waits for the magic words
-Do you want it?
……….Moaning…………..
-Do you want it?
…………Yessssssssssss……………..
-Then get up………. 1000 hayasuburi right now or NO BEER

:evil:

[JByrd]

In terms of safety, if I may point out, MMA has had less fatalities in licensed matches (being 1, and that's arguable) than kendo.


Do you have statistics, or anecdotal evidence to support that point? What would you consider a "licensed match" in kendo? When did a fatality occur in such a kendo match?

Fatalities are certainly rare in either case, but the original statement was actually about disfigurement, not fatality.

[stealth_monkey]

Do you have statistics, or anecdotal evidence to support that point? What would you consider a "licensed match" in kendo? When did a fatality occur in such a kendo match?

Fatalities are certainly rare in either case, but the original statement was actually about disfigurement, not fatality.

Definitely not trying to paint kendo as a dangerous sport, far from it, it's one of the safest out there. Just illustrating that mma gets an undeserved bad rap when it comes to safety, which was really my only point. In terms of fatalities, I know of Sensei Gotoh from germany who died from a tsuki penetrating the mengane. Anecdotaly, I've also heard that he's far from the only one. There's also a study by a japanese university discussing half a dozen or so deaths from hyperthermia, but that's less the art and more bad training practises that would have resulted in deaths in a number of activities. Disfigurement is a little harder to verify since nobody really keeps track of these things, but if I had to choose I'd pick cauliflower ear over a punctured eye any day.

When I was talking licensed bouts I was speaking of mma. There have been a couple of deaths in unsanctioned fights which traditionally shun safety rules in order to make a more impressive fight. While I don't know the specifics of each match, incorporating them into statistics would be like saying "these guys died practising kendo, I can't actually verify they were even wearing armour when they were fighting, but it was still kendo". You're right in that there's no real "sanctioned fight" in kendo. Apologies for derailing the thread

[MartialArtsGirl]

In all honesty, I've heard constantly that after a while everyone goes through a phase where it's just not fun anymore and a lot of hard work...

I just hit that phase.

[Exia00]

I just hit that phase.

and it's this phase where it's crucial to continue training. Currently going throough this phase as well. Mainly my hiatus is ddue to work related issues

I do kendo .. just because of the feeling where u hit the sack after putting 100% in training/competitions. I <3 that feeling.
Also the kendo smell. .. so long as it's not a strong concentrated smell of sweat. . i actually quite like the smell. =s

[MartialArtsGirl]

Yeah except that work/school is getting in the way for me now too. Plus I am finally sucking it up and giving my heel a chance to get better. (The lump is close to gone!!) It's been a friggin year since it started hurting.

When this month is over, I plan to get back to the dojo a bit more often. Actually I could probably get back even in a couple of weeks. I just have soooo many projects/papers etc. due in the next couple weeks. :(

omg I should be doing work now, NOT reading KW forms. :(

[Anonymous]

Yeah except that work/school is getting in the way for me now too. Plus I am finally sucking it up and giving my heel a chance to get better. (The lump is close to gone!!) It's been a friggin year since it started hurting.

When this month is over, I plan to get back to the dojo a bit more often. Actually I could probably get back even in a couple of weeks. I just have soooo many projects/papers etc. due in the next couple weeks. :(

omg I should be doing work now, NOT reading KW forms. :(

I know I'm not a doctor, but I say its a good idea to give a little more rest time than the doctor says. Not to an absurd degree of course, but I had some issues with tendonitis that kept me out for two years because I tried to go back in too quickly.

[Raindrop]

Yeah except that work/school is getting in the way for me now too. Plus I am finally sucking it up and giving my heel a chance to get better. (The lump is close to gone!!) It's been a friggin year since it started hurting.

When this month is over, I plan to get back to the dojo a bit more often. Actually I could probably get back even in a couple of weeks. I just have soooo many projects/papers etc. due in the next couple weeks. :(

omg I should be doing work now, NOT reading KW forms. :(

In my short Kendo career I've had 3 injury breaks, and each time I've lost my motivation during sitting there with a huge ankle or lower back injury.. oh and not to mention the lovely CMV virus I got from the gym which knocked me out for weeks o__O;

Anyhoo, it's tough, you feel like you might as well give up. And now that my body is more or less coorperating I'm moving into this team leading position at work with 400% as much work and responsibilities and it keeps me from training most of the week night trainings and it frustrates me but that's just how it is, and I still enjoy every weekend when I do make it to the dojo.

The 2 key points here are: 1) Listen to your body. Do not overdo it, what's the point it pushing and then not getting better? I learned this the hard way. and 2) Do not give up on Kendo. Rough patches are as much part of Kendo as the bogu smell. Even if you go through periods where for whatever reason you cannot train much and therefore feel like you cannot progress, just keep doing it. Everytime you show up at the dojo and do your best (without risking your health!) you connquer a tiny pebble of the ginormous mountain range that is Kendo. Even if you just sit out practice and do mitori-geiko. It counts, because you're mentally involved in it.

And once you don't put pressure on yourself anymore about you long-term goals in Kendo and just take it one step at a time, the fun and motivation will come back. Just enjoy being with your dojo-mates, doing what you love. And you'll start progressing again without even noticing it!

So, don't give up. Stick with it, and take care of your body!

[yourlordmoses]

So far from my experience the "phase" as we have been reffering to it is exactly that a phase. the important thing for me last time I had it was getting to practice and not skipping to play Call of Duty. I kept going and eventually I got past that feeling. It has happened twice since, and i just reminded myself to be strong enough not to quit for every tiny reason that came up. Also my experience leads me to not depend on my fellow students in my club. It has never been a source of encouragement to look to them. As pessimistic as this sounds, I just don't do it. They see Kendo in a much more competitive light than I do (not saying Kendo isn't competitve) they made my first rough patch rougher. I think it is these people specifically, so i wouldn't assume all Kendoka of similar skill to me to be like that.

[Shinsengumi77]

[QUOTE=stealth_monkey;418005]Off topic, but unless you're a professional fighter (where minor disfigurement of the ears is pretty common) that's entirely innaccurate. In terms of safety, if I may point out, MMA has had less fatalities in licensed matches (being 1, and that's arguable) than kendo.

I think he was referring to the short career because of things like brain damage, joint damage, etc, not actual in-fight casualties.

[Shinsengumi77]

As far as people not enjoying kendo/ hitting the wall, I find it strange that people try to encourage others to keep going despite disliking it. I'm not trying to say that anyone should quit, but at the same time it's detrimental (for all parties involved) to practice with people who aren't "in it," you know? If you can't find any good reason to stick with it, why continue? There's definitely a difference between quitting because it's hard and quitting because you don't enjoy it, however. The former is shameful, while the latter is perfectly acceptable, at least IMHO.

If I didn't enjoy Kendo, I probably wouldn't continue (thankfully that's not actually the case).

sorry double post

[JSchmidt]

I know of Sensei Gotoh from germany who died from a tsuki penetrating the mengane. Anecdotaly, I've also heard that he's far from the only one.

So, anecdotaly, how many have you heard died?.
As for people dying in MMA, it's just a question of time.

[ReKru]

As far as people not enjoying kendo/ hitting the wall, I find it strange that people try to encourage others to keep going despite disliking it. I'm not trying to say that anyone should quit, but at the same time it's detrimental (for all parties involved) to practice with people who aren't "in it," you know? If you can't find any good reason to stick with it, why continue? There's definitely a difference between quitting because it's hard and quitting because you don't enjoy it, however. The former is shameful, while the latter is perfectly acceptable, at least IMHO.


Aren't detrimental things part of the way?

[b8amack]

There haven't been deaths in mma? There was one here, I'm pretty sure. I can't imagine that was the only one. And the stats about brain damage in mma... give it another ten years. Those knee to the head knockouts, those are enormous jars to the brain. Never mind organizations that allow stomping downed opponents.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Yeah, face it - any deaths in kendo have been freak accidents or unrelated to the nature of the actual activity (heart attack that could have occurred running etc). Deaths in MMA are an inevitability. Long-term disability is a near-certainty for these guys.

[yourlordmoses]

Might just be my dislike of my college's mma club but I have to agree. There are many more old guys doing Kendo than MMA. I wouldn't be surprised if that started to be due to life expectancy rather than ability to compete.

[MartialArtsGirl]

The 2 key points here are: 1) Listen to your body. Do not overdo it, what's the point it pushing and then not getting better? I learned this the hard way. and 2) Do not give up on Kendo. Rough patches are as much part of Kendo as the bogu smell. Even if you go through periods where for whatever reason you cannot train much and therefore feel like you cannot progress, just keep doing it. Everytime you show up at the dojo and do your best (without risking your health!) you connquer a tiny pebble of the ginormous mountain range that is Kendo. Even if you just sit out practice and do mitori-geiko. It counts, because you're mentally involved in it.



I dislike mitori-geiko quite a bit. It makes me anxious because I want to DO not just watch. plus I sometimes get bored. So, I haven't really been to kendo/keiko recently...not at all in at least a month and it makes me sad. Part of this is because I have been a bit overwhelmed with school work...part of it has been that I am sick of my heel hurting...and so I'm trying to let it heal. But reading over my previous posts, I realize that another big part may just be that my ego got a big blow (from the test). Anyway, whatever the case I do need to get me to the dojo. I really really really dislike mitori-geiko though. And I really do need to let my heel continue to get better. How can everyone else stand just watching? I can do it for a little bit...but for the whole class? ugh...

[Raindrop]

I dislike mitori-geiko quite a bit. It makes me anxious because I want to DO not just watch. plus I sometimes get bored. So, I haven't really been to kendo/keiko recently...not at all in at least a month and it makes me sad. Part of this is because I have been a bit overwhelmed with school work...part of it has been that I am sick of my heel hurting...and so I'm trying to let it heal. But reading over my previous posts, I realize that another big part may just be that my ego got a big blow (from the test). Anyway, whatever the case I do need to get me to the dojo. I really really really dislike mitori-geiko though. And I really do need to let my heel continue to get better. How can everyone else stand just watching? I can do it for a little bit...but for the whole class? ugh...

I also feel useless in mitori geiko, and I don't go to the dojo just to sit and watch and not be part of it. So what I do instead, I just go train afterall but then stop when I feel it going wrong and then only sitting out the last 30 minutes of practice isn't so bad.

About your heel, tell your sempai/sensei and practice without fumikomi for a time. You will need to get back into it if you've been out for more than a month and after an "ego-blow" maybe going back to the basics, big swings with sliding footwork, will help.

Everytime I return from an injury it's hard at first but then I notice that I made a jump and things seem easier than before.

The magic thing, though, seems to be to listen to your body and find the balance between pushing yourself to get better, and not pushing yourself too far and keep getting injuries. I'm still trying to figure that one out myself. :3

[D'Artagnan]

I say this without any hint of sarcasm or any attempt at being cliche, I do Kendo because it is some kind of addiction... Of course I am no expert in 'addiction' having said that, I know I can't be 'physically' dependant on Kendo, but all I know is if I don't play for more than 48 hours I start to 'crave' it (for want of a better term)... give it 72 and I am going nuts... Kendo has taken over my life, it's taken most of my money, it has come between me and my family, it causes arguments with my wife (and she does Kendo!?!)... This is no word of a lie, I mean all of it 100%...And to me, it may be wrong but it's worth it... I wake up, I go to work (at a Kendo based company), I finish and go to practice, I eat usually whilst watching some kind of DVD of Kendo (the current one is last years Gyokuryuki - yes I watch the same one for days on end...), I go to sleep. On the days without practice, I stay later at work and then go home and watch dvd's longer/sort out my Bogu/go to bed earlier...

Why do I carry on? I often ask myself actually... It worries me sometimes to be honest... there are lots of reasons though. But the main one, ALL of the good things in my life (without exception) have happened to me because I do Kendo, and because I have given it my heart and soul. Actually, come to think of it I reckon if I keep it up, I might turn out to be a pretty good player... which is another reason I stick at it... but that all remains to be seen...

[ReKru]

I dislike mitori-geiko quite a bit. It makes me anxious because I want to DO not just watch. plus I sometimes get bored.

To quote myself:
"Aren't detrimental things part of the way? "

:D

[turboyoshi]

I dislike mitori-geiko quite a bit.

In general, when people dislike or get bored watching something, it's because they don't understand it. They can't tell when something's been done well or know how to look for the things that can improve their own practice. I didn't like watching either at first but as I learn a bit more and have specific things I'm trying to work on, I can watch other people and start to notice how they're timing a strike or how they control distance to make a nice hit and other little details that I didn't know enough to watch for before. Pick a specific waza to try and understand like kaeshi dou and then read about it and watch how others do it in your dojo. Or pick a kendoka in your dojo who does a certain waza well and try to figure out the things he does that make it all work. At the very least, try to see if you can pick out when someone's about to strike and in your mind see if you could have reacted properly to him. Learning how to watch is really important and will definitely help you improve.

[ender84567]

In general, when people dislike or get bored watching something, it's because they don't understand it. They can't tell when something's been done well or know how to look for the things that can improve their own practice. I didn't like watching either at first but as I learn a bit more and have specific things I'm trying to work on, I can watch other people and start to notice how they're timing a strike or how they control distance to make a nice hit and other little details that I didn't know enough to watch for before. Pick a specific waza to try and understand like kaeshi dou and then read about it and watch how others do it in your dojo. Or pick a kendoka in your dojo who does a certain waza well and try to figure out the things he does that make it all work. At the very least, try to see if you can pick out when someone's about to strike and in your mind see if you could have reacted properly to him. Learning how to watch is really important and will definitely help you improve.

Agree with this 100% there are some days I would rather watch than do, of course without an injury it would never be allowed, but pick someone who you would like your kendo to be like, and watch them.

[Millerzep]

I practice kendo because I enjoy it. I also practice because it allows me to live in the moment. During keiko, I don't think about work, I don't think about drama, I just focus on the next strike. It's rather freeing to be able to put my life aside for two hours and push myself as hard as I can.

[Gin]

other then boxing and MMA fighting (where you can only do it part of your life and tend to get disfigerd) were else can to test yourself with another hurman give it your all like live and death and let the best man live its a great feeling

o and its choice

trade equities.

[Fox]

My reasons tend to vary over time.
I practice for the art itself, exercise, the experience, the things I learn, and the people with whom I train. I spent a lot of time in the gym doing regular ‘workouts’ on weight machines and treadmills during times when the school is inaccessible (or I'm playing hooky) and I still do a lot of cycling even as I continue to practice Kendo, but Kendo is more that just exertion.

Without getting to deep into the self-development concepts frequently mentioned, I think the thing that keeps me attached the Kendo is the legitimacy of the whole thing. For me it is very ‘genuine’ and does well with avoiding the general fakery that can work its way onto the training floors of so many modern martial arts. There are a lot of serious practitioners worldwide and a rich history and philosophy to go along with it.
Anyway, it’s excellent exercise and I like it ~ my reason for today.

[b8amack]

I practice kendo because I enjoy it. I also practice because it allows me to live in the moment. During keiko, I don't think about work, I don't think about drama, I just focus on the next strike. It's rather freeing to be able to put my life aside for two hours and push myself as hard as I can.

+1 on that. I also get to hit some of my crazy teenage students with a stick, and that's alright. Of course, they get to hit me, as well, so I'm sure all of us are enjoying ourselves. :)

[Tsunemori]

+1 on that. I also get to hit some of my crazy teenage students with a stick, and that's alright. Of course, they get to hit me, as well, so I'm sure all of us are enjoying ourselves. :)
Welp, bash them all up while you still can before they get too good!

[Obukan_dude]

My reason is revenge.
A six-fingered man once appeared before me and murdered my beloved pet squirrel. I lost a duel against him, and vowed to study the sword until I had the skills to beat him--or wait, was it to obtain the the divine secret of swordsmanship from the spirit of Miyamoto Musashi to avenge the burning of my village? Aw, who cares. I'm having fun when I do kendo.

[chrisw]

For me, how deep does the rabbit hole go as the cliche goes.