Honesty about the kind of Kendoka you are..

[emitbrownne]

I know this thread will be torn apart by teenagers who know everything, and by the older generations who have seen everything... but I was wondering if anyone would truly answer honestly how they see thier own kendo.

Just so you all know I vote :
Read a book (probably misunderstood), listen to teacher(mostly unquestioning), try to apply(probably badly).

Paulo

[emitbrownne]

I must say I like the feature now available on polls where you can see who voted for what.... just click on the underlined total number for each poll to get the names of who voted for what.

[souljah]

I listen to the teachers and try to understand, but it's mostly in a foreign language, so it's often a case of immitating their actions. I rely on my sempai quite a bit for clarification. I try and apply stuff as best as I can, but it usually ends up with me messing up. I train fairly hard.

[Wout]

God I so wanted to vote on 'I'm a self taught Shogun commander who has a +17 magical Katana, and weild it like a thundergod' :), but I sticked with the thruth. (now I feel kinda sad I did)

Well I rather imitatate than ask questions, some may see this as desinterrest on my part, but I'm just an incredibly quiet person (even if I want to ask a question I rarely do). It's sometime held against me, but mostly it's because I understand things very quickly (so I'm not really used to asking questioins). I'm also very adept at observing (prolly cause I don't talk much), and it's very usefull at kendo, because most teachers show the excersise a few times I first look at the general excersise + the hands (most of the times there is nothing really hard (except when I started a year ago, I focused on it a lot) and if there is it will be explained, and then the feet.
I focus on an aspect every time they do it to show the excersise and I feel it's better than just look an the whole excersise three or four times.
While I'm doing the excersise I focus on the thing that seemed the hardest, or the thing the teacher said we had to focus on offcourse.

[not-I]

I prefer the more "traditional" method of learning through observation, imitation, and hard work, gradually leading to intuitive application. Perhaps it's because of Zen training, but i don't go for relying on books or having a lot of talk in the dojo. Unless it's urgent, if i have question, i try to observe to get an answer, or wait until after keiko to ask a sempai.

[not-I]

One qualification about talking: I don't mind when a sempai gives me a verbal pointer during training. I think this is especially important for beginners, when someone is repeatedly making a mistake. Once it's understood what's supposed to be done, non-verbal pointers are more effective, imo.

[Zaphiel]

I just immitate...if I do something wrong my sensai(or a sempai) will surely correct me.
from my point of view if i would ask that would just be wasted time in which the whole class would have been able to train rather than talk....because i think you learn kendo from training and doing, not from talking or reading.

[mark]

Hi,
Tough question.
As a beginner I try to listen attentively, imitate and train hard. It is similar to the fire ready aim approach to management. It is not pretty but it gets thing done - Just do it!

Much later, as I get better and it becomes a reflex, understanding and analyzing the why helps me improve and fine tune. Sort of a shift from focussing on the tactical to the strategic.

For me it is sort of a hierarchy, it is as if I have to practice proper kamae before I can hope to understand and develop (or more likely stumble upon) seme.

All the best,
Mark

[Andoru]

lol@mystic kendoka

[Musha]

I usually watch Sensei, understand a little but can't see how to do it or forget. Practice with Senpai or do my best with Kohai. Understand a little but usually can’t do it . Go home look at a book or practice alone until I get it right :). Then try in Jigeiko...
I think I am a slow learner but have a good memory of doing the technique before and when I do learn it I learn it well :).

P.s There was a program on last night. It said that when you are a child you learn things very quickly but also forget them quickly too :). When you are older you don't learn as quick but when you do understand more and remember then alot quicker. Interesting..