Women's Kendo National Teams

[kendo_chick]

I have a question. What are the requirements for a female for your country's women's team? I don't know much about women's kendo at all here in Canada, it's not something that I am exposed to. I am one of only a few females in my club. I have started seriously considering trying out for the women's team for the 2006 team. Does anyone know the requirements for the Canadian women's team and if I would even have a chance?

[qpuppy]

I have no idea

I dont know if there will be a Women's Kendo National Team for Australia. Dont think there are enough felmales to be good enough. But I wouldnt quite know about that... My senpais would.... Ben? Richard? Yakov Sensei?... What do you think? Do we have enough females good enough for the National Women's Team?....

[Will]

This is an excerpt from the Team Canada website (http://kendo-canada.com/teamcanada/)

1. Ladies Qualifications

Kendo 1st Dan or over.
18 years of age as of June 30, 2003.
Adequate mental and physical health
Canadian Citizenship - Proof of Canadian citizenship required for all prospects as of the 14th Canadian Kendo Championship
CKF member in good standing
2. Team Canada Selections: 7 Players (Max.)

2 top finishers of the 14th Canadian Kendo Championship, to be held in Vancouver, B.C., Summer 2002.
Coach and Manager will select up to 5 players.

[Kendoka]

[i]What are the requirements for a female for your country's women's team? [/B]

In Australia the women are part of the national squad.

To qualify for selection to either men or womens teams, the members must have participated in squad trainings by attending (allover the country) and really putting in, as well as following their own preparation activities at their home dojo and what ever else the coach asks of them.

Once, when our numbers where smaller, you could get on the team (almost) just by paying your fare and not being an embarassment.

Now if you want to be a team member you have to commit and work hard to compete for selection to the team.

BTW - Australian womens team members have won fighting spirit awards at the last two WKC.


Richard

[Confound]

This will sound like flame bait, but honestly, I've seen your club, and even in my kendou naivete of that time, it looked sad and leaderless. I'd recommend going to the tournament for the experience, but your chances are about as good as getting hit by a meteor. You guys have no sensei, how good can you be, really?

Yes, i'm ready for the flak that will ensue about me being elitist. i'm elitist and proud of it.

more senseis that you can shake a stick at,
c

ps - albeit, my chances are just as bad, but i'm not even considering it. i'm content to run around for another year over here.

[kendo_chick]

Confound:

I'd like to know when you saw our club? We have improved 100 fold in the last year alone and members of our club have been winning canadian tournaments and placing well in others. I don't think you should judge a person's worth by what you saw some time ago. Considering a woman only has to be shodan to be on the national team, and I will have my shodan in December, maybe I have more of a chance then you think. And even if you don't think that I have a chance, perhaps your negativity will drive me to show you what I can actually do.

Crystal

[gill]

Well said kendo-chick! I don't know your clubs situation, but it takes a lot more dedication and determination to train when you don't have a sensei, than when you have 'more sensei that you can shake a stick at....'

Anyway, back to topic......If you meet the selection criteria for the national squad, then I think you should definately go for it! Even if you don't get in the team in the first year or so, the experience of training at that level will benefit your kendo enourmously. I have trained in the UK squad for 6 years, and although it takes up a lot of time and money - the benefits far outweigh the cost!

In terms of selection criteria, clubs put forward people to the manager for selection to the squad - this is done at open squad training sessions. From this the squad is selected, and train together on a regular basis. The team is selected by the manager and the coach from the squad.

Gill

[Confound]

Kendo_chick
your sempai only needs to perform two miracles after he's dead, and then he's eligible to be a saint. I fell out of my futon laughing.

c

[kendo_chick]

Confound, I believe in the old addage "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". You should take heed to that.

I don't understand people like you. Kendo is about humbling yourself and showing respect to each other, whether they be of higher rank or not. Almost every other person that I have talked to about kendo is eager to help and if they have a difference of opinion, it does not come across as bashing the other person.

I believe you need someone of lower rank to beat some humility into you.

And if you think you are "witty" you're not, you are just mean spirited and I do not believe people like that will ever make it far in Kendo, or in life.

[Reconing1]

Confused... err... I mean Confo... whatever,

You seem to be a strong willed person, sadly, to your detriment. I practice in Canada and I have had the pleasure of practicing with the Halifax Kendo Club several times in the past.

You are a Coward. You hide behind handles in Chat forums and flame people you don't even know. I find it hard to believe you were even in Halifax. Tell me when you were there and what your real name is. Or is your cowardice too great to reveal your filthy face to the world?

Expecting a false response or none at all,

Re1

[Ian Russell]

So when does the Teral vs. Crystal taikai take place?

I don't know about others, but personal bickering should be taken offline or directed through PM, etc. It certainly has progressed beyond a friendly dialogue at this point.

Back to your regularly scheduled flaming...

[mingshi]

Maybe it's a Canadian thing so I guess I'd just leave you two alone...

What's wrong with being in the national team anyway?

Do you know that if you are a Japanese, even if you start doing Kendo from 5 years old you'd still never be able to become a national team member that easy?

You will probably not be winning the best trophies. But the experience of travelling around the world (or region), do/watch something you really like, plus show your patriotism... is better than anything!

Being born in a country with a tiny population of Kendoka is an extreme benefit. Especially consider the ratio of female Kendoka around. So many of us are BORN TO BE national team members!

(That's including me. I know there's only around 5 kendo dojo in my tiny country. Just give me 10 more years. :D)

[kendo_chick]

Being born in a country with a tiny population of Kendoka is an extreme benefit. Especially consider the ratio of female Kendoka around. So many of us are BORN TO BE national team members!


I agree! I think that I have more of a chance then someone of my level in say Japan or Korea, but with 4 years of practise, one of them being in Japan, and very few women that even consider team canada, I think I have a pretty good chance.

[amatsuda]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Confound
[B]This will sound like flame bait, but honestly, I've seen your club, and even in my kendou naivete of that time, it looked sad and leaderless. I'd recommend going to the tournament for the experience, but your chances are about as good as getting hit by a meteor. You guys have no sensei, how good can you be, really?

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, are great. --Mark Twain

kendo_chick: It's great that you have the aspiration to make the Canadian National Team. The important thing is that you try....even if you don't make it the first, second or even the hundredth time, you gain valuable experience each time. Anyone can sit around and make excuses and say they don't try because of one reason or another...

A couple of things you have to ask yourself are....

How badly do you want it? What do I need to do to accomplish this goal? And How committed am I to making my dream a reality?

To be completely straightforward with you, it takes a lot of commitment and dedication on your part...This holds true for Before and after you make the team. You have to make yourself an asset to the team.

To participate at this level means training with everything you've got everyday because your peers and opponents at the World's will be doing the same.

This type of commitment means doing roadwork during the middle of a hot summer, or during Thanksgiving, Christmas Vacation, or even a frost warning. It means Doing things such as Going to the gym or doing suburi consistently, even though you may be sore and achy from the practice the night before.

It also involves Sacrificing weekends and social events throughout the year to focus on training...It's about eating healthy and making dietary sacrifices to allow yourself to get prepared for the next practice or training. For example, reaching for the bottle of gatorade or water instead of sharing a cold glass of beer or sake after practice with your peers or even excusing yourself from the "after kendo" activities to rest and recover for the next training.....etc, etc, etc....

The key is to keep focus and continue moving forward by putting one foot in front of the other. These are the times when champions are created...

And by doing so, you will later realize your accomplishment of personal achievement because of the things you did to get to the level of having the ability and chance to try out for the team.

Ultimately, the actual result of Whether you make the team or not becomes secondary. This is because you will know inside that you have tried your best and did everything you could have done to prepare for trying out and you will not have any regrets.

Good Luck.

Regards,

amatsuda
http://mywebpage.netscape.com/sjkendo

[kendo_chick]

Thank you so much AMATSUDA. Your words are inspiring. It is people like you that make me want to really try my hardest. Thank you again!

Crystal