Sensei being stricter on outsiders???

[Blue Bogu]

I am Korean..Will a Japanese Sensei be stricter on me that most japanese boys?? I am 14

[Blue Bogu]

I will be 14*

[Masahiro]

I am going to guess "no". Just because you are japanese I don't see why the senei should be strickter on you than on the other students.

[Musha]

I think he is Korean :). But if that was just a mistake, I would also say most Japanese-Sensei actually take a little more interest in you than the other students.

When I stayed in Japan for afew weeks the Sensei treated my like maybe my Sensei would in England, if I was a new student. Saying "hello" and chatting in the changing rooms. I did have to stand up in front of the class and say in Japanese my name and where I was from hehe :D. Maybe if you did not know Japanese some one that could speak a little of your language would say some thing or if not, say afew things like:

"Please try and make him welcome."

I'd like to know more about Senki and other peoples experiences...
I was also thinking my self about Police Dojyo. I wonder if because of Japanese national pride relating to the police they would even consider letting a non Japanese practice.

[JSchmidt]

I was also thinking my self about Police Dojyo. I wonder if because of Japanese national pride relating to the police they would even consider letting a non Japanese practice.
Depends on the dojo and it got nothing to do with pride. In most cases, I believe, you would need a Japanese person to accompany you.

Jakob

[Hyaku]

Your post has me a bit baffled.

As a UK born person teaching in Japan. Does this make me any different, stricter or not so strict towards my Japanese students? Adding normal students it amounts to 1500 a year. I sincerley hope not. Being firmly ensconced in the Budo way, with a strong will to personaly try hard and to have achieved a reasonable success in life. I would hope to instill that in others.

That will originally came from my parents and my teachers some of them religious which shows me that regardless of religion we have a set of values in life. I am far stricter than some of my Japanese associates but then again older than most of them too. I really think it has nothing to do with nationality.

The thing is you should go up there to your teacher and get your medicine and as a good teacher he will give you a nice dose! Don't hold back and its relatively painless and is over quick. Try not to die in front of him or you might get bigger doses. Stagger back down into a corner and quietly collapse.

[Anime12478]

I hope a Japanese sensei won't be stricter on you. But I really doubt that. If problems arise in your particular dojo, then you may want to relocate, but otherwise, just work as hard as you can. If he/she treats you differently, then hard work may earn their respect, although I have a problem with that if you didn't do anything bad in the first place.

[Musha]

What is the Name of the Dojyo you are Sensei of in Japan Hyaku? Or do you mean TEFL? :ermm:

[senki-kendo-jos]

I started kendo in Japan and I don't think that Japanese senseis are harder on gaijin in particular... they're hard on everyone in particular. Go and have a good time and some good keiko, that's what it's all about!

[bullet08]

had number of japanese sensei.. both kendo and other martial arts. none of the japanese sensei were any worse off than non-japanese sensei. i'm korean also.

[Blue Bogu]

No I mean...If I were to go to a Japanese Dojo in Tokyo..Would I be treated differently?? I plan To go to High School and College in Tokyo. Tokyo University.

[bullet08]

that i wouldn't know.. never been to japan. but japanese in general are very polite people. i don't think they would do anything to upset anyone for no reason. i grew up in korea during 70's.. i can't imagine any japanese sensei being worse than korean school teachers from back then :)

[Blue Bogu]

I am Korean..My mom said that teachers would hit their wrists with yard sticks for disbehaving

[psywarblade]

thats not that bad.

I got spanked by the art teacher with a yard stick. But then again I asked her to ....

on second thought dont listen to me

[kendokamax]

No I mean...If I were to go to a Japanese Dojo in Tokyo..Would I be treated differently?? I plan To go to High School and College in Tokyo. Tokyo University.

tokyo university kendo club isnt very strict....not very strong either

I actually have a friend going there

[mingshi]

tokyo university kendo club isnt very strict....not very strong either

I actually have a friend going there
Because Tokyo University, aka Todai, is the Harvard of Japan... People really study there.

If you want "kendo" university, go to the sports or P.E. Uni, aka Taidai. Anywhere is good enough for you!

[kendokamax]

well waseda is a top academic university in japan and they have a strong kendo club.

but I guess they have these sport trainer etc programs which todai doesnt have. the kendo people at todai where a bunch of geeks.

[YAMAFELL]

Actually when it comes to nearly all universitys in Japan, you don't need to study at all once you get in. It's the entrance exam that kicks your butt, and then it's nomikais and some classes every once and a while when you feel like going. I attend Tokyo Gakugei Daigaku as an exchange student and practice with the Kendo Club there. I have played against people from ToDai in Kendo and from many other universitys around Japan. In Japan, you work hard to get into university, but then during university is a lot less strict. Clubs on the other hand are different from each university. At mine, we practice kendo 6 times a week, for about 1 or 2 hours each time. Other universitys clubs practice twice a day everyday or maybe only 3 times a week. I am happy with my club, as for being a beginner they have showed me a lot.

As for your sensei being stricter because of not being Japanese I think that is untrue. I think it is also your view on what is being stricter. (is stricter even a word? I can't remember...) Anyway.. My Sensei watches me very closely some days, and when I do something wrong is there to comment and make me do it right. Even if that is after practice in front of everyone. But I do not think that is strict. I do not think that he is doing that to put me aside from everyone, but instead make me feel apart of everyone. Since I am a beginner he wants me to learn as much as I possibly can in my time here, so when he see's me make a mistake he corrects it. It is nice to say that after 8 months of practicing kendo I am able to beat some people who have been practicing for 6 years. I am thankful for the strictness (is that a word too?) of my sensei and of my other teammates for making me as good as I am.

One of the best ways to learn is by being told that you are getting better but then showing all the mistakes so you can fix them. I like knowing what I do wrong so I don't fall into bad habbits.. Even if that means me practicing kote-men for 20 times in front of my fellow teammates. Sure it could be embarrassing, but I know I am learning, and thats all that should matter when it comes to that.

My Sensei is proud of the fact that he has a tall western girl on his team. He makes me feel welcome and tries to correct all my mistakes when I make them, but he doesn't get angry because he knows I am still learning. But when he notices that I don't make those mistakes anymore because I have learned is when he is most happy. (I can tell because he smiles...)

If you take kendo full at heart, and try your hardest, like I have while in Japan, your sensei will be happy with you. They may be strict to get you to improve as quickly as you can, but they will still be happy with how YOU inprove in your own pace. Just enjoy it. There is something about practicing kendo in Japan that makes it feel just wonderful. I have never been more happy in life then playing kendo at my dojo here in Tokyo.

[Tenjo]

Show Best, Skill good..?

[Nanbanjin]

I'd like to know more about Senki and other peoples experiences...
I was also thinking my self about Police Dojyo. I wonder if because of Japanese national pride relating to the police they would even consider letting a non Japanese practice.
Police in Japan pretty well do kendo for a living. Having you train with them is like you having a work experience person where you work. I think you need an introduction, but you can certainly train with the police.
I used to train with the riot police sometimes in Tokyo. However, I was only ever invited when it suited them. I think I would have gotten in the way at their normal practice sessions. I remember training at Keio University and the friend who introduced me told me not to take it personally if people refused to do jigeiko with me. He said it would be because there was a competition coming up and the students on the team would want to train with their sensei or sempai. As it turned out nobody refused to do jigeiko with me.

God I wish I was in Japan!

[reg]

Police in Japan pretty well do kendo for a living. Having you train with them is like you having a work experience person where you work. I think you need an introduction, but you can certainly train with the police.
I used to train with the riot police sometimes in Tokyo. However, I was only ever invited when it suited them. I think I would have gotten in the way at their normal practice sessions. I remember training at Keio University and the friend who introduced me told me not to take it personally if people refused to do jigeiko with me. He said it would be because there was a competition coming up and the students on the team would want to train with their sensei or sempai. As it turned out nobody refused to do jigeiko with me.

God I wish I was in Japan!
Musha, the cops will truly show you the meaning of biff. :wink: but in all seriousness, you probably need to know someone who knows people at keishichou, after that, it's totally up to them. but yeah, make more friends in kendo, and you're bound to find a way. best of luck in attaining your wish!

[Yaggdrasil]

Thats not a very nice thing to say. I hope that Japanese will encourage a foriegner and be hounored pass their skills on to someone different becuase i will be in the same situation soon.

[Wark 1978]

i dont' think that my senseis are any stricter on me than the other kendoka at the dojos i go to. if i do something wrong though i know about it. i don't get shouted at as much as some probably because they know that i can't really understand what they are saying.

i think that when senseis have a foreign student, it gives them a new set of challenges. they have to try and get their ideas across in a different way than usual. it is a challenge that i think many of them enjoy.

all that your senseis will want, whether you are japanese or not, is for you to give 100% everytime you practice. if you do that you'll be on the right track.