10 good things about Kendo

[Anjin-san]

So go on, write 10 cool things that happen to you in Kendo

- being completely and totally shattered, yet calling your reserves and going for just one more cut

- that once a year jigeiko/shiai when you come up from sonkyo and take ippon right away

- the feeling you get when you get cut cleanly by a junior and think 'shit, they're improving!'

- when a sempai you haven't seen in a while does jigeiko with you, and they're surprised at your improvement

- when you're trying to fix a sticking point you've had for weeks, and nothings been working, then you jigeiko with your sensei, he gives you the tiniest bit of advice and it all comes together...

- doing jigeiko with a sensei who can take you to your physical limit, and then just a little bit further

- getting your first set of armour, the new armour smell, thinking 'I'm a Kendoka now'

- the nervousness of your first shiai, overcoming it, and fighting with all your spirit, even if your level means you're on the floor half the time, getting shoved around by guys twice your size. You're happy whether you won or lost, because it was such a rush!

- that one time where you got an unquestionable, rock-solid, 3 flags up in unison, ippon in shiai.

- going the dojo and knowing 'my kendo will be better when I leave here than it was when I came in'

[neko kenshi]

Heh, good ones. Hmmm,

5 From the beginners perspective:

Actually seeing an improvement in your men after countless suburi

Getting complimented in anyway by a sempai

Finally realising what you've been doing wrong all this time with that _____ waza

Hearing the sound of what you think to be your first clean men

Laughing at how much you suck and resolving to train harder

[ChaShu]

Here's another two more:

The moment you realise that what you saw some of the more advanced students doing that first practice, and saying to yourself: "I don't know how the hell I'll be able to do that!" is what you're doing now...

Hobbling away from a particularly hard keiko knowing that you still have a long way to go, and resolving to do so.

[Kendoboy]

1. Realizing that the things you like about kendo are the same things that everyone else likes about kendo, that you're part of a community that is world wide, and that something as simple as swinging a stick can bring together millions of people.

2. knowing that kendo came from violent origins, but was turned into something that promotes friendship and understanding.

[Hisham]

1) Being part of a worldwide community.
2) A good reason to know about another culture
3) Getting to know your body and yourself more, especially when you're at the limit of exhaustion.
4) The workout
5) The opportunity to experience with the waza fully without "harming" your opponent. (i miss this one)
6) The feeling while and after a clean cut by me or on me.
7) Helps with the Spiritual discipline.
8) Maintaining a shinai (one of the reasons that i don't think that i'll ever go for a carbon one)
9) Playing "shinai hockey", that was great fun.
10) to be from time to time humbled.

[Andou]

1. The pride you have knowing that you're practicing something hundreds of years in the making.
2. The discipline that comes with it.
3. The feeling after an intense practice.
4. Seeing what kind of person you really are once you put the men on.
5. How senseis can make you feel like a little kid holding a stick in one moment to an accomplished practicioner in another.
6. Finally getting that quick (sometimes cocky!) sempai's men in jigeiko.
7. Seeing attentiveness on behalf of all the students and watching those that slack suffer.
8. Losing all sense of the outside world and only tuned into your opponent and your own breathing.
9. When young kids or beginners see you in bogu and are envious...that feels good.
10. The fact that I have finally found something that I can honestly call my life.


aaaand.
11. The silent satisfaction of knowing that you could hit the kid's head who was fooling with the yard stick 3 times before he fell to the ground.

[eXact]

1) meeting japanese chicks
2) doing them
3) oh yah the kendo is pretty fun too

wow i have a long way to go, but kendos about spiritual development isn't it?

[kendo-boi]

1) meeting japanese chicks
2) doing them
3) oh yah the kendo is pretty fun too

wow i have a long way to go, but kendos about spiritual development isn't it?

Hahaha.....meeting Japanese chinks??

[Andou]

1) meeting japanese chicks
2) doing them
3) oh yah the kendo is pretty fun too

wow i have a long way to go, but kendos about spiritual development isn't it?

I hope you're kidding.

[GoldenShinai]

1) meeting japanese chicks
2) doing them
3) oh yah the kendo is pretty fun too

wow i have a long way to go, but kendos about spiritual development isn't it?
wow, that was a little overboard.

[Anjin-san]

Good replies those of you who went with the spirit of the thread. I find that its different every time I think about it, group hug!

I hate to agree with GoldenShinai, but the rest of you guys are freaks. If you had just said, yeah japanese girls are cool then thats ok. But the rest? Its not really appropriate. And this is coming from ME ffs.

[GoldenShinai]

What's wrong with agreeing with me huh?

[Donkey]

I must be the only one who gets free beer at the end of practise...

[nikolaj]

the best ones have allready been named I guess....
also why is this in the flames section?

[drizzt]

- that once a year jigeiko/shiai when you come up from sonkyo and take ippon right away



what is ippon. im sorry im not familiar with that term(two issues A. i practice in a korean dojo and B. ive never participated in shiai)

[drizzt]

the best ones have allready been named I guess....
also why is this in the flames section?

becasue some smart alleck will come up and be rude about it more than likely.....

[Theodore]

Plus going home, sitting in the hot tub and sipping a dram or two of this (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/balvenib.htm) as I stare up at the stars. Doesn't get better than that ... to let all of the tension drain away and debrief yourself on your kendo.

[Tato]

Plus going home, sitting in the hot tub and sipping a dram or two of this (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/balvenib.htm) as I stare up at the stars. Doesn't get better than that ... to let all of the tension drain away and debrief yourself on your kendo.


Theodore....

...you are wise.

[fitzj]

Plus going home, sitting in the hot tub and sipping a dram or two of this (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/balvenib.htm) as I stare up at the stars. Doesn't get better than that ... to let all of the tension drain away and debrief yourself on your kendo.

Or in my case (if I could actually practise Kendo up here), taking a drive and visiting the distillery and the many others within an hour of my house

[nostalgic jedi]

1. Being stained with indigo dye after your first practice breaking in your new uniform

2. Stiff shoulders from a brand new men

3. Striking that winning men in the last ten second of a match

4. Laughing at kendo jokes you didn’t understand before

5. Forming rivalries against the other Dojo

6. The “pop” of a good men

7. Bragging about your sensei to other students

8. Playing “war”

9. Smell of kendo

10. That complete feeling in after a good practice

[Mugu]

For another beginner's perspectives:

1. OH MY GOD, I haven't sweat like this for years!!!
2. hoooo I feel dizzy (for excercising too much)
3. For the first time in years, my arms, and legs are hurting because I was excercising, not because of clumsiness
4. In the fourth week of practicing, I get to wear my new uniform
5. I actually practice suburi at home and actually doing it (without anyone telling me to!)
6. I actually get to show off some of my Japanese!

I think that's all I can think of for now :)

[Berugijin]

Peeling off the dead skin on your big toe.

[ISSAC RU]

here is a pretty sick one..

cut open the blister and peel off the skin..
you see all the water exploding out...sweeeeet.

[joekc6nlx]

Plus going home, sitting in the hot tub and sipping a dram or two of this (http://www.scotchwhisky.com/english/about/malts/balvenib.htm) as I stare up at the stars. Doesn't get better than that ... to let all of the tension drain away and debrief yourself on your kendo.

I had the honor of being invited to a Scotch tasting party once. I remember the really smooth feeling of the whisky as it went down. I have a bottle of Isle of Jura, but never opened it, yet. I don't remember if we tasted the particular malt you linked to, but I know we had some from Speyside.

BTW, thanks for the link, I found it very informative.

[BlueHands]

How about:

Doing a perfect makiotoshi and watching their shinan fly out of their hands just before you nail a perfect men with kiai so loud you hurt you own ears.

[Alidax]

To put the men on.;-)

When your senpai who never gave you any appreciation says 'Excellent' to your kakarigeiko.

To get an ippon on your senpai whom you never ever could even to touch with your shinai.

To stay in seiza at the end of an exhausting training hardly able to speak or move.

To stand under the shower letting the hot water to flow thinking about what you've learnt that day.

To sit in the pub after the training drinking something cold not saying anything but listening to the others totally absorbed in the atmosphere of the place.

And so on...:-)

[kanyil]

Favorite things in Kendo? Here I go:

Having a kohai take a good, square ippon off me;
Seeing kohais get better, or learn a new waza, or returning to Kendo after prolonged absence, or just seeing promising kohais turning up to practice;
Getting recognized in a pub by a kohai (who just happened to be working there), and treated to free drinks/food without having to make any suggestions; :D
Banging head repeatedly on a new waza, only to have it all come together after I am no longer actively working on it.
Once in a blue moon, have one of "those" jigeikos where everything just totally goes your way;
Visiting and keikoing people I met on Kendo-World;
annnd....

Congratulating myself for having survived a seemingly extra-long kakarigeiko, only to find that it was supposed to be untimed jigeiko. :D

[stephanie dee]

1. OH MY GOD, I haven't sweat like this for years!!!
2. hoooo I feel dizzy (for excercising too much)
3. For the first time in years, my arms, and legs are hurting because I was excercising, not because of clumsiness


Thats me!!! Except with Iaido! I only started 3 weeks ago!

Some of the most annoying things about being a beginner (because I can't really comment on the good trhings, I haven't done it enough:

Not have a clue what the cuts and moves are called in Japanese
Not being able to laugh at the jokes because you don't understand them
Watching the other students do something perfectly first time and when you try to do it completely wrong
The club's bokken that you borrow is far too long!
Watching everyone put the Iatio back into the scabbard thingy and you have to pretend that you have one because you are only using a bokken
Looking at the size of everyone else's arms, forearms and backs then looking at your puny little ones that can barely lift the bokken!
Not getting the footwork right!!!!

[Andou]

Thats me!!! Except with Iaido! I only started 3 weeks ago!

Some of the most annoying things about being a beginner (because I can't really comment on the good trhings, I haven't done it enough:

Not have a clue what the cuts and moves are called in Japanese
Not being able to laugh at the jokes because you don't understand them
Watching the other students do something perfectly first time and when you try to do it completely wrong
The club's bokken that you borrow is far too long!
Watching everyone put the Iatio back into the scabbard thingy and you have to pretend that you have one because you are only using a bokken
Looking at the size of everyone else's arms, forearms and backs then looking at your puny little ones that can barely lift the bokken!
Not getting the footwork right!!!!

Don't worry yourself about those things...Those are things that will come in time. Soon you'll be cracking jokes yourself and all the new students will be scratching their heads. So long as you keep practicing, anything can be achieved. The most important thing to take into consideration in Iaido (as with any other martial art) is how freaking cool you look. Ahahahaha, nah...but...the hakama does compliment my figure nicely if I do say so meself.

[Naginatagirl]

Most of them have been said of course, but here are a few of the things I love in kendo:

~that first practice your foot doesn't bleed and you get to stay through the whole thing
~the split second you hold your breath between your first ("spirit building") kiai and the moment your next one explodes in a strike.
~being allowed to do little men for the first time after a year of only large movements
~feeling like you're about to pass out but still somehow managing to push on and win a compliment from a senior sensei
~sanding and oiling your shinai after a hard practice
~being a good motodachi even when your arm and hand are so swollen they fill out your kote
~flowing through kote-men for the first time with proper timing
~getting your zekken and going from an anonymous newbie to a member of your dojo
~working a part-time job while at school and training five times a week, just to earn your bogu outside, and inside, the dojo
~that practice that pushed you beyond your limit causing your kiai to go from what you made it, into what it really was.

and
~the time between practices when you know you had practice yesterday, and you know you'll have it tomorrow.
~getting to see places like the Kendo-World forums where others share your love of Kendo

I really enjoy this thread, it makes me so much more excited about Kendo ^^ YAY!

[Anjin-san]

~flowing through kote-men for the first time with proper timing

One of my favourites :-)

[Andou]

One of my favourites :-)


True, true. You can usually tell how some people fight simply by their kote>men.

[Anjin-san]

Just thought of one, when you do an earth-shattering fumikomi with your cut that doesn't hurt at all.

[Mr. Donigan]

How about doing all day kendo demonstrations for a local elementary school. The looks on their faces when they see swords, armor, strikes, jumping, hear yelling, and finished off with good sportsmanship. But I tell you there is nothing like the last 5 min. of the day when you've done countless demonstrations that day and you have no energy left for sloppy play. Everything is perfect, your mind is clear, and you finally realize what they mean by "no mind". However sore arms and legs for 2 days isn't the most fun. If you haven't done demo's for school kids, I suggest you offer. They are the best audiances!

[yohed55]

This is a really good thread, I figured I would bump it.

[ahmed61086]

Being in and out of a kendo slump for more than 5 months and then, Bam, it all starts coming back.

Practicing Jodan for the first time and actually scoring a point.

Traveling the World just to get to a tournament and then winning.

Meeting lots of nice people.

Telling people that you practice kendo and getting that stupid look in return.........priceless.

[yohed55]

I have pondered long to come up with my favorites, not including the ones mentioned.


Correcting a kohai and looking at your sempai for aknowledgement, and seeing him smile and wink at you.
Knowing you just recieved a sentimental gift from your sempai, no matter how much he tries to play it off as something he did when he was bored.
Impressing the new guys who are twice your age with your kiai.
After a practice in the summer, sitting up on your roof at night looking up at the stars.
Correcting your history teacher on an otherwise usless samurai fact.
When one of your school teachers is acting like I'm an inferior being, I have the satisfaction of knowing I could strip them of their pride after one round of jigeiko.
SUMMER KENDO!!!!!

[Rurouni Kenshin]

- Feeling like a kid with a stick again
- Scaring the lil kids with my ugly face and kiai to have a lil laugh with them afterwards so they discover I am actually human.
- With my minimalistic knowledge being able to instruct first timers on at least a proper grip or footplacement.
- The sensei telling you, you can put on the club bogu and him tying your men :happy: . Followed by the 10 minutes of disorientation; where am I, who am I, what am I doing here, dont forget to breathe - POF - aahh, this is Kendo......
- Sempai telling you: do another one; see if you can pull of another nice one like that, you did good.
- Dicovering that being hit can actually fun.
- Meeting new nice people; making friends or getting there.
- Making my mom feel good seeing me enjoy something this much.

And a whole bunch more I can not put into words or just slipped my mind at the moment.

[Lloromannic]

When I was ikkyu I did jigeiko with a visiting rokudan. Aftyerwards he asked me if I was Nidan or Sandan. I wish I could do that well more often.

[Washington]

~ Falling behind in a match 1-0 and rallying from behind to win 1-2
~ All the students that you remember couldn't even hold a bokken correctly that now are in bogu showing others how to hold a bokken
~ I really love seeing "Spokane" in the tournament results
~ Learning new things and passing them on to others who pass them on to othes...
~ The spring in your step constant training adds

[iam_pk]

1. hit the others
2. shout out loud
3. train up reaction
4. hit the others!!
5. looks cool
6. best way to reduce weight
7. release pressure
8. good exercise
9. teach me how to concentrate
10. hit the others!!!!!!!!!!!

[ekajati]

1 Reaching the point, at last, where your inner cave woman/man is no longer scared of those weird blue people with grilles over their faces and you start to recognise some of them and finally accept they're human :silly:
2 Going into the dojo feeling like a very dead dishrag and coming out feeling perky
3 The pleasant shock (this is very rare for me!) of the "POCK!" sound of a men which just might be ok and not crap
4 The Motodachis don't all tell you off for doing something anymore which they kept on telling you off about the week before
5 V senior mean Motodachi actually praising you... a little :rolleyes:
6 The feeling of seeing a little "spirit" arise where in the past you felt you were a confirmed hopeless couchpotato
7 Focus sharpening, excercises feeling less confusing
8 Being able to walk up several flights of stairs now without hanging on to the railing for dear life towards the top and not gasping for breath
9 Feeling you enjoy it so much you're thinking about it on non-class days
10 Realising that though it seemed impossible previously, there are actually some people you're a little better than :silly:

[Nakura]

Hmm...actually had to take a whole hour-long train journey to think about this! :D

1. Coming up against a fighter who used to scare me and be able to hold my own
2. The feeling of sheer exhaustion after a good ji-geiko
3. Donning dougi, hakama and bougu (feels like a second skin!)
4. Practicing a certain waza and knowing it was good that one time
5. Getting a valid uchi on a sempai/sensei when they didn't give it to me
6. Having a sempai/sensei fight me in jodan
7. Fighting someone of almost exactly the same ability
8. The post-keiko drink and socialising
9. Being complimented on my kihon
10. Going to bed absolutely shattered but knowing I had a good keiko and that another will soon follow

[andrew_kumdo]

So go on, write 10 cool things that happen to you in Kendo

- being completely and totally shattered, yet calling your reserves and going for just one more cut

- that once a year jigeiko/shiai when you come up from sonkyo and take ippon right away

- the feeling you get when you get cut cleanly by a junior and think 'shit, they're improving!'

- when a sempai you haven't seen in a while does jigeiko with you, and they're surprised at your improvement

- when you're trying to fix a sticking point you've had for weeks, and nothings been working, then you jigeiko with your sensei, he gives you the tiniest bit of advice and it all comes together...

- doing jigeiko with a sensei who can take you to your physical limit, and then just a little bit further

- getting your first set of armour, the new armour smell, thinking 'I'm a Kendoka now'

- the nervousness of your first shiai, overcoming it, and fighting with all your spirit, even if your level means you're on the floor half the time, getting shoved around by guys twice your size. You're happy whether you won or lost, because it was such a rush!

- that one time where you got an unquestionable, rock-solid, 3 flags up in unison, ippon in shiai.

- going the dojo and knowing 'my kendo will be better when I leave here than it was when I came in' ahahahah!

1. when u do a clean men with some nice footwork and good kia with perfect arm extension
2. when u grade up (i have a logn way to go =[ )
3. when you learn something new
4. when you can try on a bogu

[taganahan]

1. the friends you make from all over the nation.

~taganahan

[Fonsz]

1. the friends you make from all over the nation.

~taganahan 1. the friends you make from all over the World.:wink:

[WhoIsRight]

When I was ikkyu I did jigeiko with a visiting rokudan. Aftyerwards he asked me if I was Nidan or Sandan. I wish I could do that well more often.

you think he was being serious?

Ha.............

[Lloromannic]

you think he was being serious?

Ha.............

Yes, I actually think that (although of course he was being more than polite). That particular day has been the finest I've ever done.

[Angelfire]

1. The face of people asking me "What is Kendo?"

2. My sweat dripping from my face 1 minute after the practice, the smell of my exhasted breath escaping from my mouth.

[Anjin-san]

More for me!

-When a two year long kendo related plan all comes together in a single afternoon.

-Getting fearsome club tenogui printed.

-Cheering on members from your club while they fight in taikai

-Fighting as Taisho with the pressure on you to win (2 wins 2 losses so far), getting ippon and securing the fight for the team.

-Fighting as Taisho with the rest of the team already having won their matches 2-0 each. One of which was in jodan with katate men. Ooh.

-Fighting as Taisho against another team from your dojo in the final.

- (An old one) Fighting as Taisho with the rest of the team having lost their matches 2-0 each, and then beating their 5th dan taisho 2-0 back to show em we may not have won, but we mean business.

-Announcing all this to UCL Sports Board!

-Sneaking lots of beer and chocolate on the coach back and getting royally shitfaced.

-Sleep and food after a taikai

[Shep]

1. Being complimented by Sensei after cutting my foot open on my first practice and wanting to go on practicing (after cleaning it of course!):vampire:

[MSPaintClock]

1. Maybe not for you guys, but Kendo is cool to those you know and they wish they did it.

[LarsCW]

Being able to practise again after a period of having an injury.

The bad part is not yet being that far and having to wait about 2 weeks till I can try practising.

[MSPaintClock]

[QUOTE=nostalgic jedi]

8. Playing “war”

[QUOTE]


Oh my, never done that before but it sure does sound fun! :D

[Paikea]

you think he was being serious?

Ha.............More than I believe you've ever held a shinai. Plonk.

[Kitsune]

- Meeting new and interesting people
- Having control on my own body ( i have problems with my coordination)
- Having control on my own temper
- Feeling that you can do anything
- Having the posibility to go to another city and participate in a tournament
- You can control your weight!
- Having the posibility to end up the day with a big smile

[Ignatz]

- Meeting new and interesting people

. . .from other cultures and civilizations and beating the living snot out of them. (just kidding Fonz)
Pie (not kidding)

[runsyi]

. . .from other cultures and civilizations and beating the living snot out of them. (just kidding Fonz)
Pie (not kidding)

I take it that's an order?

My favorite thing about Kendo is keisatsu kenshi. Yum.

[Alison2805]

getting someone to step out of the shiai area (whatever you call it) by kiai alone!! HAHA!!! Poor Ahmed. Wish I could do that more often.

[Ignatz]

My favorite thing about Kendo is keisatsu kenshi. Yum.
Word is: hotei bengoshi is hotter than a three dollar pistol.

[The great I AM]

Word is: hotei bengoshi is hotter than a three dollar pistol.Three dollar pistol must be f-cking cold then....

[Ignatz]

Three dollar pistol must be f-cking cold then....
What a witty, incisive riposte, especially from a guy who is proud of the skid marks on his hakama. I'm cut to the quick (and you know how uncomfortable that can be).

[Spendius]

- Recieving my first bogu set, being all excited to try it right away, find out that unforunately one men chigawa (sp?) is missing, then the next day find on the kendo world forums that you can tie the himo without chigawa at all. I can't wait to be home !
- breaking in your first bogu

[Newbie]

- getting home from keiko and looking for the most impressive bruise to show off at work :)

[Kitsune]

- getting home from keiko and looking for the most impressive bruise to show off at work :)


We should do a thread calling Tha bruise of the week and compite for the bigest, ugliest and impressive bruise got it on kendo, hohoho!:silly:

[Newbie]

Aww, why couldn't we do that last week? My beauty from a missed kote has gone from it's black, blue and purple splendour along my forearm to just a couple dirty marks that look like I haven't had a shower in a couple days.

[Kitsune]

Hey! that's nothing my best bruise ever was in janury and it was on my hip (a lot of missed doh) It looked like to one of the Jupiter's spots and it' was reallly Purple!

[Rouisu]

- The beautiful snap you hear when you land a perfect do strike.

-Trapping my opponent's shinai with my shoto as I simultaneously move in for the kill with my daito. The 'caught with their pants down' look they give me always brings a smile to my face.

[Hai_hai]

So go on, write 10 cool things that happen to you in Kendo

Well, you get to wear cool looking uniforms and armor and swing around bamboo swords. That's two things.

[LarsCW]

Dunno the number:eek:

First time practising after not being able to practise for 9 weeks and then the rest of the week being sore cause I haven't used these muscles all that time.

Pijn is fijn, laat het bloed maar zitten:cheerful:

[Paikea]

Dunno the number:eek:

First time practising after not being able to practise for 9 weeks and then the rest of the week being sore cause I haven't used these muscles all that time.

Pijn is fijn, laat het bloed maar zitten:cheerful:I hear that...been out for 4 weeks due to a bum elbow. Cannot wait to get back to keiko tonight.

[Hai_hai]

I hear that...been out for 4 weeks due to a bum elbow. Cannot wait to get back to keiko tonight.
Will you be doing "old-man" kendo?

[LarsCW]

I hear that...been out for 4 weeks due to a bum elbow. Cannot wait to get back to keiko tonight.

The beginners had target practise on me instead of the advanced group, they were doing shiai specific stuff which would have been possibly too heavy on my shoulder.

It was really great thou, sure those tweety bird causing men strikes weren't what i was hoping for but after the sensei's explanation of te-no-uchi they stopped hitting hard. Then getting the beginners to kiai and attack more agressive which was just fun to do.

It's really cool to see some of them change from quiet and then after they are confident enough trowing out these loud confident kiai.

I do know I'm only practising just over a year but like this I'm really feeling like I can give back a little of what was given during last year.

[kenshi07]

wow this all sounds so cool, this makes me want to find a dojo even more. . .
0

[Fonsz]

wow this all sounds so cool, this makes me want to find a dojo even more. . .
0
So what are you waiting for? If you really want to you can find a way or means to practice at a dojo. A legitimate dojo that is. Follow the advise of the locals here and just do it! It sure beats getting torn to bits because of your poetry and other vulnerable stuff that you post here. There are a lot cynics around here in case you haven't noticed.

[Omnis]

When I felt super-dizzy after doing haya-suburi, that was pretty neat-O.

I had to excuse myself to get a drink of water and warm melted butter.

[kenshi07]

So what are you waiting for? If you really want to you can find a way or means to practice at a dojo. A legitimate dojo that is. Follow the advise of the locals here and just do it! It sure beats getting torn to bits because of your poetry and other vulnerable stuff that you post here. There are a lot cynics around here in case you haven't noticed.

I know i've looked, the closest dojo is over 150mi. away so im stuck lisntening to the cynics until i can leave this backwater town.:disapp:

[Ignatz]

On Friday I poent almost 4 1/2 hours in the car for 1 1/2 hours of practice. It is usually only 3 1/2 hours round trip, What was your excuse again? Busy writing poetry?

[LarsCW]

I travel each day i have to work 3 hours round trips and on weekends 3,5 to 4 hours so I can kendo.

I live about 30 to 40 min from the dojo

[kenshi07]

When I felt super-dizzy after doing haya-suburi, that was pretty neat-O.

I had to excuse myself to get a drink of water and warm melted butter.

Um...what does melted butter have to do with feeling dizzy?:confused:

[Osakajinyan]

my top ten is:

1. Being part of a world wide organisation: You can move 10000 km and join a club and you will see they are doing same you learned.
2. Taikai were you meet fellow Kendoka you did not see for a year or so
3. Sleeping in the dojo hall together with the 7th dan sensei, who snores
4. The beer after a long day of Kendo training at a gasshuku
5. Discussions after while drinking the beer (not nessesarily about Kendo)
6. The sayonara party at the end of the gasshuku
7. Finaly getting your new bogu because your old one was second hand already when you bought it. (I will get mine brand new one next week)
8. No belts, but you can advance in the art for your hole life, not like in other art where they consider themselfes as masters after 5 years of training.
9. When a japanese sensei tries to get you with umeboshi and you return the favor with liquorice and watch his face while he tries to eat it.
10. Meeting Japanese and impress them with japanese vocabulary they don't even know, but you.

[mashu19]

the best feeling i ever had was when i had my first practice comp. i had only been playing kendo for 3 months. the feeling was just increadible when i hit that katate men(from jodan) and scored my first point. somehow i didnt even hear my team mates cheering, and i was smiling from ear to ear.. best feeling ever...also a little bit of shock. oh thats my coloured flag....

[Chaby]

the best feeling i ever had was when i had my first practice comp. i had only been playing kendo for 3 months. the feeling was just increadible when i hit that katate men(from jodan) and scored my first point. somehow i didnt even hear my team mates cheering, and i was smiling from ear to ear.. best feeling ever...also a little bit of shock. oh thats my coloured flag....

Good thing you "play" kendo from jodan as mudansha.
Otherwise it would be wrong to resurrect old thread.

[rfoxmich]

Turning 50 and
1.Having so many of the people I know in kendo turning out for a practice that was on my birthday.
If any of you are prowling.. thanks that meant a lot.
2. Understanding during that practice, and hopefully being able to demonstrate that 50 is still young by kendo standards.