Why do you love Kendo/Kumdo?

[John Shin]

What aspect of kendo/kumdo you you appreciate the most?
Personally, I like the challenge of having to stay mentally focused at all times - no matter what particular technique you're working on.

Also, who dosen't love sparring?

Then there's the tradition/respect/etiquette philosophy of the art as a whole.

Oh, and don't forget the bogu!

I guess I love EVERYTHING about kumdo.

Joe Hibbs

[Andou]

Kendo means a lot of things to me a lot deeper than material attachment. I just love the feeling it gives...I don't know how to explain it but I'm sure you all know how it feels. It's that feeling when you take off your men after keiko and you feel even better than when you started no matter how exhausted you are and how much pain you are in. I dunno...maybe I'm just being sappy...I have a penchant for doing that.

[Anjin-san]

I like the fact that since we're all different to begin with, having been taught our basics in different ways by different people, in the end we're all climbing the same mountain. Thats everyone from Johnny Tanaka in Keishichou to John Smith in the new beginners course at Mumeishi Tel Aviv(for example).

[Carlos_Solis]

Kendo means a lot of things to me a lot deeper than material attachment. I just love the feeling it gives...I don't know how to explain it but I'm sure you all know how it feels. It's that feeling when you take off your men after keiko and you feel even better than when you started no matter how exhausted you are and how much pain you are in. I dunno...maybe I'm just being sappy...I have a penchant for doing that.

I know exactly what you mean, even though I just started Kendo, I always leave feeling better than when I came in, sometimes I dont even feel the pain, until the next mourning that is!! It makes me strive to improve myself, not only in Kendo but in all aspects of my life. Carlos

[Hank]

It's that feeling when you take off your men after keiko and you feel even better than when you started no matter how exhausted you are and how much pain you are in.It's like that guy who keeps hitting his head against the wall over and over again. One day a person asks him why he does it and he replies "Because it feels so good when I stop."

But, seriously, I know what you mean. Kendo is good.

Hank.

[joekc6nlx]

Gee, I gotta agree with Hank...it feels so good when practice is over and I can hit the shower. Which then leads to the anticipation of "the second dojo" and the activities there.

I get a lot of information during practice, but I also get a lot during "second dojo" class, as well. I try to listen to what people are talking about and see how I can apply the concepts to my own kendo.

I guess the other reward I get is watching the newer students and thinking, gee, I was there just a year ago. I am still a beginner, I don't have any grade yet, so I don't feel I'm in a position to tell the beginners how to do something, just give them encouragement.

Where else can I go and beat the crap out of someone with a bamboo stick and be thanked by that person, as well as letting them beat the crap out of me and thanking them, too?! :)

[The great I AM]

Kendo gives me stuff to aim for. When you think you're done, you can guarantee something else will come along out of your reach and encourage you to the next step. Plus, at least for me, kendo is something that I have actually managed to become good at, in fact pretty much the only thing! Think about it for a moment. What can you really say that you are good at? Maybe only one or two things in your life, if you are honest with yourself. This also means something to me, because I have a little something to keep my self smiling about after all the effort that I've thrown into kendo over the past few years. It keeps me going through kakarigeiko!

[Andou]

...When you think you're done, you can guarantee something else will come along out of your reach and encourage you to the next step. ...What can you really say that you are good at? Maybe only one or two things in your life, if you are honest with yourself. This also means something to me, because I have a little something to keep my self smiling about after all the effort that I've thrown into kendo over the past few years. It keeps me going through kakarigeiko!

Couldn't have said it better meself.