Kenjutsu Kata/Forums (polite re-post ^^)

[Ninja_H]

Whaddya know, I just happened to find this forum in a google search and read that thread the kenjutsu bloke posted sometime ago!

So... can anybody give me links to good kenjutsu sites and/or forums? I'm asking this, because I practice Bujutsu, and I love training with my bokken (so far I've broken 3 lamps, 5 corners, 3 CDs, and did countless holes in the ceiling/walls... which is why I shouldn't be allowed to practice it in my room).

The way I'm kata starved, anything will do, as long as it's katana related...

[Fonsz]

Aha a post by a Ninja all the way from Japan. Welcome to this Forum. If you are looking for Ken Jutsu look at E-Budo.com. They were apparently hacked (the site that is) and are now back online. We here only know some things about Kendo. Which is a form of Ken Jutsu but standarized.
Good luck.

[Ninja_H]

ありがと ぐぢいます!



(translation: thanks a bunch!)

[Kaoru]

Whaddya know, I just happened to find this forum in a google search and read that thread the kenjutsu bloke posted sometime ago!

So... can anybody give me links to good kenjutsu sites and/or forums? I'm asking this, because I practice Bujutsu, and I love training with my bokken (so far I've broken 3 lamps, 5 corners, 3 CDs, and did countless holes in the ceiling/walls... which is why I shouldn't be allowed to practice it in my room).

The way I'm kata starved, anything will do, as long as it's katana related...

Hi!

Welcome!

Well, you can't teach yourself. You need a real dojo and a qualified sensei.

What you are doing is not Kenjutsu. You are just waving a bokuto around.

If you are so kata starved, why haven't you tried to find a dojo? Where are you located? Do you live in Japan or elsewhere? Don't ask on e-budo for kata. They will laugh you off that forum if you say you want to learn from the internet. DO ask for a dojo and you will get help.

Really, you can't learn using a book, video or the internet. The ONLY thing you will do is gather loads of bad habits and wrong technique when you attempt to teach yourself. Trust me, it is really hard and a royal pain to have to unlearn every single bad habit and mistake.

If you give your location here and on e-budo, we can help you find a dojo. Oh, and please post in the sword arts DOJO subforum and not the main one on e-budo. :)

If you are in Japan, there is a LOT of JSA to be had there.

Hope this helps!

Kaoru

[Okami]

ありがと ぐぢいます!



(translation: thanks a bunch!)

Acctually that should be 「ありがとうございます」 which reads as "arigatou gozaimasu" a phrase most if not all on this forum should be familliar with as a formal way of expressing your thanks. Also spaces are not used in japanese thus it would be a challange to read if they didn't use kanji =)

I didn't quite understand what you meant by "train bujutsu", do you train in some sort of club with a licensed instructor or are you just another 15-year-old who's seen one to many samurai-movies? (No intention to be rude, just going with the straight approach ;) )

[Kaoru]

Acctually that should be 「ありがとうございます」 which reads as "arigatou gozaimasu" a phrase most if not all on this forum should be familliar with as a formal way of expressing your thanks. Also spaces are not used in japanese thus it would be a challange to read if they didn't use kanji =)

I didn't quite understand what you meant by "train bujutsu", do you train in some sort of club with a licensed instructor or are you just another 15-year-old who's seen one to many samurai-movies? (No intention to be rude, just going with the straight approach ;) )

Read his post again. It's clear he's not in a dojo. *sigh*

Sometimes there will be spaces if only Hiragana is used. I've seen it a couple times in language study books and the children's Hiragana Japanese study books(All in Japanese, too.) I have. Are you Japanese? If so, why are spaces for the individual words? My language editor disappeared, so I can't write in it now and I hate romaji...

So, when I say, "Watashi no inu wa, namae wa Sakura desu." (Oh, I hope I wrote that right!) why can spaces be used in romaji, and not in characters? :confused:

Kaoru

[will_1835]

I just wanted to say that training on your own is quite possible. That is how I learned the majority of what I know. Ultimately, one will need practice with a real sword, and one-on-one practice(with boken!). However, almost all can be learned on your own. You don't even need a boken. A broom handle can be a good start. Kenjutsu is a philosophy. How do you use the sword? How do you become one with it, and control it? Think about it as you train. Buying a small kenjutsu book or two can help. But it is actually very simple to master the sword. It just takes practice and training. I do recomend not training so much in your room. I have been using the katana now for about 13 years, since I was 14 years old. I am not a person that likes to brag by any means, however, if I may be so bold, I am sufficiently proficient with a katana, and have beaten many in boken challenges. And for the record, I did start with a broom handle, watching "samurai movies". Actually, Highlander to be exact. No one should be discouraged by that ignorant, hostile person posting messages here, or any where. And contrary to what he says also, one does not need to know Japanese to post messages here, I mean come on. Any how. Good luck to all......

[neko kenshi]

I just wanted to say that training on your own is quite possible. That is how I learned the majority of what I know. Ultimately, one will need practice with a real sword, and one-on-one practice(with boken!). However, almost all can be learned on your own. You don't even need a boken. A broom handle can be a good start. Kenjutsu is a philosophy. How do you use the sword? How do you become one with it, and control it? Think about it as you train. Buying a small kenjutsu book or two can help. But it is actually very simple to master the sword. It just takes practice and training. I do recomend not training so much in your room. I have been using the katana now for about 13 years, since I was 14 years old. I am not a person that likes to brag by any means, however, if I may be so bold, I am sufficiently proficient with a katana, and have beaten many in boken challenges. And for the record, I did start with a broom handle, watching "samurai movies". Actually, Highlander to be exact. No one should be discouraged by that ignorant, hostile person posting messages here, or any where. And contrary to what he says also, one does not need to know Japanese to post messages here, I mean come on. Any how. Good luck to all......

Do yourself a favor and don't post again. Just find some the other threads about self teachers and you'll see exactly what will happen here.

[I_am_Cthulhu]

Will,

Got any videos of your bokken challenges? I would be interested in seeing them.

I have always wanted to become a samurai but didn't really know how to go about doing it. Any tips? I am especially interested in learning the teachniques you have taught yourself.

Any books you can recommend?

[Mokujin77]

Will,

Got any videos of your bokken challenges? I would be interested in seeing them.

I have always wanted to become a samurai but didn't really know how to go about doing it. Any tips? I am especially interested in learning the teachniques you have taught yourself.

Any books you can recommend?

Dude, I will be amazed if you get a reply to that!

[kartoffelngeist]

Hey, you guys need to learn a bit of respect for more experienced kenshi.

He has seen Highlander after all....

[will_1835]

Sorry. My only videos are old ones on tape somewhere. Kenjutsu: The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship by Charles Daniel-ISBN 0865681481 was a cheesey old book I remember studying in my early years. But the important thing is to feel the sword(or boken). To understand how it moves, how it reacts in your hands, where every part of it is at all times, and how to properly guide it to what it is supposed to do, and where it is supposed to go. It's like having an extension to your body. It's almost as if you can "feel" through the blade. When the sword becomes one with you, mastering the art is very simple. One just needs the heart and spirit for it. But is truly sad that many people on here seem like nothing but angry, arrogant hormonal teenagers. There is so much more to Kenjutsu than memorizing a series of kata that you paid a sensei to teach you. Who taught Kenjutsu before it existed? No one. It was created. And it must be created in our hearts and minds, on our own. Regardless of if it's with the aid of a sensei, your mother, or Colonel Sanders, it's something you have to do on your own. But you kids just don't have the spirit in you. Sad indeed......

[neko kenshi]

The very fact that you felt the need to retaliate and defend yourself despite my admonition demonstrates your own immaturity, so don't be so condescending until you're mature enough that you don't need to be. I'll let everyone else point out all your other mistakes.

[fifthchamber]

And I don't think I've ever heard anyone who ever wanted to be taken seriously say that you should "feel through the blade"...Umm. As for knowing where every part of it is at all times..I'm bad at that..Sometimes I lose the Tsuba..Sometimes the bokken itself..Bad of me..
And the sword doesn't really become one with you...Or you with it...Cause thats something that only happened a few times in the 1980's and was luckily filmed in grainy-vision by someone who put it immediately onto video and left it at my rental store on the highest shelf...Behind the dust..
Confused?...Me too..

[kartoffelngeist]

Sorry. My only videos are old ones on tape somewhere. Kenjutsu: The Art of Japanese Swordsmanship by Charles Daniel-ISBN 0865681481 was a cheesey old book I remember studying in my early years. But the important thing is to feel the sword(or boken). To understand how it moves, how it reacts in your hands, where every part of it is at all times, and how to properly guide it to what it is supposed to do, and where it is supposed to go. It's like having an extension to your body. It's almost as if you can "feel" through the blade. When the sword becomes one with you, mastering the art is very simple. One just needs the heart and spirit for it. But is truly sad that many people on here seem like nothing but angry, arrogant hormonal teenagers. There is so much more to Kenjutsu than memorizing a series of kata that you paid a sensei to teach you. Who taught Kenjutsu before it existed? No one. It was created. And it must be created in our hearts and minds, on our own. Regardless of if it's with the aid of a sensei, your mother, or Colonel Sanders, it's something you have to do on your own. But you kids just don't have the spirit in you. Sad indeed......


LOL

(spare letters because LOL is too short)

[ScottUK]

Will,

What kenjutsu have you taught yourself and from what sources?

Cheers,

Scott

[pgsmith]

There is so much more to Kenjutsu than memorizing a series of kata that you paid a sensei to teach you. Who taught Kenjutsu before it existed? No one. It was created. And it must be created in our hearts and minds, on our own.
Wow! That's very deep! How long have you been working on your kenjutsu to achieve that deep of an understanding of things? Did mastery come easy for you, or did it take a lot of blood, sweat, and effort?

[Hisham]

I think his mastery comes from centuries of personal war experience, the thing is the latest kind of time machines that are sold nowadays can only get you back 50 years or so with no actual garanties to come back to your own time. He did mention that he can "feel the blade" mmmm, can it be another way to time travel?!:glasses:

[will_1835]

Will,

What kenjutsu have you taught yourself and from what sources?

Cheers,

Scott

To Scott. I have focused primarily on the most original form of Kenjustsu, as was once used in wartime in ancient Japan. As far as sources? Well I would certainly say I am eclectic. I collected whatever ideas I could from whatever sources. Whether it be instructional videos, internet, books, magazines, or even corny samurai flicks. But overall I have found that practice, solo, and with others, and having a philosophy for the blade; that is, constantly thinking about it and focusing on where it is, and how it moves, and how it can be moved, is important. When I was about 15 or 16 I started a little unofficial dojo for my friends and I. And that was when I first started 1-on-1 practice and competitions. It wasn't just about "teaching" them. I learned so much from it myself. We really got good. We WERE doing some things that you only see in movies. Of course not all things in the movies are real-some are silly. It is Hollywood of course. As for some of the other repliers: I was not, nor am I trying to put anyone down, nor say that training in a dojo is insuficient. I only ask to consider this: Is there a kenjutsu dojo in every town in the world? Certainly not. Infact, most of the towns I have lived in have been at least 100 miles from a dojo. On top of that, dojos cost money. Also one thing that has been a hinderance for many. If a man or woman is poor, and lives 300 miles from a dojo, should their practice of kenjutsu be forbiden? I should think not. As far as myself. I never claimed to be some world master of Kenjutsu. I simply said I am comfortable with where I am in my skill, and consider myself satisfactorily proficient. And as to "feeling" and "knowing" where your blade is at all times?: On another thread one mentioned his dillema given to him by his sensei of having to extinguish a candle with a cut, without hitting the candle. This sounds incredibly easy to me. But that is because that sort of thing is part of my focus. That awareness. And I recomend it to anyone who wants the skill to cut more than tameshigiri rolls. Truly to all, I do not understand why so many here are so aggressive and arrogant about everything. Maybe I'm just crazy, but shouldn't the disciplined people here be encouraging others and helping them? Not just telling them they are idiotic losers because they don't have a dojo membership? With sincerity , Good luck to all....

[ScottUK]

Thanks for that, but before we continue this wonderful discourse, may I ask another question?

Are you aware of the differences between:

a) kenjutsu, and
b) running around like a madman twirling a bit of wood over your head?

[kartoffelngeist]

[...]Maybe I'm just crazy[...]

I think that's the most intelligent thing you've said yet...

[will_1835]

You guys are just sick, idiotic, and insane. Hope you guys can find a way to change your lives, so you can live them.... Good luck

[Lounge]

...And I recomend it to anyone who wants the skill to cut more than tameshigiri rolls...
Just a quick aside, what would you be cutting other than tatami omote?

This is not an attack, it is a serious question.

The candle exercise it is about achieving good control of the sword not affective cutting! This may seem silly to point out as the skill to stop a cut is different to that of making an effective cut, do you agree?

Well don't rush your answer because having said that there are some things that makes the two similar in terms of how the sword is controlled and cutting technique... do you know what it is? I hope you do because these are the fundamentals of good kenjutsu.

[ScottUK]

Naah, we're just bored.

[shred_lord]

Who taught Kenjutsu before it existed? No one. It was created. And it must be created in our hearts and minds, on our own.
Ah, this old cookie eh?

How do you think the first swordsmen figured it out?
This arguement is such tosh!

10 By killing lots people the first swordsmen became very poor swordsmen.

20 They taught what they knew to the next generation.

30 By killing lots people the next generation became slightly better swordsmen then their teachers.

40 Loop from line 20 until 1868

50 They taught what they knew to the next generation.

60 By doing lots of keiko the next generation became slightly better swordsmen then their (excellent) teachers.

70 Loop from line 50 until 2543 (when aliens destroy the human race)

You're doing line 10 without the killing (I hope).

We're on line 50 and 60 and one day will get to line 70.

[xvikingx]

As far as sources? Well I would certainly say I am eclectic. I collected whatever ideas I could from whatever sources. Whether it be instructional videos, internet, books, magazines, or even corny samurai flicks.
So you threw a bunch of moves together? That means what you do is bullshit.

When I was about 15 or 16 I started a little unofficial dojo for my friends and I.
That's cute, did you guys plan this in your tree house?

Of course not all things in the movies are real-some are silly.
Very silly.

....most of the towns I have lived in have been at least 100 miles from a dojo. On top of that, dojos cost money...should their practice of kenjutsu be forbiden?
Ah, excuses from someone who doesn't want to put in any work.
100 miles should only take about an 1.5 hour by car (if you drive like nancy-boy). I have a 2 hour commute to work (no car), 2 hours there and 2 back. After a long day at work I still have the energy (sometime I don't but I go anyways) to go out of my way to a dojo and return home.
Yes you're right, it costs money to attend a dojo. My iai dojo, Hoki-ryu (*actual koryu with a lineage), costs me a whopping $50 for a year. That's a little over $4 a month. I can afford to practice two other arts, which means I am either working, eating, sleeping, or training. Time and money are easily managed. I have very little of either but I do okay.

..should their practice of kenjutsu be forbiden?
You're not practicing kenjutsu.


I never claimed to be some world master of Kenjutsu.
I guess when you wrote,
But it is actually very simple to master the sword. you confused people.


And as to "feeling" and "knowing" where your blade is at all times.
What does that mean? What's hard about knowing where your blade is? Does it go somewhere without telling you? It's the shiney, pointy metal thing sticking out of the handle. Not that hard to miss. And as far as feeling it goes, you first.

And I recomend it to anyone who wants the skill to cut more than tameshigiri rolls.
You're too poor to train at a proper dojo but you can afford straw mats for tameshigiri and some sort of cutting blade?

...so many here are so aggressive....
I've seen little to no aggression. Perhaps you are confusing that with people calling you out on your BS?

...and arrogant about everything.
Arrogant?! Who is the self proclaimed sword master here? Who started teaching at their own dojo at 16? Who came to this forum and started stepping on the toes of people who work hard at legitimate sword arts?

shouldn't the disciplined people here be encouraging others and helping them?
We help people who are looking for help. You are only interested in defending your self taught kenjutsu. If you and when you grow out of this fantasy phase in your life, and you are serious about learning kendo or something, just ask someone here for help. Even after all the garbage you wrote here, I'm sure you'll still find people who are more than willing to help because most of us are interested in turning people onto serious, legitimate arts.



That was fun. Kind of like popping bubble wrap; there's no point but you just kind of feel like doing it.

[Fonsz]

You guys are just sick, idiotic, and insane. Hope you guys can find a way to change your lives, so you can live them.... Good luck
Don't let them bullies scare you of. Before you go can you post some footage of your Kenjutsu? It would clarify a lot of misunderstandings and everyone will respect you. I'm sure of this. Be a sport and show us what you're made of.
Whaddaya say, I bet they won't make fun anymore if you show your moves.
Ok? Hmm?

[ScottUK]

Leiv's a sick puppy. Take no notice of him - he thinks everyone who was born south of Lapland is a feeb.
I too would love to see your kenjutsu - that would shut the doubters up.

[xvikingx]

he thinks everyone who was born south of Lapland is a feeb.


That’s the place with $2 lap-dances off of Division St right? Stay away from the shrimp cocktail, gave me the screamers.

[Kaoru]

To Scott. I have focused primarily on the most original form of Kenjustsu, as was once used in wartime in ancient Japan. As far as sources? ...
Hi there,

Wow... Such... I don't know what, honestly. I can't believe what I just read. Never mind your other posts. Sorry, but you left me speechless for a few minutes while I had to think of what to tell you in order to try to help you.

I have focused primarily on the most original form of Kenjustsu, as was once used in wartime in ancient Japan.
First, you need to know that what you are doing is NOT kenjutsu. All you are doing is waving a sword around pretending you do kenjutsu. Why do I say this? It is because you are not trained in the use of a sword. You are self-taught, which means you know nothing unfortunately. You may THINK you do, but you don't.

If you want to learn a true original "form" as you call it, why don't you take the time to find a real dojo? And, if you couldn't find one, why didn't you come to here or E-budo and ask for help? Kenjutsu dojo exist, but are really rare. More so than Iaido dojos and Kendo dojos. Most states will not even have Kenjutsu available. If you can't have that, you could study Iai or Kendo(Which is the closest you'll get to kenjutsu otherwise.).

You should not be playing with a live blade, much less cutting with one. Yes, I said playing, because that's just what you are doing since you've never studied seriously.

I think you should go read my post I wrote earlier in this thread about WHY you can't teach yourself.

And, claiming to be poor is just an excuse. I don't accept that.

There is nothing that annoys me more than a self-taught person that claims to know how to use a sword when they have never bothered to take the time to set foot into a real dojo and humble themselves before a sensei and want to be taught properly. That really is just sheer laziness.

So, please get off your rear and find a dojo! And, if you ask nicely, we'd be happy to help you find one if one exists in your state. Legit dojo are rare.

You have no business teaching yourself. That's very unsafe and I'm surprised you are still living having used a live blade... That isn't a joke. You can die because of a lack of training and a serious lack of knowledge of how to use a sword safely. All it takes is one slip...

So, please do yourself a favor and get legit training! And, put down that sword before you get hurt!

When I was about 15 or 16 I started a little unofficial dojo for my friends and I.
This does upset me very much. You are UNTRAINED. If you still have this dojo, you have no business even running such a dojo, unofficial or otherwise. No-one has the right to teach what they have never learned and claim they have learned it. That's so wrong on so many levels. I'm sorry, but this is just how I feel, and I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, but what you have done is wrong and very unfair to those who actually think you know something about kenjutsu when you really don't. So, please... stop misleading your poor friends. It's not fair to them or yourself.

We really got good.
No offense, but no you didn't. Without sensei guidence, you cannot begin to even realise what mistakes you guys were even making. You have had no feedback from a legit sensei. It DOES matter!

Maybe I'm just crazy, but shouldn't the disciplined people here be encouraging others and helping them? Not just telling them they are idiotic losers because they don't have a dojo membership?
In theory, that is true. But...

When you talk like how you've been, how can you expect to be taken seriously? You need to close your mouth and pay attention more... You will learn much if you do. You won't get much sympathy if you don't make a large effort to get into a legit dojo. Being all talk and not doing, makes you look lazy and not serious about wanting to learn. If you want to learn something, it HAS to be in a dojo, and not in your home or backyard waving a sword around pretending you are learning something. You are only fooling yourself into thinking you are learning by self-teaching when you really are not. You've got no clue how bad your technique really is. I know it will be bad because you've never been taught. You deep-down know this too.

[Kaoru]

You are clearly robbing yourself of legit swordsmanship education when you attempt to teach yourself, which is a shame. Here is a list I once made on e-budo as to why you can't learn from books and videos. I know it says only books, but all these reasons are the same when applied to using a video to self-teach. The following is from my post:

------------------

Ok. Reasons why NOT to learn from a book:

1. Photos in books are only 2 dimensional. You only can see half of the waza as performed.

2. You can't learn from just looking at a still photo of a guy with a sword. Transitional techniques are therefore lost to you.

3. You can't ask books for help when you get confused about what you see.

4. You can't ask a book questions on how to do each waza.

5. You can't have a book look at you and watch you and then correct you when you make a mistake. Thus, you will never realise when you have learned a waza incorrectly. Consequently as a result, you may think falsely that you are doing things right when most likely, you are not doing things right.

6. A book cannot make you hold a waza and walk around you and move your body into the correct position.

7. A book can't teach you good and proper footwork.

8. A book cannot teach you proper etiquette.

9. A book cannot let you know when you have actually done a waza correctly.

10. Books are just words if you have not been taught by a legit sword instructor. Books are only meant to supplement legit sword training. A person really neds to be studying with a Sensei who knows what they are doing and be fully qualified to do so, and not rely on books to teach themselves. A book is only truely useful when the student has begun training in a good dojo.

11. You will learn everything wrong by attempting to teach yourself through books.

12. A book can't call 911 when you cut yourself open. :) (#12 borrowed from someone who added to my list.)

If a person hasn't had any formal training from a legit sensei, books really are not helpful for learning anything but history and learning the names of waza and such.

If I was you, I'd read up on Iaido, Kenjutsu and Kendo just so you know what it is you would be getting into and thus learn what may interest you. However, Please do NOT attempt to teach yourself. That's a good way to get yourself seriously hurt on top of learning waza incorrectly.

And the last reason why not to learn from a book? You'll just end up having to unlearn everything you learned wrong due to self-teaching yourself using books, which is a huge pain. It is a waste of your time to have to go back to square one and focus on unlearning stuff when you could be learning things right the first time around in a legit dojo. Trust me, you want to not have to struggle to fix things your body learned wrong for the first couple months. It is much more productive to go into a dojo fresh and untrained when you are first starting out. This way, your mind is unfettered by comparisons of how you learned it verses what your future Sensei is telling you. And, you want your mind free from having to remind yourself not to do things the way you taught yourself.

It is so much more fun to learn things right the first time around and it will make your studies in the sword arts so much easier and pleasant if you stay away from learning waza from books. :)

Oh yes... You can't learn from videos either. Re-read the above for why. :) They also are meant only as a supplement to legit training.

-----------------------

And you can't learn from all the other things you mentioned either...

Well, that's all I've got to say. I hope you take the time to try to understand what I wrote. So please, won't you take the time
to listen to what we have to say? You won't be sorry you know. You can only benefit from correct training in a legit dojo. You won't benefit otherwise.

When you are ready to be a mature person and learn from a qualified teacher, please do let us know. We would be glad to help you find a dojo. Whether it be Kendo or Iaido, you would be learning something that would last you a lifetime of study and character development over many years if you stuck with it in a dojo.

I did forget to say one thing... You have hugely missed out of learning etiquette because you refuse to study in a real dojo. You learn to develope your character for the better when you learn from a qualified teacher. The dojo etiquette learned eventually spills out into your daily life as you continue your training. It isn't something you can learn from books, video, etc. at all.

So, when you decide you are serious, please come to us for help and give your location. That way, you can be pointed to the dojos in your state, if any.

Please, do take the time to seriously consider all I have written.

I jusr want to get you pointed in the right direction and get you into a good, legit dojo if I possibly can before you hurt yourself and get your friends seriously hurt. And, get you to stop playing with sharp swords without proper training. I hate it when people mess with sharp pointy things before they've had proper training! I don't enjoy the thought of you skewering yourself and then dying from a stupid mistake that could have been avoided by learning proper sword use in a dojo. It could happen you know... Please click on the link in my sig... It may look like a joke, but really, it could happen.

Kaoru

[kartoffelngeist]

Please, do take the time to seriously consider all I have written.


He won't, you know...

[Kenshi]

Please, do take the time to seriously consider all I have written.

"Kaoru," who are you anyway?

Although there is little doubt about what this guy is doing (or not doing) why dont you guys just ignore him if you find him not to your taste?

I am also in serious doubt as to most of the peoples authority to post anything on these forums, especially when it comes to kenjutsu. As far as I know, there is only about 3 or 4 people studying full time in Japan in these forums, the rest are dabblers at best.

[ScottUK]

'Dabblers' is harsh. We do our best... :rolleyes:

[Lounge]

I am also in serious doubt as to most of the peoples authority to post anything on these forums, especially when it comes to kenjutsu. As far as I know, there is only about 3 or 4 people studying full time in Japan in these forums, the rest are dabblers at best.
One way to upset a whole lotta people on the forum in one go, tempted to give neg feedback for the audacity and self inflated ego and head swell of a post!!!

[Lounge]

But I won't because I'm not like that...

[ScottUK]

Plus I hear George is not a kendo noob or a troll... :)

[Lounge]

I've read his post before, I know that he definitely knows his stuff... but I think his post was not only unfair to others and self important and to be honest just down right rude!!! :mad:

[Lounge]

Breath iiiiiiiiinnnn... and let it all oooooouuuuttttt!!!!

George... dude... I know you are highly experienced... but some people can't go and live and train in Japan... be it money, family or other.... saying that anyone that doesn't go and live and train full time in Japan can only ever be dabblers at best. really bugged me!!! sorry if my initial reaction was not a big smiley face going "ha ha ha, yeah we all suck, ha ha ha", but your original post deserved a reaction! :ninja:

[Kenshi]

I've read his post before, I know that he definitely knows his stuff... but I think his post was not only unfair to others and self important and to be honest just down right rude!!! :mad:

haha, maybe... sorry.

and you are right Scott.... and i do support you guys, and i expect a visit from you next year.

but I do weigh my words when I post, and I stand by them. my name is on my posts, and im an easy person to find out info about. most people here hide.... so who knows who or what they are. thats what i hate.

im not that self-important (if you know me) but i would say that im certainly confident about this stuff.

as for offending others or getting bad rep... well, im all for positive posting and i dont see it much. so im just laying it down. id like people to think before they attack others. or simply ignore posts if they are cak.

if i offend my friends, then thats one thing, but if its just a bunch of people i dont know and who live in (what seems like at times) a semi-imaginary (kendo)world, then i dont really care.

Lounge, you are forgiven, I know I am lucky. I gave up a lot to be here and to do this. At some point i'll spread it around, but thats for the future. Until then, give me some room to be frustrated now and again.

I would hesitate to use the highly experienced phrase because living in Japan and doing this crap all the time teaches you how little you actually know. I think the term he's been around is more fitting (in more ways that one).

[Lounge]

Fair play, I myself am not a small fish... I am plancton... lol :laugh:

Like I said, sorry if it seemed a harsh response, but I love what I do and have put up with a lot of crap to get where I am... which is near the bottom rung in the mud :)

[ScottUK]

a bunch of people i dont know and who live in (what seems like at times) a semi-imaginary (kendo)worldHehe once again you offend us all. KW is what keeps me from doing a 40-hr week... :D

Yep, will see you next year I hope. I may even bring my bogu for an arse kicking (mine).

[Kenshi]

Hehe once again you offend us all. KW is what keeps me from doing a 40-hr week... :D


if your offended by this then i think you are admitting something!


Yep, will see you next year I hope. I may even bring my bogu for an arse kicking (mine).

no problem.

[pgsmith]

I am also in serious doubt as to most of the peoples authority to post anything on these forums, especially when it comes to kenjutsu. As far as I know, there is only about 3 or 4 people studying full time in Japan in these forums, the rest are dabblers at best.
While that's true to some extent George, if we're going for brutally honesty, we're all dabblers. Those of you living and practicing in Japan are no less dabblers than the rest of us since swords are no longer actually used for their intended purpose. While I whole-heartedly agree with your assesment that living and practicing in Japan will enable you to learn from a much better source than most of us have access to outside, I don't think that it makes anyone's practice any less if they are learning from a legitimate source.

Having a significantly more limited access to legitimate instruction because we live outside of Japan is a much different matter than making things up based upon movies and books. The one may be dabbling, but it is much preferrable, in my opinion, to simply going into the back yard and "playing samurai". Granted a lot of people love to pull out the "you're not in our exclusive club" card and so point and laugh at the outsider. I, personally, have no problem with those people that wish to go out and play with their swords. I do take exception when those same people try and tell me that their backyard play is the same as, or better than, what I learn and practice. If I tried to tell you that my limited access to high level instruction makes my practice better, and makes me a better swordsman than you because of it, you'd think I had lost my mind. This is the same way that we think people like Will_1835 has lost his mind.

Kaoru,
You really do need to crank it back a notch dear. You've put down a whole lot of words that no one will read. I realize you're trying to help, but you jumped a bit overboard! :D

Just my thoughts on it.

[Hisham]

sorry if my initial reaction was not a big smiley face going "ha ha ha, yeah we all suck, ha ha ha", but your original post deserved a reaction! :ninja:

I dunno why but this part of your comment cracked me up Lounge hahaha.

On a serious note.
KW maybe a semi-imaginary...etc The thing is thanks to the good people in this forum i got to learn some things and also open my eyes on others, so no offence Kenshi, you'd better put yourself in the shoes of others, and weigh what you say, people here do there best to promote genuine budo so it's only natural that they'd react to posts like Will's. As far as i'm concerned, visiting KW motivates me to keep my kendo alive although there are no partners or dojo to train at.

And Kaoru's post length isn't a suprise for the regulars:silly:, but as pgsmith said she does so with a good intention.

my two dirhams,

[Kaoru]

He won't, you know...

hehehe, I know. But I can hope he might. Well, at least I can say I tried to get him into a dojo and understand! :)

Kaoru

[Paikea]

I have always wanted to become a samurai but didn't really know how to go about doing it.Silly squid...you order that from karatedepot.com, of course.

[Kaoru]

"Kaoru," who are you anyway?

Although there is little doubt about what this guy is doing (or not doing) why dont you guys just ignore him if you find him not to your taste?

I am also in serious doubt as to most of the peoples authority to post anything on these forums, especially when it comes to kenjutsu. As far as I know, there is only about 3 or 4 people studying full time in Japan in these forums, the rest are dabblers at best.

Me? I'm just a humble kendoka of 3 years(See my profile for more.) who also keeps a large list of both Koryu and Kendo dojo, all of which are legit, who enjoys helping people find a dojo and get good qualified training and enjoys making sure people are safe. :)

And, if I may ask, who are you? :)

And, one does not need to have trained in a Koryu to know a sword is dangerous in the wrong hands. You don't need to be training in a Koryu art to know a sword is a 3 foot razor blade that can own you if you don't learn how to use it first in a legit dojo under a qualified sensei.

It's not as if I am telling someone about how to do some waza I have no clue about myself. That would be a reason to say something to me for sure, if I tried that, but I wouldn't. Even a trained Kendoka knows why you can't try to teach yourself using books and videos and whatever else there is to do so with. So, no offense, but you might back me up instead of acting as if you are above the rest of us... especially when there's very little about you and your rank, in your profile. :) Out of curiosity, why does your profile say Kendo, Iaido and then Koryu? Saying Koryu is very ambiguous unless you name the Ryu. Unless you meant Koryu Iaido, which would mean that the Iai you study is pre-Meiji. But then, it would be nice if you put the Ryu! That would make what you study most clear. :)

Anyway, your last statement is... most impolite. You just insulted most of us here. You don't have to be training in Japan to learn a Koryu, though it's nice to have that opportunity to train there. I have a huge respect for most of the people here, and I don't think what you said is fair to them since most have put in long hours training hard to learn good Kendo/Iaido. Some here are Kendo and Koryu(Iai and Kenjutsu) Sensei as well and do their best to share what they know. I think a little bit more humility would go a long way... Don't you think? :)

Kaoru

P.S. In regard to your next post... Your name is not on your posts. Your username only, is. :)

[Kenshi]

as predicted, my 1st negative rep (in 4 years and 10 months)! must be doing something right. of-course, no name was provided.

While that's true to some extent George, if we're going for brutally honesty, we're all dabblers.

while ive no particular beef with this in reference to myself and kenjutsu, i would not use it in reference to people i have and do study under.

when it comes to kendo, however, i may suck, and i may be highly inexperienced compared to almost everyone i face in the dojo many times a week, but i am not a dabbler my man.

and i wholly agree that dabblers are better than backyard-ninjas.

and weigh what you say

I do in every post. thats probably what pissed people off.

And Kaoru's post length isn't a suprise for the regulars

been on here since day 1. have seen her posts many times. still dont know who she is.

[Kaoru]

Kaoru,
You really do need to crank it back a notch dear. You've put down a whole lot of words that no one will read. I realize you're trying to help, but you jumped a bit overboard! :D

Just my thoughts on it.

hehehe, I know... I'm sorry, but it was so late, that I was too tired to bother taking off the stuff I wanted to, when I found the post was originally too long, so I just made it into two posts instead. And, I actually went to e-budo to copy a post of mine... Something I rarely do! That's how lazy I was... And, half the reason it was so long. :D Ah well... I think that was the longest one I ever did write... And it was so darned late that the idea of editing just made my eyes go cross-eyed... ;)

Kaoru

[Kenshi]

i spoke to soon.

P.S. In regard to your next post... Your name is not on your posts. Your username only, is. :)

my name is on all my posts. and my username was my fullname for over 4 years.

what i study is none of your business. those who know me or have asked directly know. i wont tell you because i dont know who you are. that simple.

anyway.

[Kaoru]

And Kaoru's post length isn't a suprise for the regulars:silly:, but as pgsmith said she does so with a good intention.

my two dirhams,

Thanks Hisham-san. hehehe, Trying to make shorter posts is hard for some reason... I can't ever seem to manage it!! I've tried lots of times... I am happy when I DO manage it! :D

Kaoru

[Neil Gendzwill]

my name is on all my posts.
Actually when you put your name in your sig like you have, it doesn't display on every post in a thread. Not sure why that is.

However, "George" isn't exactly full disclosure.

[kartoffelngeist]

Don't the sigs only appear on your first post of a page?

[Kaoru]

i spoke to soon.

my name is on all my posts. and my username was my fullname for over 4 years.

Where? I've never seen it. :confused: Unless my computer isn't picking your sig up. And, since I don't keep track of who somehow manages to change their username, there's no way for me to know what your original one was.

what i study is none of your business. those who know me or have asked directly know. i wont tell you because i dont know who you are. that simple.

anyway.
That's silly. You don't say what you study, you may as well be saying to me that you don't really train. It's in MY profile what I study and rank(lack of!). I'd never hold back info like that, especially if I was asked, no matter what rank I was. It's wrong to do so. You don't have to know who I am, but if you actually frequented e-budo, you'd know my name! (If you don't already know it, they have a full real name policy.) And, I've said here many times where I train. I train in Minneapolis at the Minnehaha Kendo Club. You can go to e-budo and look up my name yourself since you just were incredibly impolite. I think you can figure out who I am easily... I'd have PM'd it to you, but for your way of speaking... Sorry. Many here do know my real name and what I study.

Kaoru

[Paikea]

Karou, put the gun down...he's George McColl (sp?) and he's by all accounts a good guy. Everybody smile and put your hands on the bar...

[kartoffelngeist]

That would be McCall, and I believe he's relatively well known, at least within Scottish Kendo...

I believe he also wrote an article for KW about kendo in Scotland, but I could be confusing him with another George...

[pgsmith]

Everybody smile and put your hands on the bar...
Sounds dangerous with Gibbo around! :D

[Paikea]

Sounds dangerous with Gibbo around! :DJust don't drop the soap...

[xvikingx]

You all need to relax and leave poor George (Kenshi) alone. I read his post and I see nothing written there that is so offensive that it merits this kind of reaction. George is an excellent person and 100% without pretense, despite being as fucking good as he is. He is the blue-collar hero of kendo; he works his butt off. Although he wouldn't say it himself, he could probably hammer the shit out most of the people here and then drink you under the table. So if anyone here has to the right to make that kind of post it is him.
If you were to parallel kendo (or whatever) with war, George is on the front line and I should hope that you wouldn't have the audacity to tell a soldier that he doesn't have right to comment about war.
What he wrote is honest and applies to all of us here (including me, if not especially), in one way or another. You would all be wise not to drive George off as he has an arse load of experience that we could all benefit to read about.
Sorry about the rant but I stand by my boys, even if he is a filthy Scot.

[Maro]

Kaoru, nobody minds you speaking your mind but having to scroll through it for over a page on a 17" TFT is annoying. PM them please.


BTW - is the real name thing recent? I browse on 4 PCs and due to weirdness with logins, I haven't seen a thread about it

[Kenshi]

Holy cow, ive been outed!

If my name doesnt show then it must be as someone said. But it is displayed if not on every post. Besides - as I said before - my full name was my user name for over 4 years. If people dont keep track, then fine.

I changed it and removed the use of my last name because I dont like being stalked.

Ive also been on e-budo for at least 4 years, probably more. I just dont post there anymore. I prefer the honesty of kendo to long winded discussions about legitimacy.

Maro - there was a thread about using real names a while ago (I posted a lot on it) but, unfortuanatly, most people prefer to remain anonymous.

Anyway, think this discussion is dead.

[Lounge]

I was clear and happy on page three :p

I have no beef with George, in fact I now have a habit of re-naming people George whilst in foreign countries!!!

No, I took offence at the unnecessary nature of the post, I realise who George is and know what he has done for MA in the west... as for the soldier thing... if a front line soldier turns to an airman and say's "You can't fight! messing about up in the sky.. you scared to get involved man to man?" a fight will ensue... prove me wrong... but then after, we all pat each other on the back and say good fight, you know your alright mate, after all we are on the same side.

I feel I had every right to say my peice, as did George... but I am now saying good fight mate.

p.s. Neg rep was not from me, I'd have the balls to put my name on it!

[Kingofmyrrh]

Me? I'm just a humble kendoka of 3 years(See my profile for more.) who also keeps a large list of both Koryu and Kendo dojo, all of which are legit, who enjoys helping people find a dojo and get good qualified training and enjoys making sure people are safe. :)

And, if I may ask, who are you? :)

And, one does not need to have trained in a Koryu to know a sword is dangerous in the wrong hands. You don't need to be training in a Koryu art to know a sword is a 3 foot razor blade that can own you if you don't learn how to use it first in a legit dojo under a qualified sensei.

It's not as if I am telling someone about how to do some waza I have no clue about myself. That would be a reason to say something to me for sure, if I tried that, but I wouldn't. Even a trained Kendoka knows why you can't try to teach yourself using books and videos and whatever else there is to do so with. So, no offense, but you might back me up instead of acting as if you are above the rest of us... especially when there's very little about you and your rank, in your profile. :) Out of curiosity, why does your profile say Kendo, Iaido and then Koryu? Saying Koryu is very ambiguous unless you name the Ryu. Unless you meant Koryu Iaido, which would mean that the Iai you study is pre-Meiji. But then, it would be nice if you put the Ryu! That would make what you study most clear. :)

Anyway, your last statement is... most impolite. You just insulted most of us here. You don't have to be training in Japan to learn a Koryu, though it's nice to have that opportunity to train there. I have a huge respect for most of the people here, and I don't think what you said is fair to them since most have put in long hours training hard to learn good Kendo/Iaido. Some here are Kendo and Koryu(Iai and Kenjutsu) Sensei as well and do their best to share what they know. I think a little bit more humility would go a long way... Don't you think? :)

Kaoru

P.S. In regard to your next post... Your name is not on your posts. Your username only, is. :)
I think you're a little bit out of your depth here Kaoru - I suspect that if you counted the number of times you have been to a kendo practice, that number would be lower than the number of different dojos that George has practiced at. He doesn't have any duty to disclose what he does to you - as far as I know US regulatory creep hasn't made it the KW forums as of yet. You might think that what he says is rude, but that doesn't change the fact that it is true. Believe me, that doesn't make me happy as I fully intend to go back to the UK, but anyone with a little bit of experience (and I'm sorry but that does not yet include yourself) is likely to have thought the same thoughts at some point.
Also, George is a poor drinker. It's only the fact that I am no better that stops me taking advantage.

[Kenshi]

I realise who George is and know what he has done for MA in the west...

dude... ive done absolutely nothing for MA in the west, nothing. zero. nil. this isnt the fake humility thing, this is true. im over here doing my thing for my self. no one else. im no-one. thats what im trying to say.

i hope to sometime give it back, but who knows. maybe i will just stay over here. i dont really know. in that sense i will be like loads of other non-japanese that live here with their kendo 6dans, their iaido and jodo 7dans, and there experience in koryu.

ive had numerous beers tonight, and its past 12. gotta get up at 630. and as King says, i cant handle my booze... so im off to bed. good night.

[Maro]

Holy cow, ive been outed!

Maro - there was a thread about using real names a while ago (I posted a lot on it) but, unfortuanatly, most people prefer to remain anonymous.

Anyway, think this discussion is dead.

Aha - I think I'll follow your lead. I log in at home and Work and miss posts. A bug in the forum software I think.

A sweaty who can't drink? Did they exile you to Japan then? ;)

[will_1835]

You know, it's not Kenjutsu you guys need. It's a relationship with Jesus Christ. And that's something you can do on your own too! Just like Kenjutsu. Good luck and God bless to all!

[ScottUK]

I think that's not the only thing you do on your own.

[Awooga Guy]

I think that's not the only thing you do on your own.

Yakyakyak! :D





That is all.

[rottunpunk]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to ScottUK again.
arg and arf :mad: :D
:p

[mbudzi]

New to the group hi all...

[ScottUK]

New to the group hi all...I liked your original post:

I am new to the world of Kenjutsu but I do know this. The katas are meant to teach you the proper way to move and use your sword. I have played with real katanas for over 6 years and I still cant touch someone who has been in kenjutsu for a few months. Without the katas you will lose. The
katas with practice teach you moves that meld into your style. These proper movements are essential. That is all there is to it.Thanks for the insight. I will apply that to my practice from now on.

[Fonsz]

I liked your original post:

Thanks for the insight. I will apply that to my practice from now on.
Damn you can be very fast if you want. Quoting before editing. Nice very nice.

[Saitama Steve]

As far as I know, there is only about 3 or 4 people studying full time in Japan in these forums, the rest are dabblers at best.

I lived and trained in Japan for nine years and still go back twice a year for keiko and fukushu. I also run a shibu dojo. Not dabbling.:glasses:

Dabbled in a bit of Kogen Itto-ryu a number of years ago when I lived in Saitama though.

[Kenshi]

Old thread...

I lived and trained in Japan for nine years and still go back twice a year for keiko and fukushu. I also run a shibu dojo. Not dabbling.

Cool!! Wasnt talking about anyone in particular, but unless everyone is like you then my original comment is mostly accurate.

Do you do kendo too?

Dabbled in a bit of Kogen Itto-ryu a number of years ago when I lived in Saitama though.

Id love to give that a serious go.