Superstitious kenshi

[Nishi]

Does anybody have any strange superstitions before gradings?

One of my sensei use's the same tenugui for every grading, and refuses to use it for regular keiko.(It is a nasty piece of cloth as well).

In my younger Hapkido days i used to shave my head for a grading, but now i just opt for a short hair cut, however, it has still become a superstition.(silly, i know).

Does anybody have any strange traditions or superstitions before or after a grading?(or shiai for that matter).:ponder:

I would love to hear all of your deepest ridiculous fears.....


Rei

_______________________________
Yamae............................TSUKI!!!!

[nodachi]

Not really a superstition, but I have gotten into the habit of saying to myself before every practice as I put on bogu, "I will work harder."

[Nishi]

That falls under personal tradition....which is just as good!!:)

[amatsuda]

Originally posted by Nishi
[B]Does anybody have any strange superstitions before gradings?

In my younger Hapkido days i used to shave my head for a grading, but now i just opt for a short hair cut, however, it has still become a superstition.(silly, i know).

B]

Funny you should say that....I also get my haircut (short and military style) before every tournament or promotion exam...

I was inspired to do this after watching a Documentary on the Great Judo Champion Yamashita....when I was 13 or 14 years old...

One segment was of how he prepared for an upcoming match. They showed him getting a haircut at the barbers...

I have been doing this ever since.....When I was younger, it was just copying the habits of a great champion. However, it was not until after I reached adulthood that I understood why it was so relaxing and puts you into the mindset to accomplish your goal...

1. You always feel refreshed and clean cut after getting a haircut..
2. It gives you time to relax and think...you don't have to worry about the phone ringing or someone coming by your office.

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

[Tato]

Hi amatsuda.

I really belive that what you say is interesting.

I'm the most oposite that you can find to a superstitious person, I belive since allways that superstitions are something that weakens your perception of reality. I understand that many people is superstitious, but I can help thinking that this is a big weakness.

But I also belive that, for some people, some preparation can help to set them into the rigth state of mind for a critical activity (and I think that kendo is one of those).

In my case this translate to a special attitude and mindset when I put on the bogu, and particulary when I put the tenugi, men and kote in seiza. I do this in a very conscious manner, as separating myself from the "normal" life. As I say this is not supertistion, but a very personal way of preparing for something that is quite exceptional. (ok, I practice from two to four times a week, but for me, at this day, keiko is still quite special, and I feel few diferences between keiko, competition, and gradings. Yet).

Rei

(PD: sorry if this post is difficult to read, I've some diffuclties when I try to explain abstract concpets in English, it's none of my mother languages)

[Paburo]

i'm not suspersticious in gradings or anything really. the best tactic to do well in gradings is training a lot (and tying your hair in a topknot....ok not really)

but in shiai i got a well known reputation for always bringing chocolate bars and eating a bit between matches.

it's only 4-5 mins per shiai, but i still manage to lose so much energy on each battle... maybe i'm scared to run out of stamina? haha. it's a silly tradition i know, but a yummy one.

i'm getting everyone at my dojo hooked on chocolates too.
tato, you're next.

[James]

Hiroyuki Tsukamoto Sensei, youngest man to attain 8th Dan, on superstitions (interview by Yutaro Matsuura, Battle Creek Kendo Club):

'Hahaha, yes, as a matter of fact I do. I like to eat
Tonkatsu (deep fried breaded pork) before tournaments because it ends
with "katsu" (victory in Japanese). I also like to eat Beef Steak (Beef
Steak is pronounced 'biff-teki" by the Japanese) because Biff-Teki ends
in "teki" which is the Japanese word for "enemy." I draw inspiration from
it since I am consuming the enemy!'

[Tato]

:p :p :p

About chocolate bars, Now I understand!!! you played dirty all this time!!!!, you give heavy to digest Marsh chocolate to you rivals in order to reduce their performance!!!

ahhh! tricky Paburo.

rei

[nodachi]

Maybe Paburo's chocolate useage is a trigger for super powers?

Maybe it is like Ultra Man, and if Paburo eats chocolate between matches, it gives him superior powers, but for a limit of 4 0r 5 minutes of shiai.

Sorry, but I finally had that goofy show explained to me, and James put it in my head with his avatar.

I will shut up now... :)

[aru-ma]

I've heard of Tsukamoto sensei before, how old was he when he received his 8th dan? poeple kept on saying he's the youngest person to receive 8th dan but nobody tells me how old he was wehn he got it.

As for the superstitious stuff, I read a short prayer before every shiai, grading or training.
just for shiai I eat one or 2 chocolate bars and de-carbonated coke/pepsi or any other non-carbonated sweet drinks, oh and coco pops for breakfast.

[Paburo]

Originally posted by Tato
About chocolate bars, Now I understand!!! you played dirty all this time!!!!, you give heavy to digest Marsh chocolate to you rivals in order to reduce their performance!!!

ahhh! tricky Paburo.
dude... my tradition of power chocolate during shiai/gradings is ONLY for me, my team members and friends. BY ANY MEANS, it is NOT meant to be eaten by the enemy.
i'll protect sacred chocolate bars with my own life if necessary...

aaaah btw, you just now falsely accused me in public, you will pay for this tonight in keiko... en guardia! :D

[Tato]

As far as I know, I will pay whatever I accuse you or not, so...

For the rest of the readers, we will post here the result of the combat. ;)

Rei

[Nishi]

Superstitious chocolate bars starts jigieko....i love it!!!
Please let us know who wins, and with what cut.

As for the rest of you......back to the topic:)

[emitbrownne]

I've observed that I flick my Tenegui everytime I put it on. A bit like I am beating the dust out of it?!?
I also double tap my Do.

However I didn't do this procedure last Wednesday, and nearly "whited out" due to dehydration. As well as drinking more from now on :p , I will make sure that I follow the prescribed routine..

flick and tap....
flick and tap....

[kendokamax]

The night before taikai or grading I usualy just take everything out from my bogu bag and try to put everything back nicely, arrange men himo etc.. But I cant make it really look nice. Repair shinai etc.. Just to be ready for the next day!

[sminki]

not really a matter of superstition, but for promotion tests, i wear a white tenugui which my sensei has given me. it's a sort of a way to inspire myself by remembering how hard my sensei has taught me and that i am still a white/blank kenshi with much to learn and much space to fill in my kendo.

[KhawMengLee]

but in shiai i got a well known reputation for always bringing chocolate bars and eating a bit between matches

Damn you Pabs!!!:D Good Idea...now I got this habit too!! Before training I have a bottle of gatorade and about a quater of the box of the Meiji brand strawberry chocs...

The changeroom has their little pink wrappers all over(I offer them out as well)...eep...will I be able to find this brand in Bath???noooo.....weakness revealed...:D

[Paburo]

spread the love baby!

choko powah!!!!!

[Kendoka]

I prepare my kendogu and check it again.

On the day I have a crap or two prior, not because I am nervous or anything !!

Relax , warm up, do it.

[mashu19]

yeah i got that tenugi one. always use the same one for shiais. its a japanese sakura flower pattern, the only prob is its indigo died.. so its a pain to wash..lol

[bullet08]

i never cut my hair before any tests. been told that will cut away the knowledge that has been accumulating.. and of course, i always wear my lucky underwear.. one with crap load of leprechauns printed on it. it has worked wonders so far. i have other boxer with crap load of dragonfly printed on it for shiai.. tho the shiai underwear has shown to be less of help..

pete

[shred_lord]

I know someone who refuses to cut his hair before a grading because he think it'll make his tenugui slip down!

[Berserker]

I make sure my men himo are not twisted... not only is it good manners but I fell like im propperly prepared for training or shiai!!!:)

[nikozamo]

supertitious? dont think about that kind of stuff... just get into the shiai yo, kiai like a crazy *********** and get relax... :D

[Hank]

I know someone who refuses to cut his hair before a grading because he think it'll make his tenugui slip down!I usually get my hair cut for the same reason. I always have tenugui issues when my hair's a bit long.

Also, to Pete, I try not to use the word "crapload" in the same sentence as "underwear" or "boxers". But that's every day, not just before shinsa or shiai.:)

[ratdeau]

Not superstition but my sensei gave me one of his shinai with his name written on.
I'll keep it for my next exam (If there's one, I broke my ankle...)

[MAZ77]

I see that Mashu likes to revive threads that are older than my pet brontosaurus.

[MikeW]

Nothing wrong with reviving old threads really. In re-reading this thread the thing that actually caught my eye was the reference to Hiroyuki Tsukamoto Sensei. I didn't see anyone state what his age was when he reached hachidan. I was under the impression that he got it at age 46, but in trying to look it up I couldn't really track down any reliable sources. Does anyone else know for sure about this?

[DCPan]

Does anybody have any strange superstitions before gradings?

Superstitions? No.

Rituals? Yes ->

1. Not practicing the night before

2. check my shinai

3. get my large tsubas out (8 cm leather tsuba for practice, 9 cm plastic tsuba for shiai, because the sound is different when tsuba is struck)

4. get out the big shinai bag (my regular shinai bag only holds 2)

:D

Some folks eat katsu-curry or katsu-don as dinner before as katsu is the kanji for "win".

[h2o]

I usually get my hair cut for the same reason. I always have tenugui issues when my hair's a bit long.
Same problem here. Which reminds me that I really need to get it cut next week :)

[satsumaruma]

Touch wood,
I have never needed to rely on superstitions to do well in gradings.:ermm:

[Neil Gendzwill]

I'm sure a lot of people pray... (ducking)

[Gideon]

(ducking)

LOL

must spread rep... XD

No superstitions here, just listen to some music and warm up thoroughly.

[lucy]

I'm sure a lot of people pray... (ducking)

Aw, the mighty forums don't want me to give you +rep.... :D :D

[Fudo-Shin]

OK ok...I'll let you all in on a little secret. Only guys like Uchimura and Eiga know about this, it's been passed down from Musashi in a secret chapter of Gorin No Sho. Underwear!...you need to have a pair of "Lucky Undies". Mine are red and so far have been outstanding! I would never grade or compete without them and I always take them on long trips. :smiley:

[ahmed61086]

Well I wouldn't call it a superstition, but before every grading and shiai, I slaughter a baby unicorn.

[ace]

oo no dont you know its bad luck to be Superstitious.

[lucy]

OK ok...I'll let you all in on a little secret. Only guys like Uchimura and Eiga know about this, it's been passed down from Musashi in a secret chapter of Gorin No Sho. Underwear!...you need to have a pair of "Lucky Undies". Mine are red and so far have been outstanding! I would never grade or compete without them and I always take them on long trips. :smiley:

I've been told that one should wear white underwear for shiai because if you lose, you're already dressed properly for your burial... :D

[satsumaruma]

I've been told that one should wear white underwear for shiai because if you lose, you're already dressed properly for your burial... :D

Burying things........

white underwear.........


What are you trying to suggest Ms Elbers?:eek::D

[Fudo-Shin]

For some people, brown might be a better choice.

[lucy]

Burying things........

white underwear.........


What are you trying to suggest Ms Elbers?:eek::D

Well, I can only tell what I've been told. :D I've not been in any taikai yet. :)

@Fudoshin: Ugh... :eek:

[D'Artagnan]

I've been told that one should wear white underwear for shiai because if you lose, you're already dressed properly for your burial... :D

Actually, it's not only bad luck, but its just plain wrong to wear underwear of any sort for kendo at all...

[lucy]

Actually, it's not only bad luck, but its just plain wrong to wear underwear of any sort for kendo at all...

That's for those freedom kendoka or whatever you call yourselves. :)

[subygal]

Well we are getting our haircut....but I don't think I am going to do the no underwear thing :eek:

[satsumaruma]

Actually, it's not only bad luck, but its just plain wrong to wear underwear of any sort for kendo at all...


That's for those freedom kendoka or whatever you call yourselves. :)


I think the 'thigh- slapping' would be quite disconcerting:wink::shocked:


Well we are getting our haircut....but I don't think I am going to do the no underwear thing :eek:

Are we to link the fact that you will not be discarding your underwear because of a 'haircut'?:ko: Does the word 'Brazilian' mean anything to you?:D

[Newbie]

I have a very, very strict routine.

Try and make myself as exhausted as possible the night before to ensure I will actually just crash and fall asleep, ready to get up bright and bushy tailed the day of the grading. Eat a good breakfast. Have many, many near fainting fits on the way to the dojo. Text my sempai and tell him I don't wanna grade, that I'm not ready. Call him and tell him I don't wanna grade. Don't speak to anyone for the entire morning for fear of throwing up or fainting. And always always make sure I'm wearing my indigo coloured knickers I don't KNOW WHY?! Okay?! I just want them to match my dogi, I guess...

And Sats, if you EVER bring this up again I swear in front of my cat I will hunt you down and kill you with your own shinken. And if you don't have one I'll go and get one, then give it to you as a pressie, so I can hunt you down, take it from you and kill you with it.

[subygal]

Are we to link the fact that you will not be discarding your underwear because of a 'haircut'?:ko: Does the word 'Brazilian' mean anything to you?:D

No - but maybe I should try that too! :ponder: But somehow I dont think I will leave refreshed and relaxed - more like screaming in pain!