Taking Kendo to Olympics

[gyakudo]

Hey guys and gals,

what do you think about taking kendo in to the Olympics? Since Judo and some martial art is in than why not others? Since Kendo is popular around the world, why not? I would think it is cool to see it on national television. We have Championships, Nationals, and Worlds. Well, since the world is having crisis over Iraq, I am sorry for those who is in the worlds team. They have worked their butt off to be on the team. If there is going to be an war, they are huge risk to go to Scott land. It should cancel it. We don't want them to be killed. Sorry it is depressing for some of you. Hope to hear from everyone.

[Kingu]

IMHO bringing Kendo to olympic games is not a good idea. Except if you want to see things like doping or corruption come into it.
I think that the olympic spirit died long ago....

PS: To me, judo, tae kwon do and others disciplines practised the way they are for competition have nearly nothing in common with martial arts.

[alexpollijr]

This topic has been done to death before.
I suggest you browse through the forum archives.

[Antonin]

Originally posted by gyakudo
Hey guys and gals,

Well, since the world is having crisis over Iraq, I am sorry for those who is in the worlds team. They have worked their butt off to be on the team. If there is going to be an war, they are huge risk to go to Scott land. It should cancel it. We don't want them to be killed. Sorry it is depressing for some of you. Hope to hear from everyone.

Excuse me, but what are the risks with going to Scotland ? As far as I know, it is nowhere near a possible warzone. Ok, Haggis and bagpipes are serious health treats, but they are not hard to avoid.
Seriously, I think cancelling everything because of the possibility of war is foolish, since
1- there may not be a war (weak argument...)
2- Assuming you mean the war on terror in your post, this would hand the terrorists victory, as it would make us change our lifes in reponse for their action.
3- It is much more dangerous to take a car than take a plane, even accounting for the recent events.

I am not sure I get your point: are you saying 'let's make more international kendo meetings' but 'let's run scared of going there' ?
I am not trying to downplay the seriousness of the international situation, but I think it is important to keep things in proportion.
A.

[Kenshi]

>If there is going to be an war, they are huge risk to go to Scott land. It should cancel it. We don't want them to be killed. Sorry it is depressing for some of you.<

!!!

[kendomushi]

War in Iraq might prevent or delay some participants returning to their homelands. Other than that there would be no risk in kendo itself. Everyone is at equal risk of falling victim to a terrorist threat in any large gathering, inlcluding the championship in Scottland.

The Olympics are not a solution to these risks, they are an increase to them. And as others have cited, no martial art in the olympics has retained its character and purpose. The needed mass appeal might be there to support an olympic bid, but the end result if successful, is almost guaranteed to be a loss of the purpose of kendo to develop the individual.

[gill]

Originally posted by GeorgeMcCall


!!!

Ditto!!!!!!

[hamish]

I should think there is far more danger being in missile range of North Korea than traveling to Scotland for the Worlds!!

[kendokamax]

don't say that....

[nodachi]

It's just a fact of life, kendokamax. It is something that people over here think about everyday. Makes an interesting dilemma for me. Which is safer, my hometown in the States or here in Japan...

I am kinda screwed either way :)

[kendokamax]

oh well

there is nothing we can do about it eh?

[J. Schitt]

Originally posted by gyakudo
Hey guys and gals,

what do you think about taking kendo in to the Olympics? Since Judo and some martial art is in than why not others? Since Kendo is popular around the world, why not? I would think it is cool to see it on national television.

If kendo was in the Olympics, don't kid yourself that you will see much on National Television (except maybe in Japan) or unless a local wins a medal.

You would get even less Kendo than judo or taekwondo did last time in Sydiney.

JS

[Tenken]

sorry to say but, by putting kendo in the olympics it will become more of a sport then a martial art. i think its a bad idea.

[Kendoka]

Don't worry it is unlikely to happen.

As for kumdo, well...

[sminki]

how is kumdo any different?

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by sminki
how is kumdo any different?

Some people say that the Koreans may have a different view of the martial art versus sport thing.

[sminki]

that may be. however, kendo=kumdo. under the same international umbrella organization IKF, so it's impossible for kumdo to belong to the olympics while kendo does not. they are the same. the koreans cannot unilaterally move kumdo to belong to the olympics without IKF.

if you want to become more educated about the various kumdo issues in korea, you can read Kendo World issue 3 or some posts which i have written on the page 3 of the 'hiki tsuki' thread.

[KATSUJIN]

well....i have to agree with the rest that bringing kendo into the olympics is not a good idea...the essence might be lost....