Of differences in gender and age

[Raígma]

I´m not sure if this is the right place to ask but I´ll just try.
Ignore me if you don´t want to tell any personal facts about yourself.

I experienced that in the dojos are mainly "older" men.
I mean men between 25 and 55. (Sorry, I don´t say that you are old. Just older than me.)
And I saw that women are very "rare" in Kendo.
I would like to know how old you are, if you are male or female
and, if you want, why do you do kendo or how you got to know it.

I know I could search the personal information but that would be a bit complicated, don´t you think?

I am 17 and male. I do Kendo because I was crazy about swords since I was little and the principles of Kendo suit to the principles of my life. I think to raise the skills of oneself is an aim which everyone should try to achieve and at least a part of the "sense of life" (as far I am able to say that with 17 years).

Thank you

[Sinta]

Well okay. I'm female and 19 ^-^ Why I do it? I guess since I was 12 years old, after watching a commercial about Kendo in Asian TV I always wanted to try it out. Sadly i was hopping from country to country and it was rare to find a dojo or the time. It's something that teaches determination and helps give one confidence.

I'm not exactly a strong person physically *ducks low-flying shinaiis* (but hopefully I will be after a bit of rigorous training *hopehope*), but I try and research the philosophical and history of the kendo, which I find just as interesting as the battle itself. Not a very easy past time, but at least it teaches one to set a goal and try to achieve it ^-^

[alexpollijr]

Well I've just completed my 24th year. I've been into kendo for a while now. Usually I practice three times per week (2hrs medium) . Additionally I do weight lifting and running/fitness everyday, to boost kendo performance.

[nodachi]

I am 22. Male. I do Kendo because I was the little kid that had a fascination with swords, found a club here from one of the kids in the jyuku where I teach, and after trying one class, I was hooked. I like the challenge and difficulty of it. Always striving for perfection, but that is still a challenge for the rokudans and up sensei in my club. Nice to find lifelong challenges.

I am in what started as an elementary school kendo club, but a few adults joined because it was convienent to get to so now it is half elementary students and half adults. It's a fun atmosphere. Half women, half men. Nice balance in my club.

[Karaken]

OK Kids, I'm the "Old Male" you're talking about. I've done Tae-kwon-do and Judo in my younger days but mainly I do Kendo in stead of going to Health Club ( Bo---ring ) and it is relatively safer than other martial art or even Basket ball or soccer. It also is totally optional ( do not have a problem of team sport obligation -- Can miss those 6-pack bowling tournament ) so it suits my life style with (2) kids and wife with full time job..

But I suspect that I'm getting much more out of this than I ever thought possible..

Keep it at the center - never stray..

[Old Warrior]

I'm with Karaken, but even older. Started with Shotokan Karate in the sixties and seventies, switched to european fencing in the eighties and have moved to Kumdo as my left knee can't take the torque put on it by a lunge. Kumdo has the discipline and tradition of Karate, the sense of combat of fencing and is much more old body friendly. And most important, with a drink in my hand, I don't talk about golf or tennis.

[kendomushi]

I'm coming up on my 39th birthday in May this year and the oldest member in my club behind sensei who is 52 and seems to be about 10 years younger than I am.
I lived in Japan for 4 years from 1984 - 1988 and learned much about the coulture and history. I promised myself when I left that if I got to come back I'd find someplace to learn kendo. I'm a big guy, 187cm, 120kg and grew up doing american football and wrestling. But the idea of a martial art where my size was little if any advantage fascinated me.
We have a 3 to 1 ratio of men to women which is about the average in most mixed sex dojo I have visited. There are of course all girls schools with kendo clubs here and naturally their members tend to be all women. :)

[emitbrownne]

I'm 26 (just) and male (last time I checked). I got interested in Kendo after reading a 1940's edition of a comic called Eagle which had a guy in bogu showing various Waza, and how to Rei properly.
I have tried various Martial arts, but stuck with European fencing for a year, still practice Muay Thai, and of course Kendo (only a year and a bit...I'm a beginner :p )
My love of Kendo has overshadowed any other hobby/activity.
The Dojos I train in, regularly have 2 - 3 Ladies, 6 - 15 Gentlemen (including juniors).

[Marine_Boy]

I turned 24 only about a month ago and I'm male.

I started kendo because my aikido / kenjutsu sensei told me to take it up. He said that I should learn to move quicker, see and time my attacks / defences and get even more sword training.

But the first time I really saw some kendo was in James Bond - Moon Raiker!:D Anyone remember that scene?

So far, I've been practicing aikido and kenjutsu for nearly two years, karate for two years when I was 11 and six months of southen style shaolin kung fu.

I also find these "leotard clad" health gyms a real bore and quite frankly utter crap!:mad: This is because the majority of the places I've seen in London does not seem to promote the training of the mind. Just mindless "pumping iron".

ERm... got side tracked... Sorry.

Stan

[Ares2907]

Steady on jack, just before you go calling pumping iron 'mindless', you might like to do a bit of research. Serious exponents of the iron, whether they be power lifters, olympic lifters or body builders, require as much mental discipline as any budo.
It sounds to me like you're going to the wrong sort of gym. Any place that is full of gym bunnies in spandex butt-thongs is probably best avoided. Still, I'm wondering whether you find those gyms 'utter crap' or if it's your opinion of lifting in general. There are lots of reasons to go to a gym, just like there are lots of reasons to do kendo. I'll grant you that you're more likely to find a bunch of people in a gym that a) have no idea why they are there and b) have no idea what they are doing, but I'd hate to see serious lifters tarred with the same brush.

[saki_wooah]

i'm the lil kid here!!!!!!

14 year-old girl ^-^
the age and gender mostly depends on where the dojo is. We're a university club, so lots of ppl between 20 - 30 join us. And about the women in kendo, there's like 10+ girl in my dojo (bogu ppl) and 15+ guys.

Decided to do kendo because... had nothing else to do. My life was internet before, but now it's internet-kendo-chat-kendo-kendochat-kendointernet ^^

hmmm I saw an article about kendo in a magazine...

i continue kendo because it's fun and a great way to release your anger... (or become even more angry => evil tuna... uh nyway mcgill ppl know what im talking about)

[Ostrak]

Well...I'm 27, male and I only started Kendo a few months ago. I discovered Kendo while reading a book...Secrets of the Samurai...and then through online searching.
I attend a university club and I'm actually the oldest one there (the club is rather small).

I realize this is a little off topic but felt I'd throw my hat in the ring and address it anyway. As to weighlifting I have been doing it in one form or another...weightlifting, bodybuilding, powerlifting...since I was 16. In my experience there is a tremendous difference between a gym and a dojo but that difference does not mean that "pumping iron" is mindless in any way. In fact, more serious lifters (Incidentally, I try to lift 5-7 days a week depending on my schedule) focus strongly on a "mind-muscle connection" and ensuring that they are actually working the muscle that they intend to work...This takes time to learn and most beginners do not do this correctly(somewhat oversimplified explanation).

I concur with Ares opinion of mental discipline for lifting as well and here's a little story of my own mental weakness. I can deadlift 495lbs for 2-3 reps but I can not move 500 lbs off the floor (I can bend the bar but the weight doesn't lift at all). 500 has been a benchmark for me for a long time with no sign of breaking....for the moment I am stuck there. A world champion powerlifter (sorry, I forgot his name) had a similar problem until someone slipped some 5 lb weights on the end of his bar one day, didn't tell him, and he lifted the weight without a problem. He made a huge jump in his lifts after that.

One final point...in "pumping iron" it takes a lot of mental strength to go for another rep when your muscles are aching or burning from the exertion. Your muscles don't work unless you tell them to work. If you quit they quit.

[Raígma]

Nice aspect. I never looked at it that way. Thank you for sharing your opinion.
Maybe I´ll be less rejecting in the future while talking to He-Men.
Though, I will stay as skinny as I am.

[Marine_Boy]

Sorry Ares2907, I didn't make myself clear. I didn't mean to say that all powerlifting is mindless. My own brother suppliments his kempo training with weights and I have been to his gym a few times. I do know that those guys are not mindlessly lifting and that the mind is also a strong aspect of their mental training.

Mind you, I have nothing against spandex clad gym bunnies!;) , but seriously; my main objections are against those who join a gym not purely for the reason of training and stop going after a few weeks, and from those I've spoken to, the health-club / plush gym tend to attract that group of people.

Hope that clears a few things up.:)

Stan

[sminki]

male. 29.

started kendo because i heard something different about it in its kiai compared to other martial arts.

like the "old body" friendliness (although i'm not really "old"). certainly kinder to my knees worn out by american football, tae kwon do, etc...

[KhawMengLee]

heheheee...:D:Dsorry guys but the first line of the majority of posts here sound like the start of personal ads in the papers...in which case:

Male, 25

Started kendo in 1999 (on and off). Took a haitus in 2000 to 2001. Came back with a vengence in 2002-still going...

Why I like it? Hey, what's not to like? Blood, sweat and tears...its hot, your arm is battered beyond recognition by missed kote blows, you smell like a pile of unwashed footy socks, sweat is burning in your eyes and running down yer face, lungs on fire, that blister on your foot is starting to reach proportions where it can proclaim independence as a state, you've been tsukied in the balls(or to ladies, getting a dou cut on the mune or chest) and you still can't get that perfect men going...why do you do it? ahh, only true fanatics know eh?;)

Here's to all true kendoka
CHEERS
MENG

[Paburo]

boy 22.
been training for a year and half now.
i've been doing martial arts since i was a kid, and wanted to try kendo for so long but only got the chance to do it not too long ago.

i also like it cause, thanks to bogu and shinai you can experience the feeling of a real bout without having to kill anyone haha :D

i've done 'kumite' and other type of match, but they're not nearly as fun.

[moocow65]

21 and have been doing kendo for??? i don't know 14 years i think. maybe 15.

[gill]

Originally posted by KhawMengLee

(or to ladies, getting a dou cut on the mune or chest)

Meng - nice to know that you recognise just how painful that is.... :ko:

OK, Girlie, 30, being doing kendo for 11 years (I think) Started after I went to a demo to watch some friends, and decided there and then I absolutely had to do it, and haven't looked back since.

G :D

[samurai999]

26, started in college in '99 and have been going since. I'm shodan and currently striving for nidan.. I'm sidelined with an injury, but Im gonna be back later this year. Not at tourneys, but practices.

Our university had a club, but with no sensei. Just people who knew more than the others. The people who taught us weren't even ranked. :D

Tim

[Raiza]

Female, 26. I never thought play-fighting as a child with those wrapping paper cardboard tubes would turn into an obsession, but here I am. Been doing kendo for over a year, and I love it. Did Shotokan for a few years before being permanently sidelined due to a work injury, but I can do kendo, amazingly enough. Started with D'Orangeville-sensei (first-rate renshi; he studied under Chiba-sensei, omg) before moving to Ottawa and the Tateyama dojo. It's a lot smaller than McGill, but it's good and it's cleaned up my kendo A LOT. At McGill, roughly half the class is female, but at Tateyama I'm the only one! But they're good to me and I can practise my "happy kendo" whenever I can, hopefully spreading that word that us females can do kendo too. The guys are great but it would be nice to have a bit more variety. :)

I had been helping the beginners for a while and I would tell them before they tried dou on me "Anyone who hits too high gets a smack on the rear end!" and they've been very accurate since. Practising my lousy jodan no kamae while they do dou helps too. Convince them so they won't pick up the bad habit and it'll save your chest.

[kendokamax]

Male 21,

been doing kendo for 2 years and half at McGill kendo Club in Montreal. Been enjoying it a lot and made some great friends in the club and in other dojo! Started kendo because i like sports and wanted a more interesting social life.

[titus]

23 yr old guy. Took it up less than a year ago. Did fencing for about ten years before, and I was on the world championship circuit for sabre and epee. But fencing took a toll on my body and I couldn't take it anymore. Much much happier with kendo.

Also, I would refute the statement that kendo is mostly "older" guys. Most of the clubs I've been to are at least 40/60 female/male ratio. And to be honest, I probably wouldn't go very much to a dojo that was all or mostly guys (like 80% or more), because for me kendo is also a social thing. And hey, I'm still young so I take every chance I can to be with the opposite sex :)

[m_french]

39 years but not old. Started doing kendo when I was 37. First saw a kendo demo in high school and it only took me 21 years to get to the DOJO. Our sensei (Asai) is great insperation though, he started kendo when he was 50 and still practices 2-3 times a week. He's 84.:beard:

[John W]

Started kendo when I turned 19, I am now 23 so you can do the math! I found out about Kendo through a "sports trust" type of organisation thingy!!

Kendo is great way to keep fit, make new friends and most importantly- it is a great way to learn how to treat every human being, kendoka or not, with respect!!!

:)

[bronxjragon]

I am 17, male, a shodan in Kendo - this means that I am the best there is right now and I will win the World Kendo Championships by myself....even the team matches. I will fight 5 times in a row for team mathces and win.

Kendo is not about respect, but rather disrespect.

[Inouye02]

and i will beat you with the kurukuru waza, muahahahahahha..you will not last 5 times :)

[John W]

Originally posted by bronxjragon


Kendo is not about respect, but rather disrespect.



Errr....... well I think you are wrong there buddy! Why do we bow to each other????

[Chusan]

Okay, here I am...
I`m nearly 47, male.
Started Kendo around 1982, Iaido 1980, Western Fencing 1977.
Yes, one of these old men... :D

[taiwnezboi]

18 Male.. started summer 2001.. Brown Belt (4th Kyu) in Kumdo

[LadyGinevra73]

I'm a female (29) and in my dojo there are 4 female and 25 male, at the first time something men was embarrassed in fighting with girls...
For me it's not a problem cause we are all kendoka, no different for age, sex and race only for ability ! ;)

bye

[nodachi]

There is an easy solution for the whole men vs women/women vs men uneasy feelings to get worked out. I have seen quite a few women in kendo, and a few 80 year old women at a naginata demonstration, with kiai so strong and frightening that it completely removes any feelings of uneasiness. It actually makes the person on the recieving end think, "oh crap! what the hell is coming at me???"

This removed any distinctions between the women and men in my kendo club... :)

[angryshinai]

Ive only been training in kendo for about 2-3 months. I guess you could say im one of the "ninja turtles generation". Anyway
Im a 24 year old male. Started martial arts when i was 13. Ive done 4 years wing chung kung fu, 2 years karate and about 9 months of tae kwon do.

[stevemcgee99]

I have spent a lot of my life reflecting other peoples agendas, or intention. This was WAY too apparent when I tried aikido. If they wanted to go hard, I went hard, if they wanted to ease in then I would hold back. It really makes sense todo that there, especially as a beginner. But I have years of experience being a mirror.

Kendo gives people protective gear. Here is a place where I can follow my own cadence or go for broke all the time, regardless of who's on the recieving end. I just hope people don't take it the wrong way.

The value of aggressiveness in kendo is beneficial for me. I think I'm a pretty intense person who's been afraid to dominate for as long as I can remember. I can see a huge amount of growth available to me through keiko, and shiai. Plus, it's fun.

Up to this point, I try harder against the friends I've made, to show them I'm trying. Could it be that I could get over inhibitions enough to try as hard as I can to kick everyone's ass?

[KATSUJIN]

ok...now its my turn....

20, male. Nidan in kendo...have been doing for almost 4yrs....why i picked it up? honestly....i am not sure.....but i only know one thing now........no way i want to stop it........heheh

[Old Warrior]

"Could it be that I could get over inhibitions enough to try as hard as I can to kick everyone's ass?"

Why? There is a time and place for everything. I am twice your age and have fenced (altho not Kumdo) for almost as long as you have lived. I suggest that you control when and where "the best you have" comes out. Part of the experience of any martial art is teaching. Terrifying your inferiors with the full breadth of your skill is pointless. Also, when you sense your partner is tired or in pain, ratcheting up your play is also pointless.

This is not to imply that you should ever do less than your best. But sometimes your "best" is just enough to encourage your partner to try a little harder. Take satisfaction from your ability to know the difference and control the moment.

[Lynn]

Im 20 too! Been in kendo for almost 2 years, still very very much a beginner of course. katsujin's sort of like my senpai in kendo, though we are not in the same dojo so to speak. :P

Been wanting to learn kendo since i was in my early teens.....but it's not that well-known or accessible in Singapore i guess. So i entered college, found out there's a kendo club there and was delirious with happiness!

Been tough at times, not to mention time-consuming but every minute spent is 100% worth it! It taught me discipline and perseverance. I do believe that Kendo for me, is not simple another extra-curriculum activity, but something I¡¦ll continue even after I graduate from college.

*grinz*

[stevemcgee99]

Old Warrior: for the record, I am a beginner. "To kick everyone's ass" is meant figuratively to not hesitate or hold back. You see, even without the "upper hand", I do. I'm hoping to eventually let go and just go for it. I'm sure the result will be no less than getting my own ass kicked frequently, but trying to avoid that or to avoid "asses getting kicked" at all is something I hope to stop.

Maybe the ideas aren't getting across. I can see myself getting into a hole trying to explain some while offending others.

[Old Warrior]

Steve - You are not offending anyone.

I guess I missed your point. Losing one's fear of failure is a good reason to pursue Kendo. I always try my best and my classmates, all of whom are 1/2 my age or less, routinely show me up. I just keep working at it and hope that my persistence will allow me to improve.

[Inouye02]

it must be the oldness that doesn't pick up on things , lol old warrior try and talk to your kids , listen to how they talk , i did , it sure helped me understand their lingo , now i'm a dope dad ..ahahahaha

[m_french]

Old Warrior, get used to it. Since the day I started Kendo I've been getting my butt kicked by the youngsters....no big thing, at least you're there to try. As far as McGee's comment on kicking asses, I started kendo in the NCKF and now I'm in the SCKF needless to say I've seen a lot of Quality kendo. When I Keiko with Kurukuru or Tenken I know that even at half speed they are way better in kendo than me, doesn't mean I'm not gonna try and kick their ass, and when my Kote goes numb or I hear the last men they dusted me with go cracking in my ears....at least I was there to learn something.:beard:

[William Honda]

Stevemcgee99,

Every time I keiko or shiai, I attempt to kick my opponents ass. Rarely happens, but I try none-the-less. I think that is the proper attitude to take. There are always exceptions, for example practicing with kids.

We do not practice to lose! We can practice waza, get the crap beaten out of us, and still have the attitude of bustin their ass (and in the mean time get better). Your statement is as it should be.

William

[stevemcgee99]

Understood. That's what I mean- "endeavor to persevere", as the Native American says in the Outlaw Josey Wales.

It just seems there's a natural tendency for me to be considerate and sensitive. Aikido seemed to highlight that. Kendo might cure it. (:p )

[KATSUJIN]

aha....lynn....so finally u reply to one post here.....hahah....but i believe that there were 3 more singaporeans here....anybody know them? i believe one of their nick is fighter....

[Raígma]

New people, new round.

Hajime!

[SirFingerLickin]

Ok then. I'm 19, been doing kendo for lemme see... 1 year and just about 3 months now I think. Havent gained any rank yet. I joined up because my best friend introduced it to me, and it looked like a lot of fun. Turns out it was!

[Siglith234]

Im 13 almost 14 (soon i wish) male i feel i am pretty young to have been starting kendo in the USA
Btw been doing kendo for 2 months

[Goomba]

I'm 28 (29 soon) and male.
I have been doing dendo for a year and a few months now. The reason I pratice kendo is because it has reinforced and taught me a lot. Things like discipline and humility.
The reason is love it is because of the challenge. In the dojo, you constantly try to get better cuts and in tournamnets you try to beat your opponent. Both are difficult tasks. If there were no challenge, I doubt it would be any fun.

[Atama]

ok...female 24 been doing kendo nearly 2 and a half years ...why did i start, my boyfriend wanted to go and check it out, when I saw it I couldn't resist the idea of hitting people with a stick not to mention hitting my boyfriend (now husband). I'd done various martial arts as a kid but non that has the energy of kendo.

[eKenshi]

i am 15 now (turning 16 soon)
I chose kendo because when i was about 5,i saw some kendoka did a demostration on kendo at a shopping mall.I liked...erhh loved it but then i was too small(i was blurry at the time) to realise my dream of doing kendo.then i watched the anime Rurouni Kenshin,that flamed my spirit.i was very fond of swords when i was small.and i found that kendo is the ultimate eXtreme martial art sport that i was lookin for. :cheeky:

[Jearom]

I’m 27, almost 28, and getting older by the day! :(
I saw a short clip on Eurosport a few years ago and couldn’t shake the memory.
After some web searching, I enrolled in Sweden’s largest Kendo club in the beginning of this year.
My biggest problem in Kendo, excepting Kendo of course, is a lack of patience.
The days between practises goes to slow and class seems to end to fast.
There’s so much to learn and I’d hoped to become good in Kendo, but I fear that before I’ve learned enough, I’ll be over the hill.
I started way to late and I can’t make up for it, and that bugs the hell out of me.
A well, another practise come Monday, and another chance to disappoint myself.

[Shazzanzzz]

I'm 20 now. Started Kendo when I was 18 in college. Basically, my roomate just made me join second semester my freshman year because I was getting really fat, haha. I gained like 20lbs first year in college. I needed exercise, and kendo looked pretty interesting. I've been hooked ever since. I've been doing kendo for 1.5 years now, and I'm happy to report that I'm back to my high school weight (senior year). Kendo is just really fun for me, don't know what else to say. I don't have any ranks yet though, but, hopefully, I'll go test for them one of these days...

[kenshigar]

male 17....i´ve been doing kendo for 2 years maybe a bit more...started kendo because a friend told me it was cool so i decided to practice it....he left but i continued...i practice four hours three times a week and two hours once a week....well thats it.

[d3rdson]

male 17....i´ve been doing kendo for 2 years maybe a bit more...started kendo because a friend told me it was cool so i decided to practice it....he left but i continued...i practice four hours three times a week and two hours once a week....well thats it.

male 31, been doing it for two year last august. Body friendly indeed ... I've a broken right collar bone in 1996 and has stayed away from too much heavy activity for the sake of the arm ever since.

Still working on one single men strike though ... :tongue:

[gomeysan]

Dear M. French,

Recently (4 weeks ago) I began taking Kendo at Koushinkan - Yale University Kendo Club, not as a Yale student, but as a lay practitioner. I am 53 years old and train boxers from 9 to 56 years old at my private Personal Training/Boxing Gym

Best regards,
Doug Gomez