Junior Kendo!!!!!!!!

[saki_wooah]

Hey!

I wonder why do people seperate junior from senior tournaments in kendo! I waited for months to go to a tournament... and yesterday they just told me that it was 16-year-old and up!!! (I'm 14 BTW). Why shouldn't young kendoka practice with 18+ ppl???

I really need an answer right now because I'm really pissed that they just noticed this "little detail" yesterday....

[nodachi]

I think that if you have the skill, you should be able to opt to participate in the higher age division if you have someone like your sensei to vouch for your skill to say it is okay so unprepared people don't aim too high and alter the fairness of the upper divisions brackets.

However, I do find it difficult to practice properly with some of the people in my club who are in that kid division because I am so tall and they are so short that is becomes very unrealistic and difficult to practice certain things with them. I know that there are always going to be differences in height, but for me it is like a midget fighting a giant. If the giant doesn't sacrifice his good form then the midget can't hit men, but the midget has been doing kendo longer than the giant, so the giant shouldn't be sacrificing good form because the midget doesn't need to be given anything because he is not trying to learn from the giant, but is actually trying to practice a match. Little issues like this make that big age difference a problem.

There are a lot of differences between 14 year olds and 18+ people. Maybe you are an exception and I am not trying to piss you off more saki, but in general because of all the physical body size and strength issues, that is probably why they separate it.

[kendomushi]

No idea about there, but here the division is mainly due to relative size, strength, and the fact that until reaching senior high school, the kids are limited in what level they can attain. This helps keep the juniors and seniors on a more level comptetitive footing.
Sorry you had to wait so long only to be denied. Keep practicing and know that your time will come. :)

[kendokamax]

this sucks...boooo UofT

[nodachi]

If you are looking for more competition because the young division isn't a challenge, then use it to practice the techniques that you can't use against better kendoka to strengthen your skills. Use it as an opportunity to experiment a little.

[kendokamax]

it's more a logisitic problem

she could go to senior tournament because everyone else of her dojo is coming, but cant go to junior's because noone of the people of her dojo can come...renting van and hotel in a group is less expensive..

anyway ..i'm also very disapointed

[munenmuso]

It's not easy to accept if you are defeated by a well seasoned junior or somebody below 16 yo in a shiai especially if your a senior with a dan to backup your experience.:D So to avoid embarrasment, a division is in order:D

[Tato]

I'm whit Saki, it's unfair from the moment that an adolescent (13, 14 and up) have the level to fight (and in many cases, win) in the adult division.

There're some -18 in Spain that will mope the floor with me, regardless of me being taller, older and stronger.

Next time in keiko, go for them Saki, and count that the first time that you will go to an adult tournament, there are many competitors that will have a nice surprise. ;)

Rei

[saki_wooah]

Just wanted to say.... why don't they put a minimun height to divide the junior from the senior??? I'm 168 cm... I don't think that I would be too small for the senior people...
And because I live in Quebec, I think I'm the only junior kendoka in my province. They should allow exceptions in tournaments...

[sminki]

I suggest you take it up with your sensei. Maybe he/she can arrange something for you.

[Raiza]

There's little possibility of an "arranging" going on at the UofT tournament as they have already turned down another person from another dojo, and they need to be consistent.

Saki's certainly big enough and tough enough to compete, and by the time they do let her, she's going to be a force to be reckoned with. :)

There has to be a cut-off somewhere, but it's unfortunate that some deserving person will be left out!

[Old Warrior]

I am the only adult in my Kumdo class. As a matter of fact I am 3 times older than the seniormost student. A couple of the 17 year olds are as tall as me but none are as heavy. Since I am a beginner (4+ months) I have a tendency to hit too hard. It's not by choice, just a lack of skill.

This week a 15 year old boy came flying at me for a head cut. I simply sidestepped and struck him just behind the mengane as he passed. When I saw his knees buckle for a second, I was feeling terrible. I told the story to my wife and she said "If my child were in the class I would never let him compete with you! You are too big and too mean to face off with a child".

I thought about what she said and, unfortunately there is some merit to it. I am 6' tall and 235 pounds. I understand the object is not to pound someone senseless, but to be fast and crisp, and I am trying my best. Nevertheless, I am still big and strong and when my adrenaline gets pumping I lack the skill (for the moment) to control the cut.

You decide, do you want your teenager to face off with me. I am 54, have raised 3 kids to adulthood and I am fond of all my fellow students who have welcomed me into their class. But, at the barely skilled level, I question whether I should compete with the teenagers.

[Neil Gendzwill]

There's a very good reason why kids aren't allowed to compete with adults. We have some flexibility in the little tournament we run every year so we could allow for big/skilled kids. But I can understand why an event like the Ontario Open must have rigid rules. Count yourself lucky to be within driving distance of any tournaments, Saki. It's 20 hours by car to Vancouver from here.

[kendokamax]

what is the good reason?

[Paburo]

i can understand adult and junior categories, but i cannot understand why saki wasn't allowed to join the junior taikai.

isn't junior ANY age below 18? at least is like that here in spain.
it's sort of silly not to do so, considering teenagers are maturing and vary a lot in size and height cause they don't all start their bloom at the same age.

it's not uncommon to see a 14 yr old already built up like an adult. or a 17 yr old that still looks like a 13 yr old kid.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Saki was allowed to join the juniors, she just couldn't physically get there. She could get to the seniors but they wouldn't let her play senior.

As for the good reason - it's for the safety of the kids. Just as they are not allowed to use tsuki, they shouldn't be allowed to fight adults in competition. Kids, even those tall for their age, can get hurt seriously when playing an adult. You can't compare strength and speed between a 13 year old and a 25 year old, even if they are the same height.

Plus it's more fun for kids to play other kids, the field is more level.

I think in Saki's case I think it would be OK for her to enter the adult ladies division where the play isn't so rough. But as I've said before it's a lot easier in a big tournament to make a rule and stick to it.

[Gothic_Coop]

I say i feel for you not being able to compete. Train hard for a few more years and then atake them all out. put the fury in a can and hold it till you can let it out.