I would like to know....

[Kitsune]

What people say to you girls when you say you practice Kendo...

To me people use to look me as I was some kind of a tomboy (that's how you write it right?) and then they think it's like karate (excpet of couse, the ones who knows what the hell is kendo)

Well, now I would like to know how is for you.

[GreenArrow]

Not a lot...

But then again, many/most of my good friends are in the archery world, so they probably have a different perspective. As I work mainly in the construction industry my colleagues aren't surprised... and they do see my in practical clothes, rigger boots and hard hat on a regular basis.

I've always been a tomboy- it was guns, swords and bows for me as a kid, playing with the boys not the girls, no interest at all in dolls. Some habits die hard...

[Alison2805]

I was pretty similar - I preferred to be climbing trees and playing with matchbox cars to playing with dolls.
I get some really funny comments when I say I do kendo. All my family introduce me to people as "she is the one who hits people with sticks". The most annoying comment is "why would you want to do something like that??" and then the next comment is "the men dont hit you do they? I hope they are gentle on you!" Grrrrr.
And then there is the wierd comments about the bruises, usually people try to get me to admit that I have an abusive boyfriend. When I say its from sport they look at me as if to say "poor girl, doesnt want to admit she is bashed". So now I just say "bruises? Dont worry, I pay to get them." That shuts them up.

My family are very good about it, its stangers and so on that get obnoxious.

[Kitsune]

So am I, but people in this country are very traditional. You see, they really got problems accepting that a girl plays football (soccer for US) or climbs trees or play with the boys... For them it's weird. For me of course was the normal way of my personality doing Kendo.

Anyway I just wanted to know how was it for you in your countries.

[mingshi]

What people say to you girls when you say you practice Kendo...

"I practice martial arts...kendo ... err... Japanese fencing kinda stuff..." is the best chat-up people can get. Usually the conversation goes into a debate about different martial arts. It works on guys interested into that, so whatever.

[runsyi]

Well, my orthopaedic surgeon just told me that I'm a freak, but that had more to do with the number of times a week that I practice not the fact that I do Kendo.

[Miravil]

When I tell people about me practicing Kendo, the feedback that I usually get is "wow, don't hurt me" or "wow, so I can get you to be my body guard". Of course many time they don't know what is Kendo and though that it is fencing or Wu Shu or Ninjitsu. Some even better, Samurai.

[Alison2805]

hmmm... most guys that find out I do kendo give me a scared look...

[Alison2805]

Hey Kitsuni, how do you deal with peoples reactions to you when you say you do kendo?

[Miravil]

hmmm... most guys that find out I do kendo give me a scared look...

In my case, the guys here will not even think of ask me out for a date after knowing me practice kendo

[tantadi]

Just say you do yoga.

[Genya]

In my case, the guys here will not even think of ask me out for a date after knowing me practice kendo

What´s wrong with them? Do they have something agaist kendo? Hobby is not a good reason for not to date someone...

If I met a nice girl but I wouldn´t like her hobby, so what.

[Mugu]

I onced told my co-worker "I went practice Kendo last night. So I'm tired today." He went, "Oh! How many did you make?" he thought I said "Candle". After I explained what Kendo is, he gave a me a weird look. So next day I bought a Kendo doll sits next to my computer. Every now and then, people will ask questions so I don't have the weird thing like, "How many of them did you make?". It's funny now that my co-workers understand enough what Kendo is that we can have pratical jokes about it.

But talking about guys got scared after hearing a girl does Kendo... at that point, you already know he is a dork. I intentionally dressed like a tom boy when I first met my boyfriend. I wanted to see his reactions. I guess you can use Kendo as a way to filter out jerks or something, heh

[Kitsune]

Hey Kitsuni, how do you deal with peoples reactions to you when you say you do kendo?

I have to explain first what's kendo... always say it like japanese fencing with a baboo sword and stuff like that. If they still don't get it I say google it.

When we got that part ok, they ask me if it's not to rough for a woman and I say, no, it's like anyother matial arts and I have to say that is softer than karate, cos we don't have broken bones on our practices and stuff like that. But we have a lot of bruises. For those who practice another matial arts it's like I don't belevie you and for those who doesn't they acctully don't beleive me.

One of my best friends (girl best friend) thinks I'm crazy cos it's not girl stuff doing kendo. I always tell her says who? Cos I didn't read any rule against it. She just look at me as I were mad or worst.

My parents are cool. They think all martial arts are for calming people down and for defense, so they're cool with me doing kendo and I'm fine thinking that they think that. Besides they acctully acdept that I'm more likea tomboy that a girly lilttle girl... Anyway my mom was the same when she was younger and she know that I make some time to make up and stuff like that when it's roght to do it.

That's more or less the things in my case.

[Knicky]

My girlfriend does kendo as well. Whenever someone asks us about what we do, I always have her explain it. Her friends seem pretty accepting about it.

Maybe every girl wants to hit their boyfriend with a stick....