Always the same with the women

[Black Tea]

Ah, my first post on Kendo World! The input of a rather new female in Kendo with zero intention of dropping it. I have had bogu for a month now and been working with a male sized shinai.

• Do you think the physical aggression in kendo intimidates females?

I honestly can't say, since I know so few females. As a standard, though, I think often of my size in comparison to others in our dojo. I am not below average size for a womaneither, rising at about 5'8", but about 95% of the members in our dojo are taller (6'+) and larger. I think my thoughts on size usually occur in ji and kakari geiko namely because I have been "run over" before (and even recently, I have been knocked to the ground in taia [spelling?] tare, woo) This I think is more of a matter of me being newer and not very skilled verses most people in the class. So to combat this? Like every other hard thing, I know building my confidence is the main thing. I have had very supportive senpai, and the reassurance that if they are taking it easy on me, they are taking it easy on me because I am new (and are helping me learn), and not because I am a girl.

Not a single thought has occurred to me that I can't do this because I am a woman, and that I can not compare to another man in the dojo. If this thought has occurred to a new woman in a dojo, I can't help but think they haven't been exposed to enough Japanese Women's kendo (that's what got me inspired a bit), supportive senpai, or perhaps even just inspiring other women. I am the only girl in my Aikido dojo as well, and I know that I can't combat my strength with any other guy in the dojo, so I have the luxury (if you call it that) of working on my technique and timing in order to overcome strength and thus improve faster this way. (:

• If not in your case, what qualities about kendo appeals to you?

I take two other budo arts (Iaido and Aikido) and I suppose the reasoning behind why I do all of them is rather close. I do them to become stronger, mentally and physically. I specifically like the idea of carving myself into a better and more focused person. I find that principles and learning methods I have taken from these arts I have been able to apply to other parts of my life very easily. I find turmoil of my daily activities of problems that weigh me down seem to drop away when I am at Kendo, and I walk away from practice with perhaps a clearer head. After a really hard ji keiko, I find that the little things that I let boggle my mind down are rinsed away, just as my losses and wins in ji keiko are accepted but not dwelled upon.

• Do you think that some drills may want to be modified or not?

I find that women and men are striving for the same goals in kendo, ha, so why change the drills? I find my upper body strength needs constant work, so I say - bring on more drills.

• Are there instruction methods that might help females members?

I can't say much that I didn't all ready say in the first answer. Motivation comes from within, but if a girl is new to Kendo and to a dojo, she may not know what kind of women kendoka are out there, or that even though Kendo is a male dominated art, isn't impossible for them. A strive to improve muscular strength is important, and perhaps that is a goal more oriented to men then women, but I have been lucky enough to work out with my fellow dojo kendoka and know what muscle groups to work and improve on, just as every other guy in the dojo works on. Don't leave the women out just because. Include them, perhaps build that confidence, just as every new person needs. (:

• What keeps you coming to practice in your dojo?

The fact that I know if I skip a practice, it will take like two weeks of practice for me to make up that one. I have awesome senpai that I know would kick my butt about not coming and know that I want to test in October, and of course, that self improvement thing. (:

Hope that helps!

[UnimportantHero]

Oh man. I wish that my first post on Kendo World had been that mature.

Welcome!

[Dustycij36]

We have three different classes two focused at persons who are new i.e. less than 1 to 2 years. The Thursday class is for very new people and basic and repetitive skills. Class consists of all types’ students business folk and a number of females. Wednesday is for new to advanced persons and has mostly university students with both sexes. Monday nights are slightly more advanced and a lot tougher for people in terms of Ji-Geiko. We do on Mondays have a number of ladies who are very skilled.

My point being having classes at different levels allows ladies to choose their level at which they are comfortable. We are less militaristic in terms of the way we train there is respect given to all, training is hard and folk are pushed to improve their skill, there is no gung ho macho rubbish. Each person is grateful for the opportunity to learn from each other. In a recent competition we held in our region one of our ladies came third overall in a mixed grade and sexes match. She is quiet petite and held her own against very large and aggressive men.

[aboli]

Hi ! In my dojo we are quite a few women, advanced and beginners.

•Do you think the physical aggression in kendo intimidates females?
No, otherwise it wouldn't be a martial art would it ? We come to kendo because we want to try fighting, not being calm.
• If not in your case, what qualities about kendo appeals to you?
I'll answer anyway. Competition, spirituality and giving ourselves a goal. Being with friends and having a fun time.
• Do you think that some drills may want to be modified or not?
No. Why ? Girls can be fitter than boys, you know ?
• Are there instruction methods that might help females members?
Not thinking that they are less advantaged than guys. Thinking of them as potential opponents. Being kind to them and not trying to seduce them, making them feel at home and in company of friends.
• What keeps you coming to practice in your dojo?
Friendship, the fun we have, the goal I want to reach and the kindness of a few sempai the first days!!

[Shinsengumi77]

I'm the only male at my club now, as the last guy hasn't come back for weeks! (and of course, just after getting bogu! Arghhhh!) We actually have more women interested in it than men. I blame the hakama!

[UnimportantHero]

I'm the only male at my club now, as the last guy hasn't come back for weeks! (and of course, just after getting bogu! Arghhhh!) We actually have more women interested in it than men. I blame the hakama!

Ha. It is the same way at Yamakage, where my Senpai is the only guy there.

Well, I guess the father of one the girls has started. We will see whether or not he continues. But yeah. Good times.

[turboyoshi]

I'm the only male at my club now

Quit bragging, you should know that's not the proper kendo spirit.

[Tamaki :)]

• Do you think the physical aggression in kendo intimidates females?
I think it probably does to some less confident women, however, if she knows her strengths and weaknesses, she'll probably get used to it and then she'll be able to advance, I'm always a little intimidated when I'm practicing with a sempai, but I then remind myself to have fun with it, and to believe I can do something great
• If not in your case, what qualities about kendo appeals to you?
I think the physical exertion appeals to be, getting to, and breaking away from my limits is always a refreshing new thing to me, I like to test myself, see how good I really am, and really, I have to check myself a lot, I can sometimes get very egotistical, so being in an environment where I'm way behind my sempai's saves me from embarrassing myself, and I'm able to further humble myself, I really like that part, I hate it when I get cocky
• Do you think that some drills may want to be modified or not?
no if the girl can do it, then there is no problem, but just keep an eye on the new girls I guess, to make sure they aren't overexerting themselves and not saying anything, I tend to do that sometimes.
• Are there instruction methods that might help females members?
I think we pretty much learn in the same way, but its always nice to see it again and again to get used to it, so I guess when demonstrating, do so more than once, with varying speeds and at different angles, this is what my sensei does, and I am able to grasp the concept easier.
• What keeps you coming to practice in your dojo?
I think just the warm atmosphere of the place, whenever I walk around, I get smiles or nods of the head as recognition from almost all my sempai's, granted, there are some that try to avoid me altogether, but they don't seem to have any bad intentions. from the first day I came to the dojo, when they were taking a break, they would always smile before passing me to go to the bathroom or something. Oh and I used to joke around with one of my sempai's, she was the one that sort of gave me something to really look forward to and to strive toward. So joking around and just plain having fun has kept me at my dojo even though its pretty far from my house, I will always want to go back.
so basically, coming from a newbie myself, I think to get some female students to stay, you would have to just be very friendly, and make it so that she doesn't feel left out, for example, when all my sempai's are practicing with their bogu on, my sensei would have me practice with a sempai that is tired or not feeling well so that I could practice my strikes. There is also this one sempai that has taught me how to have fun, by while we do kakari geiko or ji geko, in our bogu, this male sempai always laughs and smiles at me when are facing off, inadvertently making me laugh and smile, hard as that may be in bogu , this sempai also continually hits me on my men when I'm trying to turn around, telling me that I have to put my shinai out first before turning around. So I think you learn more by actions rather than being told what to do, you learn from experience. yeah sorry about all this, I tend to ramble a lot, especially when reminiscing, anyway, good luck getting more girl kendokas!

Cheers! （ ^_^）o自自o（^_^ ）, Heather

[Charlie]

up for later reading

[davehale]

I must say that some of the females in my class are some of the most ferocious.

[Cailin Coilleac]

You definitely need to start collecting data to find out why they're leaving. Maybe on the signup forms you could have questions designed to find out what made them choose to try kendo. And if they leave, maybe a follow up call to determine why they left?

I realize that Sean made this post roughly four years ago, but I believe it bears repeating! Stay in touch with your students, not only the active ones, but also the ones who leave.

[rfoxmich]

I have to say that this semester almost all of our female members have stuck and they are coming along very very well. I'm looking forward to building an all women's team...and then seeing them graduate _sigh_

[Kuroniji]

Hello..... newbie here.
There is one other girl in my class, but she rarely comes. I have always been pretty comfortable around guys, but I'm still quite a shy person and we don't chat probably as much as I would like. I am nervous of sticking out. It doesn't help that I'm new and most of the people in my class have been doing it for decades. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm rubbish cos I'm new - not cos I'm a girl. But it is a weird feeling being the only one and I think that may be a reason why not many girls attend.
Beyond that, I'm mystified. I absolutely love it, but none of my girlfriends seem interested. One of my guy friends has come to class with me once, but I'm sad that there aren't more women. I am always eternally grateful as I leave my class and see the women in leotards bopping to zumba and step aerobics that my sport is infinitely cooler. (I only joke. I'm sure they are enjoying that. Maybe).

Re the questions.....

Do you think the physical aggression in kendo intimidates females?Well, on the whole, iaido is solitary, with the exception of imagined foes. This actually made it appeal to me. I tried Kung Fu for a while, but didn't enjoy it, not because of the physical aggression, but rather because I was aware of how much the guys were holding back against me. I'm very small and probably look more fragile than I am and they used to break their holds before I'd even tried, so I never had any idea of whether my techniques were correct or not. I like that there is no test of strength in this and that my only opponent tends to be my self-doubt.

If not in your case, what qualities about kendo appeals to you?See above. Plus I love swords and have always collected them. I was delighted to discover that the katana / iaito is light enough for me to wield effectively.

Do you think that some drills may want to be modified or not?I don't think I've had enough experience to answer that. Not yet, for me.

Are there instruction methods that might help females members?I don't think we need to be taught in a different way to guys.


What keeps you coming to practice in your dojo?It's a v serious dojo with some very strong philosophies, quite strict and they obviously take a lot of pride in their members. There's no false praise, but no disparagement either. No-one has ever complained that I'm too slow to learn, but nor do they tell me I'm great. They just tell me that I'll get there in the end. In this way, I've never felt that I'm in competition with anyone but myself. I've never practised any sports before and have so little confidence in my physical abilities that this is very important to me. I don't think that's a female thing; I think it's a me-thing.