Kendo and the world today.

[sarge127]

Hey guys, something hit me today, while in school...

Something to do with kendo and the world today, like i mean with all the crisis's going on and the financial issues and wars going on.
How do some of us even imagine to continue such martial arts when most of us are in crisis? good jobs? few perks? own your own business?
I consider you guys lucky, hard for me to concentrate on the sword when all this ruckus is in the way such as growing up to the real world behind the images the school creates. Such as "Bright future, Goals".
I made lots of goals but only completed a few... after 5 months of kendo, things are looking rough as im getting close to graduation in June.
i would like to think im getting passed the smoke by believing i got hopes from family members and close friends.
As for bogu, good grief! i haven't got into yet and im starting to flunk kendo classes... But i got a job, full-time... i hate to skip kendo classes just to get bogu. Anyways Wars, Issues, kendo... Why do it when theres so much trouble in the way?

[pgsmith]

Why do it when theres so much trouble in the way?

Because everybody needs to have a life? Why not do it? It couldn't possibly be better to sit on the couch and stare at reality TV rather than make the effort to go to class.
I know people that go out and hit golf balls, others that ride their motorcycles, still others that paint, read, or do lots of other things as stress relief. Myself, I like to chop imaginary people into little bits. It's more expensive than some people's outlets, less expensive than others. It's well worth it to me though.

[jjcruiser]

Most generations fall prey to the conceit that everything is so much harder for them, the issues are so much more intense, the obstacles so much larger, etc. It's just not true. Paul is quite right: what are you going to do instead? Shut down the rest of your life because of the European debt crisis or stand-offs in the middle east over oil? I got news for you, there were European debt crises in the 1800s and stand offs in the middle east over oil almost as long.

Also -- I was like this too so it's not a criticism -- but it's a very limited perspective you get in high school. The girl that doesn't love you seems like the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD for you. The homework you have seems like it's SO HARD YOU'LL NEVER BE SO BUSY AGAIN in your whole life. And the state of the world seems SO TROUBLED AND DANGEROUS why even go on.

I assure you: These things are very, very unlikely to be true.

Hang in there. Kendo is a worthwhile endeavor just for its own sake. And if you conclude otherwise, you're not a bad person for wanting to try something else.

[GPrather]

Why do it when there's so much trouble in the way?

I have only been doing kendo for a short time now, but I find it to be a good release from the troubles of the world, like what pgsmith was saying. I also like that it usually has nothing to do with the "real world" it's like a place of zen, where you shout out your anger and chop up the earths air =D. As for trouble getting in the way.. I see that as almost being a challenge to overcome the problems, and if you can't afford the bogu, then you can practice your swing, and footwork until you can afford it. I don't know your sensei but I bet he would help you as well.

[davehale]

This past Saturday I almost succombed to my laziness, stress from work and school, and the weather being bad. I drive 70+ miles to my dojo and some messy, cold weather was to come in. I thought, "Eh...it'll be too "dangerous" to drive to class. I have this assignment to finish. I'm so tired, work has been draining me. I just need a break from it all!" I can't remember what caused me to change my mind but 10 minutes before I had to leave to make it to class on time I thougth to myself, "JUST GO!!" It was the best kendo class I've had so far (I've been in bogu for a few months now). The weather cleared nicely and the roads were nice and fairly dry. I finished my assignment later that night, and any stress I did have was gone. This may not directly answer your question but I feel it does apply to a similar feeling.
As others have said, there are problems in the world. There always will be, accept that but don't just fall over and ask what's the point. I'm a poor college student and kendo was a hefty investment. If I'm lucky, I get to go to class twice a month. When I do get to class, it's worth every penny and every second.

[dillon]

Shisei-wo tadashite... MOKUSOOOOOO...
[real world disappears]

BTW, you can't flunk kendo. If you don't pass a shinsa it's still a valuable learning experience giving you a chance to reflect on what needs to be worked on. Arguably passing gives you much less information.

[Wraith]

I drive 70+ miles to my dojo and some messy, cold weather was to come in. I thought, "Eh...it'll be too "dangerous" to drive to class. I have this assignment to finish. I'm so tired, work has been draining me. I just need a break from it all!" I can't remember what caused me to change my mind but 10 minutes before I had to leave to make it to class on time I thougth to myself, "JUST GO!!" It was the best kendo class I've had so far.

Quite often, the times you force yourself to practice are the most enjoyable and insightful IMO

[Fudo-Shin]

Hey guys, something hit me today, while in school...

Something to do with kendo and the world today, like i mean with all the crisis's going on and the financial issues and wars going on.
How do some of us even imagine to continue such martial arts when most of us are in crisis? good jobs? few perks? own your own business?
I consider you guys lucky, hard for me to concentrate on the sword when all this ruckus is in the way such as growing up to the real world behind the images the school creates. Such as "Bright future, Goals".
I made lots of goals but only completed a few... after 5 months of kendo, things are looking rough as im getting close to graduation in June.
i would like to think im getting passed the smoke by believing i got hopes from family members and close friends.
As for bogu, good grief! i haven't got into yet and im starting to flunk kendo classes... But i got a job, full-time... i hate to skip kendo classes just to get bogu. Anyways Wars, Issues, kendo... Why do it when theres so much trouble in the way?

Yeah, so there's alot of shite going on - always has, always will. That's why you have to appreciate each opportunity you have and make the most of it, as if it were your last chance to get it right (this will also apply to anything). As mentioned above, kendo is one of the places where you leave all that behind.

Here's some recommended viewing for perpective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&v=TLEK0UZH4cs

[Wraith]

Class!!

[rfoxmich]

Consider this tough love.

1. I don't understand how you can 'flunk kendo classes'. You practice. If your university has a class for credit (and I teach one), about the only way to fail it is to not show up. Don't have bogu? Practice kihon. If it took Mochida sensei 50 years to understand kihon (practicing daily) I suppose we all can still learn something from kihon even if we don't have bogu.
2. "Why do it when there's so much trouble in the way? Well I submit that's exactly why you should do it.
3. As for the crises in the world. Yep they are there now, they were there when I was in college and they were there when my parents were in college. Remember the "Great Depression"? How about WW-II as wars go? WW-I? 100years war? What builds our character is not how we act and react when times are easy but how we act and react when they are hard, and dedicating one slice of our life to a character building exercise like kendo? Seems like it might be useful and even important.
4. 5 Months of kendo? ...you can complain about it getting tough and life being tough after 30 years or so of kendo....and 40+ years of life.

None of this is supposed to be easy. A good friend of mine always put kendo in perspective this way:
Kendo for almost everyone should be third place in their life:

1. Family
2. Job
3. Kendo.

You have family..they have high hopes for you. Think a bit on those who don't have family or have abusive families.
You have a full time job. That's great. With unemployment as high as it it, be thankful about that, and think a bit on those who lost their jobs in the 'economic downturn'..and have been out of work for years with homes to pay off and families to support.

Or as I always say to my students who are telling me they need to focus on school and don't have time for kendo...and feel guilty:
"You need to do what you have to do now, kendo will always be there.

On the whole sounds like you've got it pretty damned good. So
Quit your whining, shut up and practice when you can and live your life to the best of your abilities.

Hey guys, something hit me today, while in school...

Something to do with kendo and the world today, like i mean with all the crisis's going on and the financial issues and wars going on.
How do some of us even imagine to continue such martial arts when most of us are in crisis? good jobs? few perks? own your own business?
I consider you guys lucky, hard for me to concentrate on the sword when all this ruckus is in the way such as growing up to the real world behind the images the school creates. Such as "Bright future, Goals".
I made lots of goals but only completed a few... after 5 months of kendo, things are looking rough as im getting close to graduation in June.
i would like to think im getting passed the smoke by believing i got hopes from family members and close friends.
As for bogu, good grief! i haven't got into yet and im starting to flunk kendo classes... But i got a job, full-time... i hate to skip kendo classes just to get bogu. Anyways Wars, Issues, kendo... Why do it when theres so much trouble in the way?

[Taylor]

Yeah, so there's alot of shite going on - always has, always will. That's why you have to appreciate each opportunity you have and make the most of it, as if it were your last chance to get it right (this will also apply to anything). As mentioned above, kendo is one of the places where you leave all that behind.

Here's some recommended viewing for perpective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&v=TLEK0UZH4cs

Not a fan of Flight of the Concords. Even as a New Zealander.

[MiddleEarthNet]

Hey guys, something hit me today, while in school...

Something to do with kendo and the world today, like i mean with all the crisis's going on and the financial issues and wars going on.
How do some of us even imagine to continue such martial arts when most of us are in crisis? good jobs? few perks? own your own business?
I consider you guys lucky, hard for me to concentrate on the sword when all this ruckus is in the way such as growing up to the real world behind the images the school creates. Such as "Bright future, Goals".
I made lots of goals but only completed a few... after 5 months of kendo, things are looking rough as im getting close to graduation in June.
i would like to think im getting passed the smoke by believing i got hopes from family members and close friends.
As for bogu, good grief! i haven't got into yet and im starting to flunk kendo classes... But i got a job, full-time... i hate to skip kendo classes just to get bogu. Anyways Wars, Issues, kendo... Why do it when theres so much trouble in the way?

All that stuff will still happen whether we do kendo or not. So rather than get dragged down that route, why not do what we enjoy.

As for cost - yeah I struggle with that but I know it is worth it.

[MiddleEarthNet]

Myself, I like to chop imaginary people into little bits.

I SO want that on a tenugui .

[Aerysia]

Consider this tough love.

1. I don't understand how you can 'flunk kendo classes'. You practice. If your university has a class for credit (and I teach one), about the only way to fail it is to not show up. Don't have bogu? Practice kihon. If it took Mochida sensei 50 years to understand kihon (practicing daily) I suppose we all can still learn something from kihon even if we don't have bogu.

A class for credit??? O_O Where?!?!?!?

But on the topic of the thread........... kendo is just too amazing to stop. To me, kendo is my passion, although I've only been practicing for 1.5 years and I feel that kendo is also my release from the world, so I can forget all the stress. Everyone needs a release or else people would explode with stress...

[MikeW]

What Ron (rfoxmich) said... btw Aerysia, Ron teaches a for credit kendo class at MSU (Michigan State Univ).