Pride

**Kikuchiyo** · 22nd August 2004, 11:10 AM

I myself have not yet started practicing kendo or iaido, since clubs are rare to find. Regardless, I have always somehow felt a deep sense of pride for what the bushi of Japan accomplished in regards to their powerful spirit and actions, even if I'm just a Canadian teen with no real reason to have such emotions. For myself, there is no other class of warrior that can surpass what the Samurai mean to me in terms of achievement and legacy. But it's getting really hard lately to believe that you have the right reasons to respect these historical figures, as movies are being released which gather the countless romantics together for their new "Samurai fad." I feel somewhat embarrassed to somehow think that I can judge the reasons for a person to enjoy this history, but it has the ability to insult me just a tad. I like to think I take this passion with a bit more seriousness than some I have encountered, and seeing all my numerous friends buying iaito angers me to be honest, especially statements like, "I'll bring my new sword to smash stuff." Knowledge of an area can only carry you so far without the proper respect. I may be less knowledgeable in the subject or even less fortunate in being able to participate in the sword arts, but I know I have a strong reverence for what they stood for. I truly wish to stay away from hypocrisy especially in this regard, but it's the only topic of interest I have found that carries on beyond just a fad of growing popularity. It is just as you've probably read countless times, a journey of sorts to stay with you for the duration of our lives. The spirit of sincerity, compassion, and duty is something that should not merely be seen as a short-lived period of enchantment, but more of legacy to others.

Am I the only one to feel this way?

Blue Bogu · 22nd August 2004, 11:51 AM

I may be young but....to most people..Samurai are just one class of warrior. Getting to learn about Korean, Chinese, and other Asian Warriors can be found just as interesting as Samurai.

**taganahan** · 22nd August 2004, 04:32 PM

you have the right to feel what you feel and also, they have the right to feel what they feel. getting too personal might affect relationships.

i'm proud of the native warriors in my country. they killed magellan! every history teacher tells us that magellan was the first one to circum navigate the globe, but everytime they tell this i tell them that magellan died in my country by the native warriors. magellan used cannons, guns and those advanced stuffs for those olden days while the native warriors only used spears, swords, arrows and shield. not too sure if they used arrows.

~taganahan

**Lloromannic** · 23rd August 2004, 12:10 AM

Even though here and in many other places there is some dislike towards people who became interested in kendo "to be a samurai", this is because it comes mostly from people who watched kill bill/last samurai. You however seem to have a genuine interest and desire to learn.

numerous friends buying iaito angers me to be honest, especially statements like, "I'll bring my new sword to smash stuff."

This is not only wrong, it's dangerous. Iaito are not made to cut and could break and hit someone with one of the pieces. Same goes for wall-hangers.

**mystic_kendoka** · 23rd August 2004, 03:31 AM

This is not only wrong, it's dangerous. Iaito are not made to cut and could break and hit someone with one of the pieces. Same goes for wall-hangers.

those that think this is cool deserve the fate tht awaits them.. everyone seen this video?
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/katanaslip.mpg

**Lloromannic** · 23rd August 2004, 05:25 AM

Originally Posted by mystic_kendoka

everyone seen this video?
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/katanaslip.mpg

Originally Posted by pretty much everybody

Yes

yeah, silly people and their toys.

**Kozushi** · 25th August 2004, 01:58 AM

Hi there,
You can start Kendo by yourself if there are no clubs around you.
Buy a bokuto/bokken or a shinai, and start practicing the basic moves.
If you don't have enough head-room in your house, then kneel on the floor and practice the cuts. The most important cut for conditioning is 'Men': the cut to the head. Since you are at home, you can do the 'big Men' cut: bring the sword right back behind your head, and then bring it forward to head level. The left hand's rotating forward gives the sword its impetus and much of its aim; the right hand helps with the aim and stops the sword at the right level. If you use right-armed strength in the swing, then you won't be able to stretch the right arm straight out as you should to get the extra reach, and the cut will be slower.

**Neil Gendzwill** · 25th August 2004, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by Kozushi

You can start Kendo by yourself if there are no clubs around you.

No, you can't. If you're training yourself, you're not practising kendo. You're practising delusional-do.

**Anime12478** · 25th August 2004, 01:11 PM

I agree with you on this in most respects. It is great when so many people have an interest in something that you hold dear to your heart. It is just that the problems arise when they "bastardize" the concepts or something to more fit in with the modern world of the media and pop culture. The same thing goes with video games. In the beginning, a few people played games and the people that made them have a passion for making games. Nowadays, more people have joined it, but they are more interested in graphics and "cool factor" than anything else. The problem here is when companies start making games to cater to the "graphics whores" and make games with the best graphics around but the most shallow gameplay. While that does concern me, it just doesn't do for me to just whine about it. Swordsmanship is a tough path to take. Eventually, people will leave the path because it is too hard, or it may not be for them. I always keep that in mind. There are always people like you who appreciate swordsmanship like you and that makes finding those people so much more rewarding.

**KhawMengLee** · 25th August 2004, 01:28 PM

heh...pride in our warriors.

Ever since I saw Taegukgi I have been in awe of China. Just the scene where the South Korean Army sounded the retreat and the Commander was like, "everyone is retreating! The Chinese have entered the war! How many of them are there?!?"

And then it cuts to the scene where you see the rolling hills swarming with charging chinese soldiers. Scary...victory thru numbers...kinda like the army ants...

Gohan-kun · 25th August 2004, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Kikuchiyo

...it's getting really hard lately to believe that you have the right reasons to respect these historical figures, as movies are being released which gather the countless romantics together for their new "Samurai fad." ...

Am I the only one to feel this way?

Ya know, it is for this exact same reason that I never did martial arts before. (This is NOT a flame, btw) I always had this image of people who did martial arts back home as people who were "wannabe ninjas" or whatever. I never ridiculed them; I just thought martial arts was one of those hobby-type activities people do, and I always had the (incorrect) image that people did it because they wanted mystical "oriental" powers (which is quite a derogatory term where I'm from). In my mind, I figured they just did it for fun, and that was the end of it.

In any case, I can relate to your position, Kikuchiyo. I came to Japan to learn more about the culture and to pick up a second language. Once I got settled here, I started looking for something to do with my students outside of school, and I found Kendo. Japanese history is fascinating, and my time here has been a matter of discovery and enrichment. Seeing people swinging their online-bought swords around never bothered me that much before, but after spending time here in Japan, it does kinda irk me a bit now. I'm not exactly sure why that is either. Still tolerant, but the whole idea of comodification of a culture (as seen with kanji tattoos back home, for example) is a complex one that can be discussed at lengh. There are many people here on these boards who, in my limited time here, seem strongly against the comodification of Japanese culture, in any respect (and probably Korean and Chinese cultures as well, but I'm not very educated in this area, so take this as just my opinion and personal observations).

Maybe I'm just blowing it out of proportion by saying all that stuff? I don't even know what I'm talking about......

One thing's for sure: Kendo is good, and good for you!

**Stimpson J. Cat** · 26th August 2004, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by KhawMengLee

And then it cuts to the scene where you see the rolling hills swarming with charging chinese soldiers. Scary...victory thru numbers...kinda like the army ants...

If you ever get a chance, talk to somebody who was in the South's lines when the Chinese attacked. It really was like that in many places. Some of the Chinese units were very poorly equipped, but there were just too many to stop. Somebody who used to work with my father was in a US unit there as part of the UN forces. He and the other men in his position were attacked by one of those poorly equipped units, many of the attacking Chinese troops didn't even have rifles. From their emplacements they stacked up dead bodies until the Chinese troops were climbing over piles of bodies to attack, but they kept coming. Eventually the Americans ran out of ammunition and ran like h*ll. It's the war time application of that thing about the population of China marching 4 abreast into the sea forever.

**mystic_kendoka** · 26th August 2004, 03:08 AM

there was a report somewhere that chinas casualties were twenty times the number of reinforcements they were getting and they still never had any shortages concerning men...

**KhawMengLee** · 26th August 2004, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Stimpson J. Cat

If you ever get a chance, talk to somebody who was in the South's lines when the Chinese attacked. It really was like that in many places. Some of the Chinese units were very poorly equipped, but there were just too many to stop. Somebody who used to work with my father was in a US unit there as part of the UN forces. He and the other men in his position were attacked by one of those poorly equipped units, many of the attacking Chinese troops didn't even have rifles. From their emplacements they stacked up dead bodies until the Chinese troops were climbing over piles of bodies to attack, but they kept coming. Eventually the Americans ran out of ammunition and ran like h*ll. It's the war time application of that thing about the population of China marching 4 abreast into the sea forever.

Yeah, they had the strength in numbers. Some of those poorly equipped units were using knives and clubs. A million soldiers is pocket change tho for Beijing.

mathiasb · 26th August 2004, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Stimpson J. Cat

He and the other men in his position were attacked by one of those poorly equipped units, many of the attacking Chinese troops didn't even have rifles. From their emplacements they stacked up dead bodies until the Chinese troops were climbing over piles of bodies to attack, but they kept coming. Eventually the Americans ran out of ammunition and ran like h*ll.

Kind of reminds you of those alien insects in "StarShip Troopers", right?