The Most Valued Characteristic?

[Andoru]

I voted for "persistance and courage" as I believe that these are the essential human elements that are needed for self-improvement regardless of experience. Moreover, self-improvement is the essence of budo. Of course a kendoka's personality is important too, but nothing inspires me more than seeing a dedicated kendoka trying his/her best to improve him/herself in keiko. These are the people who have the courage to acknowledge their shortcomings and work hard to overcome them.

[Kaoru]

Also, it is good to be able to drink beer, but unless you can still come to practice after 8 pints and two hours of sleep it is not a particularily valuable characteristic. Having this ability is very important.

That SO is not important!! Grrrrrr.... *trying hard not to rant* Kendokas drink waaay too much... *sigh* Why??

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

I haven't voted yet. I am considering the question still... I'll be back. It's a good question to think over. I wish I could choose more than one choice.

Kaoru

[Kirsty]

I voted persistence/courage because you can't give up if you want to be good at kendo.

If I could vote for two I would vote for character/personality because kendo wouldn't be the same with out it.

[kanyil]

Is not. *sigh*

Kaoru

Kaoru's right everybody. The ability to drink beer is not nearly as relevant an attribute to kendokas as the ability to drink sake, in case you ever visit Japan.

[Musha]

The most importaint characteristic of a kendo-ka should be sincerity! kendo without it is empty playing!

Kanyil I could probably drink industrial alcahol but I don't have the time and money to drink .

[CryingFreeman]

Character all the way

[JSchmidt]

Kendokas drink waaay too much... *sigh* Why??

Kaoru

WTF is your problem?.

Jakob

[The great I AM]

No, I have a very large stainless steel kettle designed for brewing beer. I brew it in my kitchen and I don't use bottles any more. I have several 5 gallon (U.S.) soft drink syrup kegs I use. I carbonate the beer using forced carbonation. I have a tap that mounts onto the keg fittings, so it's easy to dispense.

Holy Crap! You've got a pub in your kitchen! Thats amazing....I'm actually jealous! Do you have peanuts and porkscrathcings behind the counter?

[The great I AM]

That SO is not important!! Grrrrrr.... *trying hard not to rant* Kendokas drink waaay too much... *sigh* Why??

Kaoru

I beg to differ. At the club Anjin-san and I started last october, the people who stayed on were ALL people who came drinking with us from the start. No joke. The only dropout we've had since getting them into bougu (3 weeks ago) was a guy who didn't ever come to the pub with us, like almost never, once or twice.

So Miss Kaoru, not important? Rant at that!

[Musha]

I think drink it more of an English thing .

[Charlie]

And it's a Japanese thing. A sober Japanese is often a lonely fellow. Not all cultures have the same attitudes toward drinking, remember.

Well, interesting answers here. My own vote was for persistance since I think this is the quality favored above all others by Japanese on the whole, but I'm intrigued by the answer "sincerity." If kendo begins and ends with rei, and rei must be sincere, not empty etiquette, that puts sincerity in a new bracket, doesn't it?

The reason I started this poll is I have been thinking for some time that the culture of kendo and the culture of boxing are a lot alike. And I think the characteristic that boxers favor above all others is "heart." That usually means guts to try and train hard and keep going, even if you fail or are a lousy fighter. I was wondering if kendo-ka felt the same. I thought persistance might be a Japanese way of saying "heart."

Your thoughts?

[Musha]

I think you guys are talking more about what it takes to do modern kendo.

Your hakama should remind you of what kendo should be about and what kind of person it should make you.

仁 Jin benevolence
義 Gi morality
礼 Rei courtesy
知 Chi knowligable
信 Shin sincerity

[D'Artagnan]

Character/personality

Kendo, to me, is about about learning and expressing who you are.

Just think about it, If someone is an @$$, then it shows in thier Kendo.

The sword is the soul baby!

[D'Artagnan]

Your hakama should remind you of what kendo should be about and what kind of person it should make you.

仁 Jin benevolence
義 Gi morality
礼 Rei courtesy
知 Chi knowligable
信 Shin sincerity

Damn! e-bougu seem to have left the labels off mine! how will I now be able to look at my hakama and realise the true way?! now i'll never be a samurai...