Validity of Kendo?

[JaredExtreme]

Hey guys, I have three friends that take kendo at the college gym. To put it simply, I think they're wasting their time. I ask them why they take it, and they usually say something like "Because you can kick people's asses with sticks!" I then reply, "Where's your stick now?". This pretty much shuts them up.

I've tried to persuade them to take Judo, BJJ or even(god forbid) Karate, but they love dressing up in their armor and prancing around. Does this aggravate anyone else that all these people could be out learning a superior martial art but they're just too lazy to take the first step?

[Mad Dog]

I think Kendo is kind of cool from a fluffy, artsy, point of view. But you're right, it has almost no self-defense applications. On the rare occassion you're attacked and you have a stick at hand you'd be the man! For the real world, I'll take my BJJ skills....

[RC]

My motto is usually that ANY training whatsoever is better than no training at all. I really believe that it does not belong to us to judge the wants and desires of people.

Let me start by saying that I never studied Kendo but I am familiar of some of their concepts particularily the concept of Taisabaki (movement) which in my humble opinion is one of the most important point (if not the most) of the martial arts, because it teaches you how to avoid a blow (therefore live to see another day) and place yourself in a superior position to deliver one of your own ... It might not be applicable in today's world (on a selfdefense level) but as long as the practitioners understand that they are preserving an art, then there is nothing wrong as I see into practicing Kendo

My own training and experience over the last decade is in boxing/kickboxing, grappling and Jujutsu and I dabble in some filipino stick and knife system but I can see the beauty in an Art like Kendo. My own path will take me at one point to study japanese sword. Am I ever gonna use a sword in my life? The answer is probably never but the art is not only beautiful but also EXTREMELY challenging. It will take me a lot of dedication, training, sweat and energy but that would be my choice, would not it?

My advice: let your friends study Kendo; maybe their path will take them from the bamboo stick to a more suitable street-applicable martial discipline

respectfully,

RC

P.S. BJJ is not a good self defense system ... it's a sport

[mushinmaster]

Ken - DO has changed to more of a way of living, finding peace, than it is martial - they do a lot of ceremonies, spiritual cleansing. Kenjutsu is the shit, but niether are really aplicable to todays society - now maybe if this were back in the 16th century....

Either way if you wanna learn to beat people up with sticks go to the DOG BROTHERS - THEY ARE THE BEST!

[aseepish]

Kendo vs Kali

One of the key differences between kendo and kali is the applicability of the art to real life situations.

Check out this threat:

http://www.defend.net/deluxeforums/showthread.php?threadid=3865

The dogbros are great! http://dogbrothers.com - their stick tournaments have less rules than MMA competitions. Stickgrappling is not only allowed, it's encouraged!

http://dogbrothers.com/techseq/200110/oct2001.htm

Tony

[edro]

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[duc]

Well as I see it Kendo is a sport period. To rely on it in self defense would be stupid. However it is the only Martial art / sport that is 85% mental 15% physical.
Nothing compares.
If it wasent for Kendo the way of the sword there would be no Martial Arts. When the shogun outlawed all weapons from the peasents they had to find other means to defend themselfs.

[Szczepankiewicz]

"...is a sport period. To rely on it in self defense would be stupid."

Running is a sport is it not? Sprints? Long distance running? Hurdles? Sport. Sport. Sport. However, probably the MOST VALUABLE self defense tool in your toolbox. Sport or no sport, if you can find a use for it, it is no longer useless.


Yoga is not even a sport, but it helps with flexibility, proper breathing, focusing the mind, and strength. All four of these factors could come in VERY valuable during an altercation.


The tool is only useful when wielded by a worthy artisan.

SZ

[aseepish]

Originally posted by duc

If it wasent for Kendo the way of the sword there would be no Martial Arts. When the shogun outlawed all weapons from the peasents they had to find other means to defend themselfs.

What a thought! We'd all be forced to study Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Indian, Filipino, Malay, Indonesian, European, or Afro-Brazilian arts!

-Tony

[aseepish]

Originally posted by edro
The others in the room (specifically a couple guys with "big dog" t-shirts on) asked "why the hell would you worry about swords and sticks? Are you gonna carry em' with ya when you go out?...I doubt it" . . . Broom handles, mop handles, axe handles, pipes, plunger handles, the bar from a towel rack...etc. etc. etc. all are readily available weapons in MANY places...and can be used using the skills of kendo and kali. -edro

Right on! I would have loved to see the look on that guy's face!

It's funny though - the other day I was out walking with my mom in a semi-rural area. I was carrying a jo, which I use as a walking stick. I was approached by a guy who wanted to know what kind of wood it was. He was carrying a sheathed sword of European design in his belt. He had the look of an SCA-type. Finally, something that I've been training for for years, but the encounter was perfectly civil.

-Tony

[mushinmaster]

uhhh just a thought here fellas - were peasants really rich enough to have swords, isn't that a weapon reserved for the samurai?

isn't it more practical that they used pikes, spears, and all those fancy farming tools because they were too poor to buy the swords?

[Mad Dog]

RC, the reason BJJ is only a sport is????