[jeaccatty]

That's a great post Koori! I'm going to show it to my wife.

b

BTW everytime I see your name on the boards I think "at last! an Aboriginal kendoka!" But I don't suppose you're a blackfella, are you?

[qikolax]

I started kendo last year. I started by lookin on da net. It looked cool so i foung the local dojos and started. After 2 practices my braddah and 1 of my friends started to go. den dey atracted more people, until we got like 6 people. my braddahs moving to delaware no more kendo fo him. an my friend moved to cali.
well dats how i started.

personnaly it was by looking at alternative to my old fencing training (2 years training, 3-4 years ago) that would include both body and soul workouts.

[fgfblog]

Well, This is how I started..

Last year, my mother bought me a book for one of my christmas presents. It was called "The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn" and It was about a japanese peasant boy who wanted to become a samurai, he went through a big thrilling journey and adventure and finally he became like a samurai, even though he wasnt born one.

I loved the book and I got inspired on samurai and all that stuff, so one day...I was searching up some samurai sword classes and found kendo. I looked it up and researched on kendo and searched for the nearest dojo. I gave kendo a try for the first beginners class, and I loved it!

[ButKnillinoi]

it's good ure interested in kendo! I've always been fascinated by the way of the samurai ... its not from movies like Last Samurai that got me into it... I've liked it way before that movie came out....

I never saw any kendo when i was back home(I'm from Malaysia) but when i got here (I'm in Australia) I saw the ad for the beginner course in kendo where i study at and gave it a shot.... it's been 15 weeks now and I'm done with the beginner course and have started training as a regular now....

at 1st it can a lot from u but once ure into it u'll get the pace and eventually it'll just be natural.....

i dont know what kind of coolness ure describing... to me kendo is not solely physical but also mentally stimulating....u cant practise kendo when uve got so many other things on ur mind...u'll kinda screw things up if ure not focused.... plus kendo maintains proper etiquette....it cultivates the soul in a way...

thats my two cents...

u start on april 2005? danggggggg....thats a long wait.... but i dont think u'll be disappointed....im known from jumping to one interest to the next...but i think kendo isnt just a phase to me.....heheheheheeheheeh....im supermotivated about kendo!

[Kghyutgykim]

Kendo found me I didn't find it. A Japanese friend tells me that in a past life I was Japanese and a samurai's wife. I'm not quite sure why she thinks that but, I know that the people in my dojo have become a second family that I wouldn't part with for the world.
When I'm in class or even out of class, it calls to me. It's kind of hard to explain.
I have been in Kendo now going on 2 years and I am testing for NiKyu next weekend.
I know how hard it is to balance life and Kendo. My husband understands that it is a large part of my life and he accepts that he has to share me at least once a week with my instructors. I think that he is seeing the others in my dojo as family also.
I know that some of the movies out there may bring some people into the dojo and those people rarely stay.
I see making the choice to do Kendo is like joining a family/ marriage. You must be committed to it.
~Koori

[infollafago]

I got interested in kendo when my sister got in when i was ten....we were the only people in the beginers class though...well it was good because we got all the attention

[Falik]

"That's a great post Koori! I'm going to show it to my wife."-Ben
Good, I think that everyone should have a supportive spouse. It makes it easier.

"BTW everytime I see your name on the boards I think "at last! an Aboriginal kendoka!" But I don't suppose you're a blackfella, are you?"-Ben

ummm... No I am a Native American woman. Koori in Japanese means " Ice" I am told often that I am rather icey / stoic and have a cold demeanor. I don't show emotions too much

~Koori

[hoconnor6605]

my cousin told me about it cuz he started it and then my dad and uncle kept talking about it....so when i went to korea we passed by a dojang so we got some info and that's where i started....

now whenever we have family gatherings, kendo/kumdo is one of the most popular topics among the men (and my sister)....i remember hearing from my uncle that some guy that works w/ him @ world bank in NYC is 8-dan!!

[xtrupoke]

Hi ~ I'm a newbie here (although I've been frequenting Kendo-world forums for about 2 months already .__. ) I haven't started Kendo yet, but I was wondering how all you people got interested & inspired to start Kendo. I'm sure in most western places Kendo isn't something "common", so how did you get to know and start to have the passion for Kendo?


Mine was during my Japan Homestay Exchange Programme where I studied at a Junior High School in Japan for about 3 weeks.... after school everyday, I would go to the dojo to watch the kendokas practise... it was the first time I saw Kendo live and for some reason, it was really inspiring. They unofficially taught me the basics of Kendo and let me practise on them and it was really an incredible experience.

In Japan, they have Kendo trainings every schoolday and then night Kendo trainings too... It's really amazing how much effort they put into it @_@

I suppose their dedication and passion was what inspired my interest for Kendo... Aside from the fact that it really is the coolest martial art I've seen so far

So what about you guys?

[seekfrieddy]

At first, I wanted to do Aikido. But after searching the clubs that are here, I found Kendo. When I looked up the information about Kendo, it seemed pretty exciting compared to Aikido (although it is pretty exciting as well).

Aikido is exciting....? 2 of my friends took it and said it was -rather- boring... lots of tumbling around

[patuvammnogoo]

At first, I wanted to do Aikido. But after searching the clubs that are here, I found Kendo. When I looked up the information about Kendo, it seemed pretty exciting compared to Aikido (although it is pretty exciting as well). I went to the callout my freshman year and I have been hooked ever since!

It is true that here in the west that Kendo isn't as emphasized as other places. But with movies like Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, Last Samurai, Kill Bill, etc. it's becoming at least more well-known.

[wMceqj7F]

If you cant do any kendo right now then maybe you might want to watch some
vidios(sp?) or get some books just so you know more about it.

[drmarshallusa]

Indeed, the Singapore Kendo Club does seem quite exclusive! Do you need a PhD to even get a shot at kendo?

I heard that Damian Carmody-Stephens is over there by the way.

[Peertantyb]

Indeed, the Singapore Kendo Club does seem quite exclusive! Do you need a PhD to even get a shot at kendo?

I heard that Damian Carmody-Stephens is over there by the way.

I dunno, but I think you have to audition. I heard that the judges favour songs that have "beautiful, simple melodies, simply sung." And lots of big notes. "Big notes win votes."

Damian sensei has been over there for quite a few years now. Last time I did jigeiko with him (2-3 years ago?), his kendo was wonderfully straight. I don't think he went for anything except men.

b

[Vodonaeva]

Ahh…



I started kendo because I’m such a Star Wars nerd… I heard that they used kendo to choreograph the saber fights.



I joined, and I’ve been at it for three years now.



Cheers to my nerdiness!



Nowadays I do kendo for the kendo, not to be a “jedi”… haha…