[Jesslovers]

Hello everibody!

I began kendo in september, and I noticed a strange thing in my dojo:around 1/5 to 1/4 of the guys who train there have (or are wearing, I don't know how to say) a beard (and so do I). That's quite a number.

I have also noticed in the thread "Pics of yourselves in bogu or whatever" some nice beards...

Is beard good for kendo or kendo good for beard? Or is my dojo special?



It's my first post and my first thread!

(please help my english by pointing my mistakes)

[CedssypeEdids]

Is beard good for kendo or kendo good for beard? Or is my dojo special?

No, no and no. Your beard makes your men fit a little weird (like an uneeded chin pad). Your men will pull whiskers out when you take it off. Our ratio is a little more, it's not rare at all.

I'm keeping mine because all the girls simply swoon over it.

[giftplas]

No, no and no. Your beard makes your men fit a little weird (like an uneeded chin pad). Your men will pull whiskers out when you take it off.

I think that if the beard is long enough it is not a problem. I try the men three times (I said I'm a beginner) without problem, but my beard is six months old without any cut.

Girls do not swoon anymore. I'll have to do something.

[neerewed]

Girls do not swoon anymore. I'll have to do something.

It's a state of mind, I assure you. Mostly in my mind...

[KojlinMakolvin]

I think that if the beard is long enough it is not a problem. I try the men three times (I said I'm a beginner) without problem, but my beard is six months old without any cut.

Girls do not swoon anymore. I'll have to do something.

Well you can punch them out so they can swoon. Sorry I was thinking out loud.
Beard...I haven't seen anyone in my dojang who has beard, but I would imagine it would feel awkward in the homyeon

[CFstantony]

I won't punch anybody with it, it takes too much time to get it nice.
What is awkward is when the sweat reach the beard at the end of the training session. Hard to prevent it from smelling like a bogu.

An you should not imagine how it feel, you should try it! (keep yourself far away from american airports and it should be fine ) I love thinking "people can spot me at 500m in a crowd" . That's my state of mind.

[flanna.kersting]

I shaved my beard off yesterday, I trained today... my zanshin was ruined! now I must grow it back ASAP... I miss my chin warmer

[fereupfer]

Other than the Lounger who is a splitter, facial hair is big at our place!

[Tveabuti]

What is awkward is when the sweat reach the beard at the end of the training session. Hard to prevent it from smelling like a bogu.

EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!! Im not a fan of facial hair at the best of times.

[CevepBiageCefm]

I had a full beard and mustache for quite a long time then I shaved it off around the new year. I couldn't look at myself in the mirror for a couple of days because my upper lip looked freakishly long.

It's a state of mind, I assure you. Mostly in my mind...

Yes, mostly in the mind but the rest is definitely in the hand.... or hands depending on what kind of man you are.

[mirzaterak]

nothing beats the 3 day laid back vagabond ronin attitude beard.... it drives them crazy

too long and you'll end up looking like a truck driver version of leonidas in 300. clean shaved and you'll look like a preppy geek.

see, you must have some balance in life....

[Heaneisismich]

nEErli orl ov thu girlzz inn mi dowjo hav beerds... butt i dont an im a boi...

an.. Scotuk... wotz a splitter?

[doksSirmAdods]

the beard defines my otherwise weak chin...

One day when the weight has gone I will shave and show off my natural chisselled jaw.

but not yet ... not yet

[Nutpoode]

EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!! Im not a fan of facial hair at the best of times.

You really don't know what you are missing, it has certain advantages that really do make the ladies swoon...

I used to have a van dyke, but now I prefer a goatee when I can be bothered to shave off the outer bits to define out.

[drugsprevi]

wotz a splitter?

It's a Monty Python Life of Brian thing - someone who splits from the group?

[Breevereurl]

nothing beats the 3 day laid back vagabond ronin attitude beard.... it drives them crazy

too long and you'll end up looking like a truck driver version of leonidas in 300. clean shaved and you'll look like a preppy geek.

see, you must have some balance in life....

I heartily agree with this version of the bearded face/chin. I myself go by this rule bur only in the weekends and vacation time. I'm afraid I don't consider myself a vagabond ronin, so that's where we might differ. I'm also not so sure whether it makes the girls crazy. I'm just lazy and I can't be bothered.

[adunnyByday]

nothing beats the 3 day laid back vagabond ronin attitude beard.... it drives them crazy

too long and you'll end up looking like a truck driver version of leonidas in 300. clean shaved and you'll look like a preppy geek.

see, you must have some balance in life....

That's a very hard way of life, because at this length my beard is really itchy.

[j2Y6Ysmb]

I'm keeping mine because all the girls simply swoon over it.

Thats the smell.

[dodadaxia]

Awooga Guy has a fine goatie. And yes, lots of kendoka do tend to have beards Why, he does not know.






That is all.

[Dodoerabe]

I shaved (choped would be a more accurate word) it today. I had a big long soft black beard, now it's a small short prickly van dyke.

So beards seem to be common in western kendo. But in Japan or Korea? Has anybody information to share ?

And a beginning of answer to the why question?
Might it because beards are a little excentric, and so is kendo?