[Cgnebksb]

I´ve been thinking recently that I should take a small break from kendo. Just few months, next summer perhaps.. I´m starting to feel little tired and I´m not so keen on it as I used to be. I´m just afraid that I lose all my interest towards kendo, but I´m never going to quit it.

Or is this just one of those moments I should just keep practicing? Friend of mine once told that there will be good days and bad days when you feel like you´re not getting anywhere. On those bad days you should just keep on fighting and that way you will get better. Even if it doesn´t feel like it.

What do you think I should do? Or did I already gave answer to my own question?

[pXss8cyx]

i think you already answered your own question
you have it a wall.
if you stop you are less likely to get back into it
or if you do, you may just hit that same wall again
if you carry on, you are more likely to break through that wall
good luck

[griddle]

I agree. Walking away from it competely for a "break" will make it that much more difficult to come back. Perhaps you might consider cutting back on the time you spend with kendo? Make a deal with yourself; for the next (whatever period of time) I will practice X times per week. Then stick to it. Give yourself a little break, but don't abandon it altogether.

[+++Poguru+++]

I've only done kendo for 5 years so I'm anything but an expert. I've had times when it was so hard to make myself go to pratice but I allways kept going and after a few weeks it all went back to normal. Kendo has it ups and downs just like life and we can't take a break from living.

My personal way of looking at thing is:
If you don't seem to improve, practice harder to climb that wall. If you are improving, practice harder to take full advantage.
At the very least make sure to keep going.

In some ways my year at IBU was nothing but a big wall that had to be climbed, I was out of my league and getting my ass kicked every day (that is; if anyone cared enough to do keiko with me). It made me rethink my reasons for doing kendo and also made me realize how much it means to me. My kendo still sucks but I'm much more resolved, showing up is after all the hardest thing about kendo.

[WepKeyday]

yes it will be hard to take a break and come back, unless you left like me (accident messed up my knee/ankle) so i couldn't wait to get better to come back to class.

push yourself to go everyday and that love you have for kendo will always come back.

you must go on my kendoka brother
but also keep in mind if you feel you really really need a break, then maybe you should step back and look at things from another perspective and come back to class refreshed!

[Ephejvll]

I had a few times where I lost the fire for Kendo, I guess I was burnt out, but I stuck with it untill the fire started burning again. I think those day/weeks/months, you realy dont feel "into" kendo, are just part of the whole "way".

Dont get me wrong, I think taking a week or two break every once in a while is good for your kendo(gives you time to just think and contemplate), but months at a time could end up bad. It ultimately up to you and what you think is best, Good luck.

[dXI9XFOA]

I've practiced for about 11 years now and never felt like leaving, so maybe I'm not the best person to give you an answer... However I would advise against leaving kendo completely. I think the answer depends on why you're feeling tired and loosing interest.

Are you having more difficulty attending practice? Is it a matter of practice times conflicting w/ other obligations? Are you too busy?

Or is the problem w/ practice itself? Do you feel like you're not getting what you used to out of practice? Do you feel happy after practice?

If it's the latter I would recommend you talk to your sensei and senpai. They may be able to help you over the hump. I've personally found that by focusing on different things from practice to practice it keeps each practice "fresh". Visiting other dojos and attending their practices also freshen up the variety of practice regiments and offer new points of view.

Definitely don't make the decision based on a practice or two. It should be after at least a month's worth of practices, imo.

[HarryMet]

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. If you break the habit, it'll be harder to come back.

"I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards." - Abraham Lincoln

Think about your own question and make sure that if you do it, you do it for the right reasons and not just to get away from Kendo. As long as you keep at it, no matter how slow you go, you'll always be moving forward.

[enasseneiff]

I say keep going no matter what if you really want to continue Kendo...Progression and improvement in Kendo once you reach a certain level is NEVER Linear.

In my experience, people who have said, "I will take a break and come back." never do.

And in the rare occasion 1 or 2 come back, they never stay too long as those who were their Kohai will have far surpassed them during their break.

[topbonusescod]

I'll go ahead and take the unpopular stance. It is true that once you leave it can be hard to come back. However, that just may mean it was time for you to give it up. Either you want to do kendo or, you don't. Don't force it, what's the point?

If you still feel like taking those months off once summer is here, go ahead. If you never make it back then you made the right decision. If instead you can't stand being away, you'll be back sooner than you thought. Just don't leave and then make excuses why you're not able to come back, you'll only be fooling yourself.

You're not a child, nobody needs to force you to eat your vegetables. Do it or don't, you'll figure out what's best for you. I mean, if you need a forum full of people cheering you through to the next practice, why are you really going?

[Pateeffelty]

On those bad days you should just keep on fighting and that way you will get better. Even if it doesn´t feel like it.

In my opinion, it is these bad days where you can get the biggest and most important gains. Even if it doesn't feel like it. Especially if it doesn't feel like it.