CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

last night was my first night of Kendo, an its so cool!
I've always wanted to try it out, sowhen i found out about a relatively local Kendo club/dojo i decided to start, a couple of my friends are starting it too.

Any other Kendoists (Kenokken or something like that) here on CAA?

or any other forms of swordfighting, and if so any cool/funny stories about practices/tournaments etc?

Oh man that does sound cool, wish I could do it!!!!!!!!!!

I don't really do Kendo, but we have shinai and daitos/bokken and we do a more "street" style of kenjutsu.

What that means is that we fight not a on straight line (as Kendo normally is from what I've read) and from time to time I incorporate a roundhouse, wheel, back, or side kick ^_^

Anyone know of Kendo schools in Southern California

I don't go to Kendo school, I use Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu in swordfights...

Oh and I have my own special fighting style (not swords), it's kind of weird, it's called "Way of the Wolf" and kicks some tail...

I practice Shinkendo when I have some free time. It's nice that you have some friends taking it with you.

Have wanted to start for ages, but only rescently got the time to take it up, as well as had the spare money to go, but lovin it so far, now that we finally got started, though am gonna have to get all the equipment etc. slowly, it costs a good bit because i are in the UK.

A Kendoka (kendo practioner) here as well. I've practiced for about a year and it's a very good learning experience.

One time, my helmet wasn't tied tightly enough, and my friend/sparring partner accidentally thrusted at my helmet, turning it 90 degrees. He thought he took my head off.

I guess one misconception many have about Kendo is that it's just like the movies, where you can do whichever...it's really not. It follows a very uniform and strict set of rules that you have to obey. My instructor got upset if we didn't demonstrate proper form, and understandablly so.

One important thing I've noticed is to practice practice practice. Repetition is the key to Kendo; muscle memory so you act by reflex/instinct instead of actively deciding your next move.

Good luck, I'm sure you will do just fine.

OH kendo! I really want to give that a try. Sad thing is the only place around Austin who offers it is UT.... errr.... I would think there would be more places around Austin for that kind of things. Go figure.
At least you don't have to actually be a UT student. Perhaps I should look into that. During the summer I almost bought a Kendo Bamboo Shinai, but decided to put it off for a bit.. Those are sweet...
Again, that's pretty cool.

Cool stuff, my first night was observing, but looked cool, not exactly what i'd expected, they even held a short contest between the people in armour before the class started, and the winner got to keep the trophy for a month (until the next contest) a real katana, and at the end they had a really strange winner-stays-on style fight going on

Sephiroth wrote:last night was my first night of Kendo, an its so cool!
I've always wanted to try it out, sowhen i found out about a relatively local Kendo club/dojo i decided to start, a couple of my friends are starting it too.

Any other Kendoists (Kenokken or something like that) here on CAA?

or any other forms of swordfighting, and if so any cool/funny stories about practices/tournaments etc?

Very cool. From what I hear a good Kendo school is very hard to find.You are lucky to have found one. I always wanted to do Kenado but there are no nearby schools.

> Anyone know of Kendo schools in Southern California

San Diego Kendo Bu, in National City.

I've taken Kendo for about... ten weeks now. I was a little bit disappointed... it's not at all like the movies, and on top of that, it's not very real-life practical (I've heard Eskrima is more practical, and more versatile because it deals with a multiplicity of weapons). On top of that, I neither have bougu or the proper garment. But it's at least a fun way to pass the time on Saturdays.

You should not take kendo for practicallity. It just doesn't work.

Cool, I always thought that would be awesome, I realy wanna try Kyudo as well....(Japanese Archery) ^^

San Diego Kendo Bu, in National City.

Where is this? I'm around San Diego and I'd LOVE to start doing actual kendo, do you have an address or something?

Not sure, but if you Google the Japanese-American VFW hall or "San Diego Kendo Bu" or "John Yamamoto" you should find it.

i wen't to kendo last night, because of the holidays and stuff there were loads of cancelled practices, now i'm sooo stiff, and have blisters on my feet, was great fun though

Eeeek, you probably want to stop practicing then. If your blister opens, you'll get a nasty infection. It doesn't make it any better that they force you to practice barefooted.