It's something I've fancied a crack at for quite some time, (especially recently so I can get fast enough to hit freeform with a big stick ) but does anyone have any experience of it that might be of any use?
When I was doing aikido we did Iaido with bokken every Friday, but that's as close as I've gotten besides seeing the Kendo guy attack James Bond in that one film. It's always sounded rather interesting to me as well, though.
Yes, I did kendo for a while a few years back. What about it are you interested in knowing? PS: Freeform is a bit misleading, kendo is a little restrictive about where you can hit, and how you can hit.
In case anyones interested! Gotta be worth a look. 12th World Kendo Championships Kelvin Hall, International Sports Arena Argyle Street, G3 Phone 0141 357 2525 Will be held in July 2003 Find more info at - http://www.kendochampionships.com/kendochampionships.htm
Mr Green, I think he was refering to me... his flatmate! Andy, I think I'll wonder along to that, anybody else interested, we could make it a ScotMAP meet! Col
Sounds good to me. BMX masks and Bamboo garden stakes in the Kelvin hall car park. Last one there's a Spike!
Seriously though, this is a 'world' event, and the forum needs a good report, so anyone with any knowledge of Kendo would be great to take along to the event.
Oi! First Yoda hits me with a stick and now everybody thinks it fashionable! But seriously, we do have a big garden I'll try and convince some of our Aikido lot to go, Tintin should have a good appreciation of the swordwork. Colin
All I have to say is yes I did practice AND that I loved it. It is a bit restricted on where you can hit someone, but at the same time not really. I mean if you look at it like...all the places you strike will kill someone almost instantly, then it has a value to it. Well, if you ever go back a few hundred years with your katana and end up in Japan. But I loved it so because it is super competitive and takes real nerve to win your matches. Gosh, I wish our school never closed down...
"BMX masks and Bamboo garden stakes in the Kelvin hall car park. Last one there's a Spike!" Cheeky sod
Hey, I'd happily be a Spike - he got a bit of Buffy action last night...:love: I'd be up for going to have a look at the kendo comp, should be interesting.
Are you asking if it can be used for self-defense? I've been training a little in kendo. Kendo is good for developing concentration, discipline, coordination, balance, speed, etc. - much like every martial art. I guess what sets it apart is you also get to learn a bit about Japanese culture with it. But for self-defense... nah, I don't think so.
I on the other hand beleive any MA has seldefense applications. Why? Because you be surprised how many katana weilding nuts there really are out there. ANd knowing how to fight against some one using a sword may save your life some day.
Oh? I have yet to see a katana weilding nut...mabey a baseball bat, but not a katana...and if they did I don't carry my katana around with me.
