| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Doc Smartass" |
| Date: |
04 Mar 2005 08:50:01 PM |
| Object: |
OT: Kendo, revisited |
So Wednesday night was my first night of kendo (Japanese fencing). In many
ways I was reminded strongly of my days in Shotokan karate some 13 years
ago--take off your shoes, bow as you enter the room...lining up and
kneeling before training begins...every movement guided by a code of
etiquette.
Then the training began. I was using a borrowed shinai (a bamboo practice
sword), and my uniform was laughable: black sweat pants and a t-shirt. The
pant legs were a bit too long and kept flopping back down even after I
kilted them up with safety pins. The two other guys, on the other hand,
looked impressive--dark grey uniform jacket and pants and black armor
(chest and groin protectors, bulky-looking gauntlets on their hands, and
a 'birdcage' helmet similar to those seen in European fencing styles).
We worked on the basic stance, from which all movements are launched--right
foot slightly forward, left foot slightly back with its heel off the floor.
I found out just how out of shape my legs have gotten in the 13 years since
I left Shotokan. I wobbled and staggered through these most basic steps
while the other guys glided like dark stormclouds. Where the tip of my
sword bounced in midair at the end of a stroke, theirs stopped cleanly,
without momentum, as if cleaving the air.
Then I got to face off against them in an exercise intended to get me used
to lunging forward from more than three feet away, lunging in a single
great step to plant my sword in the top of my opponent's skull with a sharp
*THWACK!!* (pretty loud even hitting the thick padding of his helmet) I
found myself inadvertantly doing Shotokan-style footwork, trying to go
around my target after striking it, in anticipation of his response--but in
kendo the idea is "straight ahead, don't stop."
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on spaghetti
legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
10 out of 10 for fun!
--
Dr. Smartass -- BAAWA Knight of Heckling -- a.a. #1939
Hurl, hurl, door gong's oil hair!
Wart inhale dough way cur?
Wart inhale dough way cur?
Hurl, hurl, door gong's oil hair!
Wart inhale dough way cur, nor?
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| User: "Robibnikoff" |
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| Title: Re: Kendo, revisited |
05 Mar 2005 11:51:00 AM |
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"Doc Smartass" <gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns960FD49AF1A96askifyouwantit@216.77.188.18...
So Wednesday night was my first night of kendo (Japanese fencing). In many
ways I was reminded strongly of my days in Shotokan karate some 13 years
ago--take off your shoes, bow as you enter the room...lining up and
kneeling before training begins...every movement guided by a code of
etiquette.
Then the training began. I was using a borrowed shinai (a bamboo practice
sword), and my uniform was laughable: black sweat pants and a t-shirt. The
pant legs were a bit too long and kept flopping back down even after I
kilted them up with safety pins. The two other guys, on the other hand,
looked impressive--dark grey uniform jacket and pants and black armor
(chest and groin protectors, bulky-looking gauntlets on their hands, and
a 'birdcage' helmet similar to those seen in European fencing styles).
We worked on the basic stance, from which all movements are
launched--right
foot slightly forward, left foot slightly back with its heel off the
floor.
I found out just how out of shape my legs have gotten in the 13 years
since
I left Shotokan. I wobbled and staggered through these most basic steps
while the other guys glided like dark stormclouds. Where the tip of my
sword bounced in midair at the end of a stroke, theirs stopped cleanly,
without momentum, as if cleaving the air.
Then I got to face off against them in an exercise intended to get me used
to lunging forward from more than three feet away, lunging in a single
great step to plant my sword in the top of my opponent's skull with a
sharp
*THWACK!!* (pretty loud even hitting the thick padding of his helmet) I
found myself inadvertantly doing Shotokan-style footwork, trying to go
around my target after striking it, in anticipation of his response--but
in
kendo the idea is "straight ahead, don't stop."
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on spaghetti
legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
10 out of 10 for fun!
Good for you! Sounds like you had a blast :)
--
---------
Robyn
Resident Witchypoo
#1557
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| User: "Doc Smartass" |
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| Title: Re: Kendo, revisited |
05 Mar 2005 05:51:49 PM |
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"Robibnikoff" <witchypoo@broomstick.com> wrote in
news:38u9s2F5q9favU1@individual.net:
"Doc Smartass" <gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote in
message news:Xns960FD49AF1A96askifyouwantit@216.77.188.18...
<snip>
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on
spaghetti legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
10 out of 10 for fun!
Good for you! Sounds like you had a blast :)
Yup! I learned just enough to make me dangerous to the other people in the
class...*WHACK*
--
Dr. Smartass -- BAAWA Knight of Heckling -- a.a. #1939
Never use a weapon you don't like the taste of.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Kendo, revisited |
08 Mar 2005 06:01:33 PM |
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On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 02:50:01 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
So Wednesday night was my first night of kendo (Japanese fencing). In many
ways I was reminded strongly of my days in Shotokan karate some 13 years
ago--take off your shoes, bow as you enter the room...lining up and
kneeling before training begins...every movement guided by a code of
etiquette.
<snip>
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on spaghetti
legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
Can't get real karate around here.
What they teach now for a hundred dollars a month is overinflated self
esteem.
Most students I've seen can't kick head high, or even effectivly waist
high, do smooth katas or so much as break a real 1inch board.
Can you believe they now use a resusable collapsible board?
One instructor explained that the fear of lawsuits has caused them to
water things down.
That isn't all of it though.
They can't keep students if they teach old style.
I watched the instructor work out for a while but was polite and
didn't laugh out loud until I had left the building.
It was worse than pitiful.
Are you going survive this? ;-)
atheist@home#1554
10 out of 10 for fun!
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| User: "Doc Smartass" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Kendo, revisited |
08 Mar 2005 08:17:42 PM |
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wrote in
news:k5fs219a7it90l086604fgu4i56dkdft6t@4ax.com:
On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 02:50:01 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
So Wednesday night was my first night of kendo (Japanese fencing). In
many ways I was reminded strongly of my days in Shotokan karate some
13 years ago--take off your shoes, bow as you enter the room...lining
up and kneeling before training begins...every movement guided by a
code of etiquette.
<snip>
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on
spaghetti legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
Can't get real karate around here.
What they teach now for a hundred dollars a month is overinflated self
esteem.
A HUNDRED A MONTH?!?!
HO-lee *****. I'm paying $20 a month!
Most students I've seen can't kick head high, or even effectivly waist
high, do smooth katas or so much as break a real 1inch board.
I can't break a board without tools =D
Can you believe they now use a resusable collapsible board?
I'd think those are good for beginners and/or kiddies, but I refuse to be
impressed by any board-breaking where someone's bracing the thing (making
it easier to break).
There was a guy (a Sensei, IIRC, having heard this second-hand) in the
local junior-college club who would hold a board by one corner, flip it
straight up in the air Frisbee-style, then watch as it came down so he
could swat it in midair with a knife-hand strike (think the stereotypical
"karate chop") at just the right moment. Wish I coulda been there to see
that!
Same guy taught roundhouse kicks by leading everyone outside to the holly
hedges. "Kick over the hedges and your feet won't hurt."
One instructor explained that the fear of lawsuits has caused them to
water things down.
"How dare you let that horrible child hit my son?! What kind of karate
class are you TEACHING?!"
That isn't all of it though.
They can't keep students if they teach old style.
That's bad up-bringin', I tell ya!
I watched the instructor work out for a while but was polite and
didn't laugh out loud until I had left the building.
He mighta broken a snappy-board in frustration if you had!
It was worse than pitiful.
Sounds like it. Reminds me of this public demonstration some of our karate
club was tapped to perform in. We learned that there would be a demo by a
local Tae Kwon Do club as well.
Us: Shotokan karate, taught in a kind-of traditional format. Disciplined,
no chatter or cutting up. No kids, let alone 9-year-old black-belts.
Youngest was maybe 22. Three black belts, three brown belts. Did some
sparring, flashy self-defense disarms, and no board breaking.
Them: Tae Kwon Do "lite", taught in the feel-good "we're day-care with
board-breaking" format. Nothing but kids, none older than maybe 11. Three
black belts, some purple belts, and other bits of the rainbow. A litter of
puppies has less energy and is also quieter. Plenty of board breaking
accompanied by the near-hysterical shouts of the kid doing the break. Gotta
give him that: he was determined *g*
Are you going survive this? ;-)
They won't hit me if I don't have armor... =D
--
Dr. Smartass -- BAAWA Knight of Heckling -- a.a. #1939
Never use a weapon you don't like the taste of.
.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Kendo, revisited |
10 Mar 2005 11:25:18 PM |
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On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:17:42 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
atheist@home.com wrote in
news:k5fs219a7it90l086604fgu4i56dkdft6t@4ax.com:
On Sat, 05 Mar 2005 02:50:01 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
So Wednesday night was my first night of kendo (Japanese fencing). In
many ways I was reminded strongly of my days in Shotokan karate some
13 years ago--take off your shoes, bow as you enter the room...lining
up and kneeling before training begins...every movement guided by a
code of etiquette.
<snip>
This was Wednesday evening and I'm still staggering around on
spaghetti legs and missing karate in a way I haven't in 13 years.
Can't get real karate around here.
What they teach now for a hundred dollars a month is overinflated self
esteem.
A HUNDRED A MONTH?!?!
One of the franchised "schools."
HO-lee *****.
Is that your instructor's name?
I thought Kendo was strictly Japanese.
I didn't know the Chinese also had a version ;-)
I'm paying $20 a month!
They must not be in it for the money.
That's usuallty better.
Most students I've seen can't kick head high, or even effectivly waist
high, do smooth katas or so much as break a real 1inch board.
I can't break a board without tools =D
I can't even break a sweat anymore.
Can you believe they now use a resusable collapsible board?
I'd think those are good for beginners and/or kiddies, but I refuse to be
impressed by any board-breaking where someone's bracing the thing (making
it easier to break).
This thing is ridiculous.
It may as well be super thin styrofoam.
The kids I saw "breaking' it were pretty dramatic about it.
There was a guy (a Sensei, IIRC, having heard this second-hand) in the
local junior-college club who would hold a board by one corner, flip it
straight up in the air Frisbee-style, then watch as it came down so he
could swat it in midair with a knife-hand strike (think the stereotypical
"karate chop") at just the right moment. Wish I coulda been there to see
that!
There were some pretty amazing things done years ago and still are by
some folks I imagine.
Slicing fruit on a man's abdomen with a really sharp sword for
instance.
I haven't paid any attention for a long time but a few years ago I saw
some scary full contact tournaments on tv.
One of those guys could KO me by just yelling "boo!"
Same guy taught roundhouse kicks by leading everyone outside to the holly
hedges. "Kick over the hedges and your feet won't hurt."
We had to punch and kick phone books wrapped in duct tape.
Old style Shotokan.
Man that was hard.
One instructor explained that the fear of lawsuits has caused them to
water things down.
"How dare you let that horrible child hit my son?! What kind of karate
class are you TEACHING?!"
That's pretty much it.
America you know.
The kids would probably be a lot better with the real thing if their
parents would allow it.
That isn't all of it though.
They can't keep students if they teach old style.
That's bad up-bringin', I tell ya!
Unearned self esteem, self esteem, self esteem.
I imagine a lot of kids get the crap kicked out of them believing they
have learned self defense.
I once talked with a black belt who taught for Bill Wallace, who
explained that he had "earned" his belts from a Korean instructor but
learned after signing up with Wallace that he had not really learned
much and had a lot of catching up to do.
The Korean <Kang Rhee> also taught Elvis and I had a few classes with
him but it was pretty sad.
It wasn't his fault I guess.
He was very good himself but had learned early on what most American
students wanted and it wasn't hard core karate.
When you signed up with him you received a packet in the mail
containing a card that stated that your body was a lethal weapon.
Pretty silly.
I had one, maybe two lessons from Bill Wallace btw.
He's a really nice guy.
He complimented my side snap kick.
I couldn't kick a grasshopper in the shins now.
"Grasshoppa, do not be afraid..I cannot harm you." ;-)
I watched the instructor work out for a while but was polite and
didn't laugh out loud until I had left the building.
He mighta broken a snappy-board in frustration if you had!
Lol!
That would have scared the hell out of me.
It was worse than pitiful.
Sounds like it. Reminds me of this public demonstration some of our karate
club was tapped to perform in. We learned that there would be a demo by a
local Tae Kwon Do club as well.
Us: Shotokan karate, taught in a kind-of traditional format. Disciplined,
no chatter or cutting up. No kids, let alone 9-year-old black-belts.
Youngest was maybe 22. Three black belts, three brown belts. Did some
sparring, flashy self-defense disarms, and no board breaking.
Them: Tae Kwon Do "lite", taught in the feel-good "we're day-care with
board-breaking" format. Nothing but kids, none older than maybe 11. Three
black belts, some purple belts, and other bits of the rainbow. A litter of
puppies has less energy and is also quieter. Plenty of board breaking
accompanied by the near-hysterical shouts of the kid doing the break. Gotta
give him that: he was determined *g*
I've seen that.
Sheesh.
Last thing I took was a style of Kung Fu.
It damn near killed me.
It was harder than the Shotokan.
Beautiful stuff.
Are you going survive this? ;-)
They won't hit me if I don't have armor... =D
Is it a lot of fun?
atheist@home#1554
.
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| User: "Doc Smartass" |
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| Title: Re: OT: Kendo, revisited |
15 Mar 2005 01:52:31 AM |
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wrote in
news:p682315lk8o1mjstjs21a1l0r4f9fvhlfv@4ax.com:
On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:17:42 GMT, Doc Smartass
<gekiskivviesdo@astroboyskivviesmail.com> wrote:
wrote in
news:k5fs219a7it90l086604fgu4i56dkdft6t@4ax.com:
Can't get real karate around here.
What they teach now for a hundred dollars a month is overinflated
self esteem.
A HUNDRED A MONTH?!?!
One of the franchised "schools."
Must be all the dye for the belts. Yeesh!
HO-lee *****.
Is that your instructor's name?
I thought Kendo was strictly Japanese.
I didn't know the Chinese also had a version ;-)
I think theirs is ***** Whup Fu.
I'm paying $20 a month!
They must not be in it for the money.
That's usuallty better.
The same building is used by an aikido class, a judo class, iaido (the art
of drawing the sword), naginata-do (naginata is a sort of spear, IIRC), and
kyudo (no idea what this is).
Most students I've seen can't kick head high, or even effectivly
waist high, do smooth katas or so much as break a real 1inch board.
I can't break a board without tools =D
I can't even break a sweat anymore.
I can, usually when I walk more than 100 feet. 90 minutes of kendo busts my
can, even if it's once a week!
I should get out more.
There was a guy (a Sensei, IIRC, having heard this second-hand) in the
local junior-college club who would hold a board by one corner, flip
it straight up in the air Frisbee-style, then watch as it came down so
he could swat it in midair with a knife-hand strike (think the
stereotypical "karate chop") at just the right moment. Wish I coulda
been there to see that!
There were some pretty amazing things done years ago and still are by
some folks I imagine.
Slicing fruit on a man's abdomen with a really sharp sword for
instance.
I've heard of someone rupturing ping pong balls hanging from a thread--
without breaking the thread. I'd like to see that!
Same guy taught roundhouse kicks by leading everyone outside to the
holly hedges. "Kick over the hedges and your feet won't hurt."
We had to punch and kick phone books wrapped in duct tape.
Old style Shotokan.
Man that was hard.
If you can find a copy of Masatoshi Nakayama's "Dynamic Karate", you'll
find plans for a punching board (makiwara) made of rope. I saw a video of
him practicing on one of those things. Thick, stout board and he's punching
the target and moving it back a few inches.
I imagine a lot of kids get the crap kicked out of them believing they
have learned self defense.
Yup. I wish I'd learned *****-whup-do when I was a kid. One of my regrets is
that I never disassembled a bully in grade school. I'd have settled for
just one, if it would have kept the others off me. When I did take karate
(in college), I never for a minute believed I was learning to fight. I
wanted to make a T-shirt:
"2 Years of Karate, and I can get my ***** whipped in Japanese."
I once talked with a black belt who taught for Bill Wallace, who
explained that he had "earned" his belts from a Korean instructor but
learned after signing up with Wallace that he had not really learned
much and had a lot of catching up to do.
The Korean <Kang Rhee> also taught Elvis and I had a few classes with
him but it was pretty sad.
It wasn't his fault I guess.
He was very good himself but had learned early on what most American
students wanted and it wasn't hard core karate.
Yup. Much of the belt-color stuff we see now got added to Shotokan by Mr.
Funakoshi to help up poor Americans feel like we were advancing *g* Many
folks don't realize that making black belt is only the beginning--in much
the same way that you learn your algebra by taking calculus.
When you signed up with him you received a packet in the mail
containing a card that stated that your body was a lethal weapon.
Pretty silly.
I had one, maybe two lessons from Bill Wallace btw.
He's a really nice guy.
I used to read his column in "Black Belt"; when I stripped my collection
(toss out the ads and fluff, keep the meaty stuff), his writings made the
cut.
Are you going survive this? ;-)
They won't hit me if I don't have armor... =D
Is it a lot of fun?
Yes, but it's making me nostalgic for Shotokan--mostly because when I move
I'm still trying to move in Shotokan style, not in proper Kendo style. Very
hard to learn to move in a straight line to your opponent when your most
intensive training was in going around him to hit him in the kidney.
There's a dojo somewhere around here that's not associated with the one I
left in 1992, though it's still under the same regional instructor (the one
who is flown in for testing). If things don't work out in Kendo (or even if
they do), I may have to find that dojo.
--
Dr. Smartass -- BAAWA Knight of Heckling -- a.a. #1939
Never use a weapon you don't like the taste of.
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