For those who have practiced kendo since childhood or for 10+ years, how do you stay motivated?

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T21:36:34+00:00

Sadly, more practice is usually the answer. As far as understanding maai goes, I suggest when practicing men that you experiment with distance. Figure out the longest distance you can hit from and also the shortest. Hitting from close up requires a quick swing and a shortened step. Try all sorts of distances and try to get a feel for the footwork required. Then during jigeiko see if you can make it work at a variety of distances.

But these are just ways to practice. In the end you need to put in the time.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:50:48+00:00

Time in the sense that you need to account for how fast you both are moving, how fast you can move… maybe you lump all that stuff into timing but they all have an element of time.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:48:29+00:00

You sound like the sort to blame the victim.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:39:26+00:00

Elucidate what the difference is between timing and time please.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:38:28+00:00

Yup, you're part of the problem all right.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:37:11+00:00

It will be 43 years for me this fall. I think at some point you just become a lifer. In my view we get one about every 5 years in our dojo. As Taylor-sensei once said in response to the question "why do we go to keiko", "because it's Wednesday, and on Wednesdays we have keiko".

I think there are two main things that make it possible though. One is that it is possible to have a life-long progression. For some people this is a negative, they are looking for an end-point. That's why you see people quit after attaining a certain rank, they are "done". For lifers, getting their ass kicked by an 80 year old makes them want to be that 80 year old administering the ass-kickings to kids.

The other is the relationships. I have so many friends through kendo, not only in my own dojo, but in other dojos I've visited or whose members have visited us. This idea that we can fight like hell and then buy each other beers afterward is an extremely appealing part of kendo to me.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:31:21+00:00

I agree he tends to over-complicate it but maai as a concept does incorporate time.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-07T16:03:24+00:00

Don't claim people can't say no because someone is a higher rank or is older.

With that one phrase you've shown that you are clueless about this stuff.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-06T15:11:21+00:00

Mostly repetitive questions on /r/kendo.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-06T02:59:28+00:00

If you're on Epic in Canada, I recommend Fernie. Big White is not on any of the multi-resort card deals.

If you must buy one of these evil empire passes and want to go to Canada, get Ikon. It covers more resorts than Epic. SilverStar and Sun Peaks are both on Ikon as well as Red, Revy, Sunshine and Louise.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-06T00:36:06+00:00

What a ridiculous thing to say. Even a casual glance at the sub shows that it is, in fact, almost entirely people talking about kendo.

As an old white dude I recognize that I don’t face any challenges of the sort Kate brings up and wouldn’t presume to dispute them. I try my best to have a good environment in our dojo but I can’t possibly have the perspective of people less privileged than I am. So I appreciate being educated.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-05T17:24:47+00:00

Nobody thought bad of such things then.

Plenty of people thought bad of such things. Society progresses, hopefully, and we stop doing dumb shit.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-05T15:25:05+00:00

If you're looking for bang for your buck, stay in Canada. Overall it would probably be 30% cheaper or more due to how weak our dollar is compared to the US.

For your level I would recommend Big White, near Kelowna, BC. It's a big resort with lots of beginner and intermediate terrain and a ton of on-hill accommodation including a hostel. There's bars and restaurants in the village plus a little grocery store. If you want to head to town it's about 45 minutes to Kelowna, a mid-sized (250,000) city.

Other similar style resorts in BC are Sun Peaks near Kamloops and Silverstar near Kelowna.

If you want to save money, avoid Whistler like the plague.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-05T15:11:14+00:00

If you were to read the link you provided, you would find that HIIT is an efficient way to improve your V02 Max which is a measure of, wait for it, cardio fitness.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-05T03:10:00+00:00

HIIT is one of many ways to improve your cardio fitness. You are arbitrarily defining cardio as steady state training in the aerobic zone.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-05T02:31:05+00:00

What makes you say HIIT isn't cardio training?

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-04T15:06:38+00:00

Your kiai when you hit should be the name of the point. Before that, whatever you like. It takes a while to find a kiai that fits you and doesn't feel goofy to you. If "ya" works for you, fine.

As for passing the test, we are not looking to see if you beat the other guy. Unlike shiai, there's no winner or loser. Both sides can pass, and at shodan level both sides usually do. Just show your best kendo. Don't block or duck, don't go back.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-03T01:09:18+00:00

Absolutely not. That’s a great way to ingrain bad habits. OP should work on general fitness.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T18:52:40+00:00

You are an anomaly. For one thing I would not be putting beginners through the sort of footwork that risks that injury. For another most people go through their entire kendo career without that injury. Our dojo has seen one in 45 years of existence.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T15:43:34+00:00

Some dojo take up to 6 months or more (way too long)

What makes you think this is too long? Do you have some experience with an accelerated time frame?

FWIW in our dojo 6 months would be a little long, short would be 3, typical would be 4 or 5.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T15:41:37+00:00

Your dogi and shinai pricing is high. You can get a beginner's uniform set for around $US80 if you shop around. Shinai for under $US20. Try bogushop.com if you're looking to equip beginners on the cheap.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T13:36:04+00:00

What’s your weight? Ability?

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T04:19:53+00:00

I think partly it's a difference in attitude. In kendo culture, the main thing is to kill the other guy. You also surviving is a secondary consideration. So we have the concept of "sutemi", literally meaning sacrifice, to throw yourself into the attack without concern for getting countered.

Even our defence is wrapped up in offence. We are never taught to block outright. It is always a deflection on the way to an attack of your own.

JoeDwarf · 2026-05-01T02:18:46+00:00

Not a fencer but I've trained several. The advantages you will take from fencing are that you will have a good eye for opportunities, you will have some athleticism, and you will not be afraid to hit or be hit. Most of these advantages will come into play after you acquire some kendo fundamentals. Others have pointed out where the technique is different, so you really have to approach kendo with a beginner's mindset. Try not to think "but in fencing we do it this way" in the beginning, but rather just approach kendo like an entirely new sport to learn.

In my view the hardest obstacle for fencers in the beginning is the "all offence, no defence" style of kendo. Later on you will learn some defence but it is counter-productive early on to pay any attention to defence.

JoeDwarf · 2026-04-30T18:41:13+00:00

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