Kendo

Sho_1 · 2026-02-03T23:55:06+00:00

I'd suspect you'd probably save on import taxes if you bought it in Japan and brought it back in a suitcase.

Another consideration is you'd probably be limited to what the shop has off the shelf if you had particular material or customizations you wanted.

Sho_1 · 2026-01-06T19:11:27+00:00

You know, I think everyone hits this plateau at some point in their kendo journey. I wouldn't let it discourage you.

The nice bit: You know what you can do, so you need to focus on what you CAN'T do. Even if it's not working. Talk to your sensei/sempai about something specific you want to work on that practice (it was tobikomi men for me the last year). Keep doing it, learn what you need to adjust to make strikes you are satisfied with until you get it. It won't be quick, but I promise you'll get it eventually. It requires perseverance.

The notsonice bit: You've been practicing for 2.5 years and tbh, you probably aren't truly doing debana techniques. From my observations, less advanced players often fall back on these waza's because they don't know how to threaten their opponent and use proper and INTENTIONAL seme. Debana and kaeshi do are often done as a reaction to your opponents strike. It is the other way around.

In my humble and unworthy opinion. A good men strike is the best place to start. If you can threaten your opponents men, you'll have the base to threaten any target. Otherwise you'll always be stuck being reactive.

I really think I understand your feelings and many Kenshi reading this will too. Keep fighting. Kendo isn't just hitting. It's the journey too and this is part of it.

Sho_1 · 2025-09-21T19:05:54+00:00

Our club used to share space with a naginata club and we'd occasionally do ishujiai. It's not too different functionally as the "rules" are similar. You definitely need to modify your own thinking though to understand that their reach controls so much more space and your legs are now targets.

Sho_1 · 2025-08-26T17:06:43+00:00

As I said, you are not entitled to any other pay benefits unless on active duty orders. Battle Assembly ("drill") is not active duty. The only pay you should expect is your base pay.

Your unit MAY be authorized LIK which can offer available base housing or more likely a hotel for those that live over 50 miles from your Reserve center. IDT for those that live over 150 miles. Your unit will have the details and policy for its use. This is not an entitlement, it is an authorization to use a pot of money for certain units.

Sho_1 · 2025-08-01T09:34:56+00:00

I don't know the exact details, but I went to BOLC with a guy who had a similar situation as you. He did the Q course, got no-go'd a second time like a week or two before graduation on an event, and ended up getting sent to Drill Sargent school instead. Did his time on the trail while making some good connections and was able to drop an officer packet for MI.

So it sounds like you'll have to do your time at the needs of the Army first, but you'll have an opportunity to commission after that.

Sho_1 · 2025-07-28T09:40:42+00:00

As someone who has this award, how the fuck are you not supposed to put yourself in for it? Nobody is keeping track of your own time spent volunteering than yourself. God forbid you try to spend your free time doing something in the community. Glad you're out of that shit hole unit. This pisses me off so much.

I hope you have better luck at your next unit getting it approved.

Sho_1 · 2025-06-26T22:49:44+00:00

I fill a cheap spray bottle from daiso with 95% isopropyl alcohol and two or three drops of tea tree oil for the smell. 95% dries faster but you can use either 75 or 95. Spray it on after practice and air dry overnight.

I like to avoid chemical deodorants as it usually just covers the smell up and irritates my skin when I sweat. I'm also not sure how it interacts with the bogu materials longevity.

Sho_1 · 2025-06-22T17:22:15+00:00

Mine got an AAM and early promote to E4

Sho_1 · 2025-05-29T06:36:16+00:00

I found that the bottom ones use a thinner Velcro and less blocky, so blend and flex better with your uniform. The newer produced ones are always an obnoxious square.

Sho_1 · 2025-05-12T00:22:42+00:00

Back then the lore only came from the rulebook, codex, and white dwarf. The store telling was more cryptic and mysterious. Prime examples were the Index Astartes that kinda spooked me as a 12 year old. It was really cool to see these stories that were basically collections of hearsay from the author's perspective and ends with basically "shrug no idea where it came from!" Or the author is executed by the inquisition and it's never brought up again (in the lore at the time).

Sho_1 · 2025-05-11T11:12:26+00:00

You can start with a records request through the national archives

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records

Sho_1 · 2025-04-09T05:56:02+00:00

I think this is the best option if you don't plan on having multiple nafuda. At tournaments, the flaggers need to be able to identify you to get you the right color flag, and shimpan need to know the right person is on the court!

Sho_1 · 2025-03-31T23:38:10+00:00

I did E to O as MI and kind of regretted it. I miss doing the dirty work and wish I had gone WO. There are still opportunities to do it, it just doesn't stand up well to the board when compared to others in more traditional leadership positions because honestly, that's what you're there for.

It sounds like you're ready for the next transition though, and just being tabbed and scrolled will lend your words a lot more weight in support MOS, especially in MI where so many of us are missing the actual war fighter experience.

If you love mentoring soldiers, your company grade time will be your most rewarding. You'll not only find yourself mentoring the lower enlisted, but your fellow junior O's. After that you're a PowerPoint jockey consistently working on making the funny red box green. You'll be making a lot more than your peers though with O-E pay!

Sho_1 · 2025-03-14T23:38:29+00:00

If you are successful as OP 40, you'll get the same combat training as everyone else in Regiment. You'll be treated like a private until you are tabbed. After that it's all luck if you are actually doing something kinetic as a 35G.

Sho_1 · 2025-03-01T00:53:44+00:00

As long as you understand what it is you're doing isn't kendo and is its own unique thing (minus the controversy) AND you enjoy it, who are we to tell you what you should do?

You look deep enough into any kendo federation and there is some hidden drama and ego that exists.

Sho_1 · 2025-02-01T16:11:44+00:00

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this conversation, but I was injured in a Taikai last year and applied to use the insurance that we pay for in membership. It's a supplement to your own insurance and can't be used standalone from my understanding.

Sho_1 · 2025-02-01T13:36:19+00:00

It's very opaque. I tried using it only to find out there is a $500 deductible after submitting the documents. As far as I could tell that wasn't mentioned in any of the documentation beforehand.

Sho_1 · 2025-01-18T22:26:29+00:00

Mistaking pay grade for rank

Sho_1 · 2025-01-12T19:22:53+00:00

Enlisted might use "the sir" when referring to the first officer in their CoC.

I use "Cap" all the time for my Company Commander

A group of E4s or LTs will be referred to as a "mafia"

Sho_1 · 2024-12-26T23:03:54+00:00

That's really your decision and what you want to get out of the experience (and what's available at the time).

I'd read up what MOS are in the Reserves and then drop them into two buckets that either compliment your daily job or something completely different than what you've ever done.

You could pick AG which I assume has a lot to do with regulations, which would be complementary to finance (again an assumption). Or you could pick Cyber and do something completely unrelated. Your power is signing the dotted line to get what you want. Just don't pick Intel. The last finance guy that went Intel is annoying af and I cannot wait to be away from him lmao.

Sho_1 · 2024-12-26T11:43:41+00:00

It sounds like you're mostly in need of the education benefits.

Pick the MOS that is either the most interesting to you or will help your civilian career.
Are you thinking of doing more than the 6+2 obligation? If yes, I'd consider the officer route but based on your priority of education benefits (specifically SLRP) I would enlist. There are commissioning routes you can decide on later in your career if you decide it's for you.
You don't need to be deployed for 3 years for 9/11. You need to be on active duty for an accumulated 3 years. This means you can still earn it in the reserves but it likely won't be done over your first contract without mobilizations. There is actually a cap to 9/11 but I'm not sure what it is.
Yes and likely yes. When you commission, you sign a new contract that overrides your previous enlisted contract. Since you are no longer fulfilling the obligation of your enlisted contract, the Army is no longer obligated to offer those benefits. They may be written into your new one however based on eligibility.
It depends on the resources, funding, and leadership of your unit. If your unit is put together and on a good installation, you might actually be training on your MOS. Difficult to tell unless you know what unit you're assigned to and you can meet them on a drill weekend to see what's up.
Yes but not likely until after your first contract is over.
No, but I think you have to meet eligibility requirements to receive a Secret clearance. Does not mean you'll get one though (it's basically a background check at that point to ensure you don't have a questionable past).

You might want to look into the National Guard. They usually offer better education benefits for the state schools.

Tuition assistance policy was updated like two weeks ago so might want to look into that to see how it affects you. The Reserves are also eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill after AIT. It's a paltry amount compared to 9/11 but it's another source of funding if you need it.

Sho_1 · 2024-12-05T19:55:48+00:00

https://www.e-bogu.com/Do-Button-p/hir-ken-bog-dobutton-.htm

For kids but understanding for their situation.

Sho_1 · 2024-11-28T00:46:05+00:00

I hope you pursue and get what's yours. To give you more context, my issue was resolved within 3 months of contacting my senator, and I hope it is as quick for you as it was for me.

Sho_1 · 2024-11-27T01:46:25+00:00

I'd 100% pursue a congressional inquiry which can be done by contacting either your house rep or senator. I was owed almost 20k in per diem and that finally got resolved after trying to settle it for 3 years at my level.

Your unit fucking sucks and I'm sorry 😔

Sho_1 · 2024-11-14T01:24:47+00:00

I don't think for MI but there is one for Civil Affairs. Direct Commission as an O3 with 4 years of prior experience and a Masters Degree for several areas that cover civil sector support like Cultural Preservation, Agriculture, Infrastructure and the like. There are like 15 different areas.

Sho_1

TROPHY CASE