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**TNgqZhLR** · 01-07-2006, 11:20 AM

I don't think that these views should be overlooked and be Kendoized(?).

I mentioned this in another thead once and perhaps it bears repeating. Once my sensei asked me if my shinai was a sword or a stick. As I was formulating an answer he said "It's a stick but Shhhhh, don't tell any old people in Japan. They all know but they don't want to hear it."

Kendo and the kata started out being about swords but it has subtly changed over the years. Perhaps as Fonz says, it is the "kendoization" of the art. For instance, if you strike kote and cut on the pull stoke like you would with a sword, no flags will go up. Someone might say "there was no zanshin" thinking that going forwrd and zanshin are the same thing.

Kendo, and the kata evolve and will continue to do so. It doesn't make it less budo or more sport or better or worse. It just is.

Personally, I enjoy doing kata. The changes that I am aware of, i.e. "no your hands are 1 inch different than in the old way" don't bother me and don't have to make sense to me.

01-07-2006, 11:20 AM	#14
TNgqZhLR Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 385 Senior Member	I don't think that these views should be overlooked and be Kendoized(?). I mentioned this in another thead once and perhaps it bears repeating. Once my sensei asked me if my shinai was a sword or a stick. As I was formulating an answer he said "It's a stick but Shhhhh, don't tell any old people in Japan. They all know but they don't want to hear it." Kendo and the kata started out being about swords but it has subtly changed over the years. Perhaps as Fonz says, it is the "kendoization" of the art. For instance, if you strike kote and cut on the pull stoke like you would with a sword, no flags will go up. Someone might say "there was no zanshin" thinking that going forwrd and zanshin are the same thing. Kendo, and the kata evolve and will continue to do so. It doesn't make it less budo or more sport or better or worse. It just is. Personally, I enjoy doing kata. The changes that I am aware of, i.e. "no your hands are 1 inch different than in the old way" don't bother me and don't have to make sense to me.
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