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**diundasmink** · 05-19-2008, 06:38 AM

Why are so many so quick to jump to conclusions? It "seems" Korean? Some things "seem" suspicious? Why not visit the dojo, watch a class and talk to the instructor?

My perspective is as a long time student of traditional kendo in a NYC dojo who moved to Charlottesville some years ago. Although I don't often practice with the Myo Sim folks, I know and respect them. Yes, it's different from traditional Japanese kendo, but there is an intersting history behind the differences.

My advice is to keep an opinion mind and make your own judgements based on facts.

Notwithstanding that this is a four year old thread and most of the people you are addressing do not post here any more, I did some research:

http://myosim.com/images/lineage.gif

According to this chart on their website, their only link to Japanese martial arts is through Shudokan and Shotokan karate. Where's the kendo?

Right at the end of a short history of the art, it says that the founder studied "Japanese kenjutsu and kendo... from which he founded Myo Sim Kendo" (http://myosim.com/karate/index.html). Interestingly there is no mention of this on the lineage chart nor is there any mention of what style of kenjutsu was studied (there is no such thing as generic 'kenjutsu'). There is also no mention of what rank he attained in kendo, if any.

According to http://myosim.com/karate/WhatMSKKis.pdf, kendo was not taught at this dojo until 1999, even though Myo Sim was supposedly founded in the sixties.

As you recommended observing a class, I did the next best thing and found some videos of their 'kendo' on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4hbXcKIq3KQ
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sgooNVhcdZU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ZK6r8hRt-E
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZixViWNygT0

My judgement, based on the facts observed in these videos and on their website, is that the dojo in question is teaching made-up twirly sword dancing that bears no similarity at all to kendo, nor any other Japanese sword art.

Now this might be fine for some people, but it's of no interest to anyone who wants to practise kendo - such as the originator of this thread.

05-19-2008, 06:38 AM	#23
diundasmink Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 539 Senior Member	Why are so many so quick to jump to conclusions? It "seems" Korean? Some things "seem" suspicious? Why not visit the dojo, watch a class and talk to the instructor? My perspective is as a long time student of traditional kendo in a NYC dojo who moved to Charlottesville some years ago. Although I don't often practice with the Myo Sim folks, I know and respect them. Yes, it's different from traditional Japanese kendo, but there is an intersting history behind the differences. My advice is to keep an opinion mind and make your own judgements based on facts. Notwithstanding that this is a four year old thread and most of the people you are addressing do not post here any more, I did some research: http://myosim.com/images/lineage.gif According to this chart on their website, their only link to Japanese martial arts is through Shudokan and Shotokan karate. Where's the kendo? Right at the end of a short history of the art, it says that the founder studied "Japanese kenjutsu and kendo... from which he founded Myo Sim Kendo" (http://myosim.com/karate/index.html). Interestingly there is no mention of this on the lineage chart nor is there any mention of what style of kenjutsu was studied (there is no such thing as generic 'kenjutsu'). There is also no mention of what rank he attained in kendo, if any. According to http://myosim.com/karate/WhatMSKKis.pdf, kendo was not taught at this dojo until 1999, even though Myo Sim was supposedly founded in the sixties. As you recommended observing a class, I did the next best thing and found some videos of their 'kendo' on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4hbXcKIq3KQ http://youtube.com/watch?v=sgooNVhcdZU http://youtube.com/watch?v=7ZK6r8hRt-E http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZixViWNygT0 My judgement, based on the facts observed in these videos and on their website, is that the dojo in question is teaching made-up twirly sword dancing that bears no similarity at all to kendo, nor any other Japanese sword art. Now this might be fine for some people, but it's of no interest to anyone who wants to practise kendo - such as the originator of this thread.
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