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**Obgrfbke** · 06-06-2010, 07:26 AM

I think I know what akepenguin is getting at with regards to character weakness. Because I came to kendo after getting my ass kicked emotionally in my 20's, I'm not sure if kendo is such a sea change for me so much as reinforced or made some things I've experienced more clear. The mental and "spiritual" side of kendo is in a way about life in general. I don't want to go on a digression about specifics of my life so I'll just offer the two major points for me:

- You have to focus on yourself and worry less about what other people are up to. If you worry too much about others you hand them power over how you perceive yourself (i.e. fashionistas are neurotic about how others see them). In kendo this would be like practicing jigeiko with the aim to improve your abilities in a live situation rather than see it as a competition with your partner.

- A positive attitude is the path to success. I don't mean that in the hokey self-help seminar way but rather that those who want control of their lives take control of their lives rather than wait for someone to allow them that control (ok that still sounds like hokey self-help cheer leading). Whether you're in a business negotiation, internal politics or dealing with a help desk operator, if you give someone the slightest show of weakness they will exploit it (or try to). If you dominate the exchange you're more likely to get what you what. The only thing is, you have to genuinely know what you're doing otherwise you'll only get short term gains. If you're dominant but unreasonable people may relent now but the logic isn't sustainable so the effect won't last, at least not with this particular "opponent". In kendo this is like having the combination of strong seme, an attacking mind, correct waza and spot on timing. I am not a naturally domineering person so I tend to rely on appealing to people's logical side in day to day situations and in kendo I wait to use waza and timing. If I get wound up I can switch on the attacking mind but this isn't something I tend to keep up. In both cases I have to work a lot on being more positive on a consistent basis. This is where kendo is helpful as an analogy for things I need to work on for my life in general.

That was exactly I meant to be.
You expressed deeply. Those are my goals. I need to work on everyday.
Arigato!

06-06-2010, 07:26 AM	#17
Obgrfbke Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 457 Senior Member	I think I know what akepenguin is getting at with regards to character weakness. Because I came to kendo after getting my ass kicked emotionally in my 20's, I'm not sure if kendo is such a sea change for me so much as reinforced or made some things I've experienced more clear. The mental and "spiritual" side of kendo is in a way about life in general. I don't want to go on a digression about specifics of my life so I'll just offer the two major points for me: - You have to focus on yourself and worry less about what other people are up to. If you worry too much about others you hand them power over how you perceive yourself (i.e. fashionistas are neurotic about how others see them). In kendo this would be like practicing jigeiko with the aim to improve your abilities in a live situation rather than see it as a competition with your partner. - A positive attitude is the path to success. I don't mean that in the hokey self-help seminar way but rather that those who want control of their lives take control of their lives rather than wait for someone to allow them that control (ok that still sounds like hokey self-help cheer leading). Whether you're in a business negotiation, internal politics or dealing with a help desk operator, if you give someone the slightest show of weakness they will exploit it (or try to). If you dominate the exchange you're more likely to get what you what. The only thing is, you have to genuinely know what you're doing otherwise you'll only get short term gains. If you're dominant but unreasonable people may relent now but the logic isn't sustainable so the effect won't last, at least not with this particular "opponent". In kendo this is like having the combination of strong seme, an attacking mind, correct waza and spot on timing. I am not a naturally domineering person so I tend to rely on appealing to people's logical side in day to day situations and in kendo I wait to use waza and timing. If I get wound up I can switch on the attacking mind but this isn't something I tend to keep up. In both cases I have to work a lot on being more positive on a consistent basis. This is where kendo is helpful as an analogy for things I need to work on for my life in general. That was exactly I meant to be. You expressed deeply. Those are my goals. I need to work on everyday. Arigato!
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