[gyjsdtuwr]

Ok, I am at a crossroads. I really enjoy kendo; here is the BUT I feel inadequate, like a mooch, and am physically falling apart. I am questioning if kendo is right for me.
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I am the only girl in my dojo and feel like I am becoming a hindrence. I hurt most of the time, am physically not where I should be, so I get out of breath fast. I work out but it doesn't seem to help with my kendo endurance. We are a very small group and one of the other guys did tell me that I don't give myself enough credit, but I wonder why I keep going to get myself beat up every practice.

MI is a bit painful at the moment--heating costs, gas, automotive industry... DTE does have a plan to spread out the costs across the year, as we discovered after our first $600 bill for one month (which we couldn't possibly cover and still eat). Of course, that's just part of the stress of life though. That will remain with or without Kendo.

If you enjoy kendo, keep at it. Take it at the pace you can. While I don't have the same physical challenges, I'm right there with you. I don't have the physical endurance to keep going most of the time. I won't forget the time Fox-sensei told me to just stop and rest--I was really trying hard to keep pushing ahead but was very over exerted. I rarely manage to be on my feet for a whole practice. By the time jigeiko starts, I've got about as much mobility and speed as a heavy punching bag--none. It's really frustrating.

If your experience has been like mine, people have been very encouraging. And somehow even with all the suffering, there's something internal that sparks interest and makes it worthwhile. So, we keep plodding along and doing the best we can... (or try Hai Hai's method, but without the jogging because it's too hard)