[G8whlTAe]

Hello everyone!

I wanted to know if you are under a lot of pressure to participate in taikai?

I think participating would be a good experience. I believe it would truely let me know how well I'm doing with my kendo practice. I also love to meet new people.

My dojo gets really geeked for taikai and I would like to participate but funds are a real problem. I feel left out when I just watch or am unable to be apart of my team. Am I just being retarded?

On another note, I received a refund from my taxes and am wondering if I should:

1. Pay up some dues (I haven't been able to afford dues)

2. Enter the next taikai (I think I would feel crummy cuz I haven't paid dues)

3. Get new gi and shinai (My shinai is getting pretty bad, and I use my old aikido gi and boyfriends hakama, but is still in good condition)


Those are pretty much the major kendo decisions I have resting on me. I know kendo is not going anywhere and there will be plenty of other taikai/shiai/camps to participate in; I just wanted some objective opinions.

Is taikai really important to you? Why?

Thanks for your opinions.

[Jadldqys]

Dear Maniaclady,
Go to sensei and tell him you are getting tax refund and want to go to taikai and need new shinai but also want to pay dues and ask for his advice. Tell boyfriend he needs a new hakama.

[Anneskobsen]

I think you should pay your dues first, as you said Kendo will be there waiting, but landlords and such may not be so kind. However you could put apart enough for one shinai.

Now to the more difficult stuff, bear in mind that I am only shodan and 17 years old: For me participating in Taikai is quite an important part of my Kendo, not so much for winning (which is quite nice) but for the thrill of competing and seeing where I am compared to others (although one match is harly a good comparison). It's also very nice meeting other people who often share thge same interests (usually...). So I always look forward to competing, sadly with my exit from the mudansha division I've stopped being a biggish fish in a small pond, to become plankton in the ocean.

[codecouponqw]

I think you should pay your dues first, as you said Kendo will be there waiting, but landlords and such may not be so kind. However you could put apart enough for one shinai.

Now to the more difficult stuff, bear in mind that I am only shodan and 17 years old: For me participating in Taikai is quite an important part of my Kendo, not so much for winning (which is quite nice) but for the thrill of competing and seeing where I am compared to others (although one match is harly a good comparison). It's also very nice meeting other people who often share thge same interests (usually...). So I always look forward to competing, sadly with my exit from the mudansha division I've stopped being a biggish fish in a small pond, to become plankton in the ocean.

whats being your shodan and 17 yrs old got to do with the ladies inquiry????? you can always get to the point without blowing your trumpet too much yknow?!

[tipokot]

whats being your shodan and 17 yrs old got to do with the ladies inquiry????? you can always get to the point without blowing your trumpet too much yknow?!

Ummm, I think you got it wrong. What I'm trying to say is that I'm a relative newbie in both life and Kendo. Not that I'm some great athlete or anything but that something I've noticed in my age and rank group is that as a general rule we like taikai a lot. Being immature and all we like to "beat" each other as often as we can but perhaps she will not as she is of a different age (I assume).

Perhaps in order to not clutter up the thread you would like to discuss it in private messages?





Maniac Lady: I dont know how much you have available but both e-bogu and eguchi offer entry level keikogi for $36 (e-bogu) and $40 (eguchi) so perhaps if you have money left after paying dues (which is my reccomendation) you can get one without breaking the bank. I started out with the e-bogu one and it was pretty good for the price. I haven't tried the eguchi one but it looks nicer (as far as I can tell). E-bogu offers free shipping on orders over $100 and eguchi the same for orders over $75 so maybe you can get someone at the dojo to order together with you and save on the shipping.

[tinetttstation]

I suggest the shinai would be a good avenue to spend some of the cash. If your shinai breaks, you are done.... if your shinai splinters and you keep using it you risk injuring your fellow dojomates.... paid dues won't make up for taking someone's vision with a stray splinter getting them (although rare, but not worth the risk), and you already have a gi... your gi won't "break" or present a hazard to yourself or others...

[hereiamguy]

It's fun~
I'd suggest doing it. There isn't a lot of pressure to participate. But even if you don't participate, you should still go, myabe help out, and cheer on your fellow dojo people!

And usually you have to pay dues before you can enter a taikai.

But take your time. Kendo will be there your whole life, or that's what my sensei says. ^^