[gastabegree]

Thats why I had a problem. Good cotton hakamas are stiff. They get stiffer when wet. Whats wrong with fundoshi anyway?

Hyaku

[FEti0TUI]

Greetings,

I think this thread is about what "tradition" is. It seems to be about showing others that one is "part of what they do" by doing similar things, without asking too much as to it's function. At best, "going commando" seems ok as long as one isn't likely to incur any damage in the process. If there is no identifiable advantage to one's kendo, then, I'm not sure I see an advantage in "following tradition." Moreover, the whole concept of "tradition" is suspect as people assume that it means transmitting ideas and practices that do not change, when in fact interpretations of the same text or action change all the time. In early kendo, was there an option? I must confess an ignorance to the history of Japanese undergarments - or to European ones as well. When they became popular, they must have served some purpose. Probably a social one first. But to do kendo sans cullotes, I doubt it makes one more "authentic" if it means accepting an practice uncritically. Uh oh. I think I've done it now. Late summer night. Finally cooling down. Coyotes calling. Gatte Gatte....

Richard

[AbraroLib]

OK, I'm going to get a bit graphic here, so please bear with me. . .

First off, Kendoka for the record I DO change underwear after practice. . . ;-)

The problem is not getting hit in the family jewels. The tare pretty much has that covered, and like Antonin says, if you're going to get hit there hard enough to pierce your tare, underwear isn't going to make a bit of difference.

The only real problem with not wearing underwear is that when your crotch gets heated up, your testicles tend to descend farther from the body (just as they bunch close to the body when it is cold) in order to cool off.

So, basically, your balls tend to swing freer than usual. And when you really get moving, they wind up slamming against your thighs, your ass, and even the front of your hakama.

Get enough force going and that can SERIOUSLY hurt.

Know what I mean fellas?

Apologies if I'm grossing anyone out here, but we are having a discussion of underwear so . . .

[Edisesyethisp]

Oh no, come on
'heightened sense of masculinity" or 'new bogu', I don't buy this stuff guys. It's all about confort anyway.

Now someone will jump out of the shadows and say that the spirit is bound within the undies and it goes wild when you let him away

[Lkemybab]

OMG.... This thread is too funny...

To be honest, I never have and thought I would never go Freedom Kendo.... Until this post.

Now I have got to try it.... (to test the theroy of improving 50-60%).

This thread has created yet another monster.

[carletoxtrs]

[QUOTE]alexpollijr- Anyway, freedom kendo with brand new indigo dyed hakama may also not be a good idea [QUOTE]

Yes...certainly adds new life to the term "Blue Balls".

******************

Incidentally. do you know why they geld (cut balls off) race-horses?

Because when the horse runs too fast it is actually quite painfull when the potatoes bang against each other. The horse therefor, wont run as fast...this is no joke.

So I think the same could be said for kendo...so underwear/briefs are a better option than gelding.

Meng

[hellencomstar]

Olaf: To be fair, the poll only has the 'uncivil' option so I'm guessing that people who wanted to answer 'No' had to pick that one.

As to improved performance, I have also heard other people mention those same numbers. On my part, I don't know how you would measure such performance increase...

[toponlinecasinoer]

"freedom kendo" is a nice term, did you fetch it from the top of your head?

Anyway, freedom kendo with brand new indigo dyed hakama may also not be a good idea

[samanthalueus]

I've practiced Freedom Kendo once or twice. Nowadays I dont though because for the most part I change in the dojo in front of most everyone. The restrooms are too full and smell too funny, so I'd rather not bother changing there. It didnt seem particularly fun, but the idea of improving my performance 50-60% does sound nice, although I doubt its THAT big of a difference if any at all.

[VipInoLo]

>
> clin, who washes your hakama?
>

Why, my manservant, of course.

(read: I wash it)

An observation: freedom kendo is no good when wearing polyester hakama.

[boXGWf04]

"Why do people insist on wearing underwear when it's traditionally not done? " --cklin

well, as far as I concern, TRADITIONALLY hakama is worn by Japanese middle/upper class male. I suppose they had the nappie-style cloth to wrap around their lower wrist. Sweat? Don't blame Calvin Klein. Now what kind of "comfort" do you prefer?

btw, I voted "Yech..." to represent the minority female kendo population.

[TriamiCaw]

This thread is REALLY cracking me up today.

The thread is about "Freedom Kendo Poll", suddenly we have the "gelded horse" and "Gelded Kendoka"...... Sorry, but I can't help laughing.

But one thought For the male kendoka here.....
Some feel its "extra"protection wearing undie ..... but, does it REALLY give extra "Support or Protection if you wear one ? But I find, quite afew people wear "Boxer" style of undie, how much of "support" is it really giving ? (Since your Balls still dangling form the side of the boxer's divider anyway), protection ??? how much protection is that when someone accidentally "Tsuki" you there .... (trust me, it hurt like hell, with or without undie)......

[Quick$bux]

Actually, they should be given that option...have you ever seen a horse after the chop? pure trauma.

That is why I dont agree with racing horses...

[Flieteewell]

Hie folks,
I wa taught in the old style in France by JP Raick NOT to wear underwear, it seemed so natural to him that I did not even question it at the time ( naive, as always, but that's me...). i think it is a question of personal prefrence, but as for the protection problem, i don't think a small bit of coton will make a difference to a cut going through the tare, folks... never had any problems.
Incidently, I happen to know that not only men go commando, so...
Antonin

[jokilewqs]

Hey Meng,

Does that mean that race-horses should wear undies if they don't want to be gelded? :P

[citalopram]

Being Scottish, I obviously go for the FREEDOM method.

I think most guys def. wear their undies ..... when I suggest that they try going Commando there is usually a look of horror on their faces.

My bet is most people dont even try it.

[SergeyLisin]

yeah this thread should come under "what's your favorite waza?"...

[HelenTay]

Well...........I did but............. I had a mishap with the inside leg seam of my hakama causing a rather serious injury. I now wear undergarments for support.

clin, if you had to sit on ice for a considerable time I am sure you would appreciate my problem. I do have kakari geiko/taiatari of another kind and I have to consider going back there too!

My University Kendo Dojo was right next to the pool. Swimwear, then after I finished teaching I used to dive in for a while.
In August that sure was nice....

So I cant do your poll

Hyaku.

clin, who washes your hakama?

[craditc]

alexpollijr wrote:

>"freedom kendo" is a nice term, did you fetch it from the top of
>your head?


Yeah, I thought it was a catchy phrase... maybe I should copyright it...?

Have the folks who responded "Yech... it's uncivil!" ever tried freedom kendo? Maybe I should have added another poll answer: "Tried it but didn't like it."

While I brought up this question as a light-hearted point, I also wanted to use it as a subtle segue into a larger issue of imposing foreign cultural values on kendo (NOTICE I say "kendo" specifically and NOT Japanese culture). Why do people insist on wearing underwear when it's traditionally not done?

I've encountered a lot of immediate and strong resistance when I suggest freedom kendo to people playing in the States (esp, when people complain of discomfort from profuse sweating), and I can only surmise that this type of knee-jerk response is a result of a specific type of cultural inculcation here.

It makes me wonder what other things do we end up saying "Yech... that's uncivil!" to because of this type of unexamined bias?

[frequensearules]

Has anyone seen some of the old Japanese guys? Some of them hang down to almost to their knees. Next time you see you aged sensei in a sort up squatting standing kamae you will know why!

Hyaku