[psbiuigw]

Very good posts from Oroshi and Twobitimage!

Hollywood probably has to do with it too. Famous Actors/MA'ists like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and other may have unwillingly given a different percerception of martial arts from what they should be, people has this idea of ass kicking action on their head when it comes to any martial art stuff.

In fairness, sometimes I think that we are all a bit anorak-like too. A number of my friends have their own anorak-like behaviour, someone who loves aircraft, the guy that has to have every gadget in his apartment, the obsessive marathon running type, etc. All of them try to convert us into understanding why their obsession is not a bad thing. We don't understand it because we don't share their interest, and often times make fun. Why should we expect anything different from people not interested in JSA's?.

It is annoying, but what can you do...

[ketNavatutt]

I don't know squat about spelunking, i know what it is like but other than that, nothing. Does that make me ignorant?

Are there people on the spelunking forums dissing me right now because i think it is quite silly?

What we do is bloody silly! Just enjoy it. I mean, did any of you start kendo by thinking, "hmmm, i wish there was something out there that would mould my mind through the principals of the katana...."? Or were you like me who thought, "swords are cool, i want to learn"? Boys and their toys.....

Incidentally, i just typed in weird hobbies in google... First hit was a BBC report saying weird hobbies such as SAMURAI SWORD COLLECTING are big no-no's for the CV.

Who'd a thunk?

[kuzbaslachek]

Something I put on E-Budo a while back:

Upon irt being found out that you do a martial art, you're likely to get bombarded with questions, usually that are completely inappropriate or simply show how much the questioner doesn't know.

Here are some snappy answers to stupid questions about the martial arts I have actually used. Sad, but true...

Are you a ninja?
No, I’m a Gemini.

How many boards can you break?
Dunno, I’ve never been attacked by a tree.
(Note: if the question involves “bricks”, substitute
“house” in
your answer.)

Could you beat Bruce Lee?
I don’t know. Say, why don’t you go and dig up the body so
we can
find out?

Are you better than Steven Segal?
Well, I have better dress sense and fewer marital problems.


Following one of these, the verbal "attacker" usually leaves in disgust

[68AttendGem]

I stopped thinking of kendo as a (in English) "martial art" many many years ago. I bet that many people who dont do kendo at all see it not as a "martial art" (at least not in a karate/kung fu like way), but simply as a sport, like fencing.

Just a different angle.

[GustavM]

I don't know squat about spelunking, i know what it is like but other than that, nothing. Does that make me ignorant?

Are there people on the spelunking forums dissing me right now because i think it is quite silly?

What we do is bloody silly! Just enjoy it. I mean, did any of you start kendo by thinking, "hmmm, i wish there was something out there that would mould my mind through the principals of the katana...."? Or were you like me who thought, "swords are cool, i want to learn"? Boys and their toys.....

Incidentally, i just typed in weird hobbies in google... First hit was a BBC report saying weird hobbies such as SAMURAI SWORD COLLECTING are big no-no's for the CV.

Who'd a thunk?

wat!!! ive got samurai swords in my room LOL!! 3 display non sharp edged swords.. and a gift from my grand dad.. a damascus steel sharpened edge katana 104cm long hanging on my wall never have cut anything with it yet... need some watermelons lol

[KellyLynchIV]

You wish you looked like Godzilla....I'd say more like this

Yo!
Why I gotta look like a rat?
-and a yellow rat?

Just for that...

[tpdirorg]

I've given up trying to explain it to people who clearly aren't interested. At least Japanese people know what kendo is, and if they're of a certain age they understand when I explain iaido as 'battojutsu' (thanks to - ugh - Rurouni Kenshin). It's pretty niche even in Japan though.

LOL I thought 逆刃刀 was pretty cool at the time...never gave any thoughts of noto. How does Kenshin do noto with his reversed blade anyway?

[sallythetolly]

Incidentally, i just typed in weird hobbies in google... First hit was a BBC report saying weird hobbies such as SAMURAI SWORD COLLECTING are big no-no's for the CV.

Hmmm...this is why I don't attach my name to my posts. Too many future employers googling.

I'm perfectly happy with the current level of ignorance on the part of the general population regarding kendo, personally. If anyone asks, I say it's "japanese fencing". If they ask for more details I tell them it's like fencing, only japanese. Most people don't really care.

[osteoftex]

I find most people don't think kendo is all that strange, no more so than any other martial art. The fact is, most people don't care all that much about your hobbies unless they have an interest as well. Everyone here thinks it's cool and loves to talk about it, but for most of your friends and family it's just sufficient to say you do it and leave it at that.

It's not particular to kendo, it applies to whatever you do. I snowboard, and I could spend hours yakking about technique and equipment with people who cared but people simply don't care. It's just enough to say that I snowboard, and leave it at that. People don't want a conversation to be a lecture. So if I travel to Banff to ride, then we can have a conversation about the drive, the condo, did we do any shopping, etc, all stuff that allows anyone to participate. They don't want to talk about the runs or the conditions or what boards I used unless they also ride.

[JeorgeNoxeref]

The fact is, most people don't care all that much about your hobbies unless they have an interest as well.

I think you hit it on the head, Neil. I love mountain biking, but most of my friends don't share that excitement. They like going for rides, but probably wouldn't join me in a multi-day ride through back country. So, I ride with them at their level so I can spend some time with them, and they understand when I want to go on a faster, longer ride on my own.

I think what happens with the MA community in general, is that when a practitioner becomes irate with innocent questions (and some not-so-innocent), that person can start to seem somewhat zealot-like - especially in light of the recent amount of posts dealing with McDojo's and their blind adherences (albeit unintentionally for those suckered in).

Most of the time answering questions in a short but sincere manner shows that you're serious about the art, whatever it may be, but you're not trying to convert anybody. That in itself usually fosters an open mind and more questions.

[priordine]

You have to ask yourself what really is the problem. Is it how other people perceive you and kendo? Or is it how you percieve other people perceive you and kendo?

Or does it really matter?

[teewHettive]

The fact is, most people don't care all that much about your hobbies unless they have an interest as well. ...It's not particular to kendo, it applies to whatever you do. I snowboard, and I could spend hours yakking about technique and equipment with people who cared but people simply don't care.

This is so true. I am guilty about yakking about kendo, iaido, snowboarding, paintball, etc... So we should just keep the hobby conversation to a minimum, only elabrate when they express interest. Sometimes, less is more.

[Sandvikla]

You have to ask yourself what really is the problem. Is it how other people perceive you and kendo? Or is it how you percieve other people perceive you and kendo?

Or does it really matter?

Doesn't really matter in the long run, IMHO. You can't please everybody, and even if you can explain Kendo or MA in general in three words or less and still explain it fully, it doesn't mean that people are going to share your passion. They may know what it is, but it's the why that I think remains a mystery to most people with little exposure.

[Andromino]

Sometimes, less is more. If you have enough time to do kendo and something else then you are not doing enough kendo!

[Larisochka]

they just pretend to be interested to play with your bokuto lol

Well, that's your excuse! Does Kay know that you invite strangers to fondle your bokuto?

[Si8jy8HN]

I used to work in a place where teasing was commonplace. They knew I did kendo, iaido and jodo. Couldn't exactly keep it secret cos I left early every Wednesday to get to training and I don't drive so three times a week I had various weapons and bogu in their respective bags behind my desk. But one of the guys, the CEO always took great pains to feign total ignorance for the sake of teasing and even told a visiting underwriter (I worked at an insurance broker) that I did "stick fighting". This underwriter became terribly interested and stopped by my desk and spoke to me - because he did Phillipino Stick Fighting. But the CEO being his usual and purposefully annoying self had no idea that by calling kendo "stick fighting" he was referring to a different martial art. He thought it was funny. I thought it was bloody annoying. And a couple of them used to call me sensei which made me really uncomfortable.

On the flip side, I now work somewhere where a couple people have either done or watch martial arts (even if it's just on Foxtel) and those that haven't aren't judgemental and it's just something I do and I never get teased over. The one and only time I had a sword with me (cos I work nights there) in keeping with a promise I'd made months ago I showed it to them and let one of them hold it, but the guys there are sensible enough not to swing it about.

With my more sensible friends who show an interest (usually other martial artists), I will let them hold my sword and tell them to "try and give it a swing" but that's with me right there, and we have nice high Edwardian ceilings. I find it goes someway towards breaking down barriers.

I don't find that the public here is adverse or negative towards martial arts. Because of the movies, etc they think it's more disciplined and harder than it is more than anything else. The only real negative perception I've come across was my old boss from the first workplace I mentioned suffered severe insomnia so I suggested chi kung and she said something like it goes against her beliefs, worshipping your master and all that. I was too shocked to speak and it really wasn't worth the effort to correct her.

If you don't talk about kendo at all though, new people wont find out about it. That doesn't mean go on and on with a full descriptions but a quick rundown that briefly gives the gist of it's okay. If they're not interested, they wont put the subject any further. If they are, they will ask You the questions and you may have found another budding practitioner.

[77Dinaartickire]

IThe only real negative perception I've come across was my old boss from the first workplace I mentioned suffered severe insomnia so I suggested chi kung and she said something like it goes against her beliefs, worshipping your master and all that. I was too shocked to speak and it really wasn't worth the effort to correct her.

Misbelief about this happens even within the martial arts. We have a returning yudansha at my judo dojo (hadn't been since I started four years ago), who doesn't bow to shomen. That really irritates me -- what, he doesn't respect our founder?

-Beth

[KixdricyArrip]

Misbelief about this happens even within the martial arts. We have a returning yudansha at my judo dojo (hadn't been since I started four years ago), who doesn't bow to shomen. That really irritates me -- what, he doesn't respect our founder?

-Beth

??? you have a shrine to the founder of the dojo in your dojo?

[CHEAPSOFTOEMONLINE]

??? you have a shrine to the founder of the dojo in your dojo?

Er, no. A picture of the founder of judo, KANO Jigoro.

[praboobolbode]

If you have enough time to do kendo and something else then you are not doing enough kendo!

I wish I can do more kendo, but I have my reasons. It's personal.