[BonjGopu]

I'm confused, is this a kendo website or a junior high school website?

You expect everyone here to be adults?

You expect everyone to rise above insults and mockery?

interesting....

[Caunnysup]

There's a kids kendo dojo in my area...it is always interesting to see them when they train with a senior group.

Let me tell you they look cute but they vampirically feed on the ambush of any adult!Worse still when one feeds they all are quenched by the success!

While we are admiring how cute their little kote, or how their small little hands grip the shinai they've landed seven ankle cuts and at least one dou on the taller frame..

Actually I really can't wait to have kids of my own so I can be avenged!

[Maribellin]

All kidding aside.
Is he skilled? How are his cuts?
Anyone can memorize a dozen kata pretty quickly, but to do them with, ability/skill, that is something you can not fake.
Kim Taylor has always said, you can talk all you want, but get out on the floor and lets see what you can do.

[gorbasevhuynani]

German Huh......... Die Ninja Die.......Donka???

I took Viking's quip for a Simpson's reference.

[PPActionnGuys]

I took Viking's quip for a Simpson's reference.

Nice catch. Which is followed by one of my favorite lines "Well, no one who speaks German could be evil".

[MiniBoy]

I'm confused, is this a kendo website or a junior high school website?

Mostly Kendo with a lot of high school mixed in....Excuse me i have to go smoke behind the gymnasium

All kidding aside.
Is he skilled? How are his cuts?
Anyone can memorize a dozen kata pretty quickly, but to do them with, ability/skill, that is something you can not fake.
Kim Taylor has always said, you can talk all you want, but get out on the floor and lets see what you can do.

As for skills, he's a beginner like my self. He seems to know other kata, honestly that look pretty cool, but to the level of proficiency, i cant say. He seems to make the same mistakes i do when doing Seitei kata. He's really not that bad, just a bit too eager to impress IMHO. Hes really a pretty nice kid.

I took Viking's quip for a Simpson's reference.

Totally missed that. I didnt make the ninja = Bart connection.

[addyta.org]

As for skills, he's a beginner like my self. He seems to know other kata, honestly that look pretty cool, but to the level of proficiency, i cant say. He seems to make the same mistakes i do when doing Seitei kata. He's really not that bad, just a bit too eager to impress IMHO. Hes really a pretty nice kid.

Hi 1stdan-san,

I've read the whole thread... I saw it a couple days ago when you first posted though. Anyway, imho, I think that posting about a dojomate like this was not a very nice thing to do. I wouldn't have done it. Not even if the guy/girl turned out to be some self-taught ninja type. The reason you shouldn't have done this, is because they are in your dojo and you could seriously hurt their feelings should they come across this forum and this thread. It just wasn't a kind thing to do, especially since you know this person. People do have feelings that can be hurt, you know. It is so wrong to not care about others and not care how one could make others feel by what one says about them. This isn't what kendo should be teaching us.

Please give the new kid a chance. If you really are this curious and concerned, talk to him and just ask polite questions as to where he learned the kata he says he knows and ask what ryu they are from. You never know... He might have studied in another dojo another ryu. Or, if he's self taught in reality, then you have a great chance to guide him in the right direction, and make a friend out of him. There's nothing more helpful than encouragement. And, know what? He's already made the right choice by finding a good dojo. That says a lot for me. I think your sensei can take care of anything in terms of what else he may or may not know. So, just enjoy making a new friend.

Kaoru

[Adimondin]

You expect everyone here to be adults?

You expect everyone to rise above insults and mockery?

interesting....

M'yes..(puffs pensively on pipe)
quite..
Hmmm..

Most interesting.

...Indeed..

[Amorsesombabs]

Hi 1stdan-san,

I've read the whole thread... I saw it a couple days ago when you first posted though. Anyway, imho, I think that posting about a dojomate like this was not a very nice thing to do. I wouldn't have done it. Not even if the guy/girl turned out to be some self-taught ninja type. The reason you shouldn't have done this, is because they are in your dojo and you could seriously hurt their feelings should they come across this forum and this thread. It just wasn't a kind thing to do, especially since you know this person. People do have feelings that can be hurt, you know. It is so wrong to not care about others and not care how one could make others feel by what one says about them. This isn't what kendo should be teaching us.

Please give the new kid a chance. If you really are this curious and concerned, talk to him and just ask polite questions as to where he learned the kata he says he knows and ask what ryu they are from. You never know... He might have studied in another dojo another ryu. Or, if he's self taught in reality, then you have a great chance to guide him in the right direction, and make a friend out of him. There's nothing more helpful than encouragement. And, know what? He's already made the right choice by finding a good dojo. That says a lot for me. I think your sensei can take care of anything in terms of what else he may or may not know. So, just enjoy making a new friend.

Kaoru

Kaoru, Youll be happy to hear, I have been thinkng much along the same lines you are, at least lately. I have began to try and befriend this young man realizing that i was wrong to make such an assumption. I started the MA to develop myself in many ways, this is one of the ways i need to concentrate on, along with keeping my left foot straight. Youll notice in later posts I saidf he really isnt tthat bad of a guy, and once said he was a pretty good kid. I am always learning and rethinking. I spoke to quickly, and disregarded my own sig line. I have learned from thiso one. I will keep an eye out for the rest of the ninjas though.

[Keyblctt]

I am classed as the local ninja in the manner you are thinking about... if a new dojo opens up, the senior guys make an effort to attend a class if we dont know the new guy on the block. If he is any good, he can spot us a mile away. If not... at least the other students can take a look at something proper! It keeps the mcdojos down to a minimal level and people know we do it. I got the idea from a friend of mine in the Isle of man, where they have a panel of all the senior MA people on the island. They are lucky in that they basically ask any new guy to strut his stuff, and if he fails to make the grade, they do not allow him to open up a dojo!
Its a shame we cant do this more often on the mainland, when some new trampolinaboxakaratecise class is invented for the unwise to attend...

[Mr Andrews]

Chidokan, I have ninja'ed myself the way you are talking about. A freind of mine wanted my opinion on a dojo he wanted to train at. I attended th efree class with him to see if the guy was legit. He was. It is a shame that t we have to be so skeptical all the time.

[yharmon6614]

It is a shame that t we have to be so skeptical all the time. I prefer the word cautious to skeptical. We should be cautious in all our endeavors since we live in a capitalist society.

Out of curiosity, have you asked the young man where he might have practiced before?

[fenter1]

I plan to do just that. As soon as i get my foot out of my mouth.