DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - People who take kendo waaaaay too seriously

**rorsvierwelia** · 05-01-2006, 07:00 AM

Sorry about the double post guys.. But had to let one more thing out on this issue.

My cousin (on my mothers side) used to play kendo in middle school and part of high school in Japan. He quit to play soccer. I have heard through him that kendo is also losing popularity in Japan among the younger population because it isn't "cool enough". Complaints that are prominent among youngsters is that kendo is "too traditional" and they have to take things too seriously and it is boring. To put it in laymans terms? Squaresville. Sounds like whining? Ya definitely. But it is the truth.

People like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui have made baseball so popular that it is probably the most popular sport in Japan. The only thing that rivals that is the J-League. Since Japan did MUCH better than expected in the World Cup, lots of kids are flocking to soccer with dreams of winning the world cup or playing for one of the J-League teams. Either that or being in the "Dai-league" like Matsui or Ichiro.

Where does this leave kendo? As the trailer. Something that kids have to do with the parents tagging behind wagging the finger. So the point? Well, this is what happens when dojos or sensei project the view of kendo as JUST strict, and disciplinarian with no other views accepted. In other words, majime-sugi. Kendo is (to me) practiced in order to gain discipline, confidence, etc. But it is also about having FUN. Why go to a dojo and practice twice a week for 3-4 hours just to learn discipline when you don't have fun!

My more than $0.02,
Tim

05-01-2006, 07:00 AM	#16
rorsvierwelia Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 491 Senior Member	Sorry about the double post guys.. But had to let one more thing out on this issue. My cousin (on my mothers side) used to play kendo in middle school and part of high school in Japan. He quit to play soccer. I have heard through him that kendo is also losing popularity in Japan among the younger population because it isn't "cool enough". Complaints that are prominent among youngsters is that kendo is "too traditional" and they have to take things too seriously and it is boring. To put it in laymans terms? Squaresville. Sounds like whining? Ya definitely. But it is the truth. People like Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui have made baseball so popular that it is probably the most popular sport in Japan. The only thing that rivals that is the J-League. Since Japan did MUCH better than expected in the World Cup, lots of kids are flocking to soccer with dreams of winning the world cup or playing for one of the J-League teams. Either that or being in the "Dai-league" like Matsui or Ichiro. Where does this leave kendo? As the trailer. Something that kids have to do with the parents tagging behind wagging the finger. So the point? Well, this is what happens when dojos or sensei project the view of kendo as JUST strict, and disciplinarian with no other views accepted. In other words, majime-sugi. Kendo is (to me) practiced in order to gain discipline, confidence, etc. But it is also about having FUN. Why go to a dojo and practice twice a week for 3-4 hours just to learn discipline when you don't have fun! My more than $0.02, Tim
	Quote