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**teodaschwartia** · 12-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Yes, you were out of line by calling him out like that. This is kendo, what the instructor says goes. Furthermore, is it really that difficult to at least try to learn the etiquette since you don't seem to practice it at all? Rather than getting miffed that all of a sudden you have to raise the discipline from zero to 100 is something you should've seen coming. If you're serious about continuing kendo, how do you think it is elsewhere? Do you think that other clubs are going to be as lax as yours? Think about it, if you were to continue as you have been in front of this visiting sensei, what do you think they'll do? Chances are they'll disregard you all as a rag-tag group of wannabe kenshi who can't even get basic etiquette right. You'll then end up with a not so flattering reputation. Best thing you can do is apologize, learn the etiquette, and show the sensei that you all are worth their time.

That being said, the person teaching you all should've been emphasizing etiquette from the start. As b8amack said, if he can't teach etiquette, he shouldn't teach kendo. Not cutting off the red strings screams clueless kenshi. It also means you haven't even prepared the slats properly and I'd be worried about splinters flying around when you practice. If you can't take care of the small details, your kendo will become stagnant and you won't improve. Personally, I think it's time for a serious club overhaul. Start fresh, ask your teacher to emphasize etiquette and have the same expectations as any other dojo. If people don't like it, then tell them it's what is expected at any other dojo so they will either get used to it or leave. Simple as that.

Ok, so how should he have worded it (or could he have worded it at all without stepping out of line?)

Anyway, I got the impression from the OP's post that he was upset that ettiqutte wasn't taught sooner (as in, perhaps the OP didnt realize that ettiqutte was so important untill just recently when he found out that the 8th dan would be arriving?) Also you can't assume that the OP went to tournaments or other dojos either... 2 years is a long time but he did say he/she was there on and off.

Unless this is some kind of cultural Japanese thing, the only way I can see that he over stepped bounds was that he called him "fake". And the way it was worded in general. Thats just my opinion.

Do you guys think its wrong for him to say anything at all to the instructor about this even if it's done in a polite, mature way? (with no insults?)

If so, all I can say is that it must be a Japanese culture thing. You know- authority is unquestionable, no matter who it is thats in authority. Thats fine if you're in Japan talking to a Japanese person, but... since the OP said hes from the U.S. in his profile I'm assuming thats not the case. (I'm talking about outside the dojo in this case)

That being said, how can rei be left out of Kendo with Kendo still being kendo? How can you do Kendo without rei? From what I understand its very important!!

Of course I'm a n00b myself, so maybe I just don't know enough about kendo. But if hes not a Sensei, you talk to him about it politily (sounds to me like you insulted him with the word fake) then I have trouble seeing the problem.

If I'm wrong in this, I do apologize.

12-09-2009, 12:34 PM	#14
teodaschwartia Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 431 Senior Member	Yes, you were out of line by calling him out like that. This is kendo, what the instructor says goes. Furthermore, is it really that difficult to at least try to learn the etiquette since you don't seem to practice it at all? Rather than getting miffed that all of a sudden you have to raise the discipline from zero to 100 is something you should've seen coming. If you're serious about continuing kendo, how do you think it is elsewhere? Do you think that other clubs are going to be as lax as yours? Think about it, if you were to continue as you have been in front of this visiting sensei, what do you think they'll do? Chances are they'll disregard you all as a rag-tag group of wannabe kenshi who can't even get basic etiquette right. You'll then end up with a not so flattering reputation. Best thing you can do is apologize, learn the etiquette, and show the sensei that you all are worth their time. That being said, the person teaching you all should've been emphasizing etiquette from the start. As b8amack said, if he can't teach etiquette, he shouldn't teach kendo. Not cutting off the red strings screams clueless kenshi. It also means you haven't even prepared the slats properly and I'd be worried about splinters flying around when you practice. If you can't take care of the small details, your kendo will become stagnant and you won't improve. Personally, I think it's time for a serious club overhaul. Start fresh, ask your teacher to emphasize etiquette and have the same expectations as any other dojo. If people don't like it, then tell them it's what is expected at any other dojo so they will either get used to it or leave. Simple as that. Ok, so how should he have worded it (or could he have worded it at all without stepping out of line?) Anyway, I got the impression from the OP's post that he was upset that ettiqutte wasn't taught sooner (as in, perhaps the OP didnt realize that ettiqutte was so important untill just recently when he found out that the 8th dan would be arriving?) Also you can't assume that the OP went to tournaments or other dojos either... 2 years is a long time but he did say he/she was there on and off. Unless this is some kind of cultural Japanese thing, the only way I can see that he over stepped bounds was that he called him "fake". And the way it was worded in general. Thats just my opinion. Do you guys think its wrong for him to say anything at all to the instructor about this even if it's done in a polite, mature way? (with no insults?) If so, all I can say is that it must be a Japanese culture thing. You know- authority is unquestionable, no matter who it is thats in authority. Thats fine if you're in Japan talking to a Japanese person, but... since the OP said hes from the U.S. in his profile I'm assuming thats not the case. (I'm talking about outside the dojo in this case) That being said, how can rei be left out of Kendo with Kendo still being kendo? How can you do Kendo without rei? From what I understand its very important!! Of course I'm a n00b myself, so maybe I just don't know enough about kendo. But if hes not a Sensei, you talk to him about it politily (sounds to me like you insulted him with the word fake) then I have trouble seeing the problem. If I'm wrong in this, I do apologize.
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