[muBXvWIC]

Hey,
Try not to let those student's attitude's bother you. They really should try to help you and not feel hindered in trying to teach you. I know you said that you're anxious and feel bad about being behind all of the other students, but try to think of the situation differently. Instead of thinking of how far behind you are, try to think of how much better you want to become to be able to get better. Don't think that it will take me "x" number of practices to get "x" skill; just try hard every practice and have the mentality of doing better than your sempais. If you keep up that spirit, then you will excel much faster than you think you can and it might make your practices more enjoyable. It's the positive attitude that counts!

[CathBraun]

Yeah... Kendo is really competetive and I've never been one for that. That's probably another aspect I dislike about it. Sometimes it makes me wonder if Kendo just isn't for me since I get judged so much, and I'm going to get judged even more. I feel like such a quitter when I say that though... hopefully I can "grow a thicker skin" as you say, because if not, I'm not gonna have much fun.

[zueqhbyhp]

Well I did just sit down for a really long time and think about why I suddenly hate it so much actually. The only thing I could figure out was maybe it's got to do with the fact that I was used to practicing with people at my own level. But now all of a sudden I've been thrown into a class full of people who have been doing it for 3 years or so... I just feel so out of place and whenever I do something wrong the person I was sparring with gets all frustrated and it makes me just want to go home. I wish we could just be with people at my own level...

I felt like that too when I first got into bogu. It was hard practicing with higher level people and I didn't want to practice with them because I thought that I was wasting their time. But when i did practice with them they helped me correct what i was doing wrong and gave me tips on how to improve. So for you i suggest that you just ignore your oppents frustration, and when they do show signs of it just ask them how you could improve because you are there to learn and those who are higher level than you are there to help you. They should know that you are just a beginner and that you are going to be making mistakes.

[VrQsgM7c]

I better go sew my Hakama back together . . . I should go down in style!

Then again, you sit way the heck to my right in Iai, I should be more respectful.

[benderkoz]

I considered quitting Kendo at one point too. It was the night after a practice in which I nearly passed out. I didn't feel too great afterwards, and I began to feel even worse later in the night. It made me want to quit Kendo. Then I thought back to a challenge I had overcome: when I broke my hand, not in class mind you, my passion for Kendo was only increased. I broke my hand after my fourth beginners class. I went AGAINST my doctor's orders to continue doing Kendo. It was lucky that it was my right hand that was broken, not my left.

Then I asked myself, "why in the world would I let a few hundred suburi get me down?" I answered myself with the answer to my problem: I'd just eat more food and drink a lot more water before practice.

I've continued with Kendo because I love doing it. I love rising to the challenge of getting smacked around by people who are better than me -- which is everyone! -- and the thrill of knowing that with enough practice I can smack them right back.

Do Kendo because you love to do it. Not because you want to impress anyone. Kendo has to be full of judgment, how else can you pit your will against an opponent and overcome them? Are you willing to defeat your own insecurities to improve your Kendo and to improve yourself?

- Matt

[Cheaperisdeeper]

I've been doing Kendo for a little while now (about 6 months or so), and I absolutly loved it! After practice I couldn't wait for my next one and I would practice all the time. I told all my friends that I wanted to be in Kendo for as long as possible and I was so happy. But we all just moved up to the 3rd class and we've gotten armor and stuff. Now it's the complete oppsite. I can't stand class, I don't want to go when my practices days come, I want so badly to quit... I kept going for a while even though I despised it, just to see if it was a phase or something, but all that happened was I started hating it even more. but I remember loving Kendo so much that I can't stand to just... quit! I don't know what to do... My Sensai once said that Kendo is more mentally challenging then physically. I think I understand what he meant now. But I still don't know what to do... please help me...

[popillio]

Well if you hate being judged, you've got a tough row to hoe with kendo. Your sensei and seniors will always be evaluating you, and saying "do it this way, no not that way, this way". If you add in some sort of insecurity about how people feel about you... I don't know what else to say other than, grow a thicker skin. Practising with people better than you will make you better, and a year from now you'll be motodachi for some other newbie in bogu who will be feeling like he can't do anything right. Circle of kendo life. Always someone better, always someone worse.

[Scukonahuy]

Yeah... Kendo is really competetive and I've never been one for that. That's probably another aspect I dislike about it. Sometimes it makes me wonder if Kendo just isn't for me since I get judged so much, and I'm going to get judged even more. I feel like such a quitter when I say that though... hopefully I can "grow a thicker skin" as you say, because if not, I'm not gonna have much fun.

What did you like about kendo? What did you expect it to be?

[Nosmas]

That's what my Sensai told me when I talked to him about it. I guess the problem is I'm just one of those kinds of people that hates to me judged, and I feel like I'm on the spotlight beacuse I'm one of the very few beginners in my class. One of the other problems I'm having is I'm only able to be there about half the time, so I'm really far behind now

yea im that kind of person too, but i have learned to just get over it because i just remind myself that everyone who is there has probably made the same mistakes that iam making. Just remember that you are still a beginner and that you will make mistakes, no one is perfect. When I first got into bogu there was probably only about five of us in my beginner class. And so for the time thing, i have the same problem because of my work schedule Im only able to make it to the last hour of class. So what i have been doing in order to help me improve is to practice at home by doing suburi and other swings. Ask your sensei if he has any suggestion as to what you could do at home.

[L6RLnyfl]

I guess you're right. I think I just need to sit down and think some more

Yeah. Get some time to really reflect what it is you want out of studying kendo. I think you might be somewhat in a searching process for a goal that you want to achieve. It's really hard...but when you're beginning, it's important not to let things get to you. Just last practice while I was pathetically trying to keep up with one of my sempai, he would continually barrage me with hits and then as I was about to just give up he would yell "Kamae!" at me...sure...it got me a little riled up, but it also helps to motivate me. It's really important to let your sempai help you develop. If they're SERIOUSLY just making fun of you for making a mistake, then you might be right...it could be the environment. But they are there for a reason...they're not just advanced students, they should be your mentors help you progress.

[sharpyure]

Almost everyone in my dojo is of a higher rank or grade than I am. Most of them have been practicing kendo for well over 3 years, some as long as 40 years, and sensei has been practicing for over 50 years. When we're on the floor, it doesn't matter how long I've been practicing, I'm part of the class, I have something to learn and perhaps I have something to give to my classmates, as well.

Kendo is about self-improvement, not about worrying what someone else is doing, or where they're ranked/graded. I will admit, sometimes my enthusiasm for the art fades a bit, but I haven't yet let it get to the point where I no longer want to go to class. I enjoy the camaraderie, the lessons we are taught, and even the mistakes I make, since I learn something every day.

As others have said, do kendo because YOU want to, not because you feel someone else would be disappointed or think less of you.

[bug_user]

I started kendo in februari and went from a beginners group into the main group just like you and yes there always will be some ppl that might come over to you like, "oh no another noob to hit the hell out of me" and I think it's up to the beginner to show the right spirit towards the ones that are doing kendo already for a longer time and to prove to them you wanna learn the art and that you love it.

It's little things during keiko like keeping up pase instead of some walk after you did your exersize, a simple thank you when sensei or sensei correct you.
Getting everything out of your class possible.
Do keep in mind that if you don't eat and drink enough before class that you won't make it either as kendo is intensive as you know.

You mentioned that you don't liked to be judged but isn't life all about this?
It starts at school with tests you gotta do then you get s job and you have your evaluations or being judged by colleages or customers it's just a part of life something you maybe can learn to get accustomed to being judged. Kendo is all about selfimprovement.

Think about this.

[Elaltergephah]

Yeah I'm late to class a lot because of scheduling problems. When I go to practice today I'll ask Sensei what I should practice at home

[AlexBrith]

I considered quitting Kendo at one point too. It was the night after a practice in which I nearly passed out. I didn't feel too great afterwards, and I began to feel even worse later in the night. It made me want to quit Kendo. Then I thought back to a challenge I had overcome: when I broke my hand, not in class mind you, my passion for Kendo was only increased. I broke my hand after my fourth beginners class. I went AGAINST my doctor's orders to continue doing Kendo. It was lucky that it was my right hand that was broken, not my left.

Then I asked myself, "why in the world would I let a few hundred suburi get me down?" I answered myself with the answer to my problem: I'd just eat more food and drink a lot more water before practice.

I've continued with Kendo because I love doing it. I love rising to the challenge of getting smacked around by people who are better than me -- which is everyone! -- and the thrill of knowing that with enough practice I can smack them right back.

Do Kendo because you love to do it. Not because you want to impress anyone. Kendo has to be full of judgment, how else can you pit your will against an opponent and overcome them? Are you willing to defeat your own insecurities to improve your Kendo and to improve yourself?

- Matt

We like smacking you. In about three hours...

[iNYZgxNC]

We like smacking you. In about three hours...

I better go sew my Hakama back together . . . I should go down in style!

[dietpillxanaxaxx]

Well I joined Kendo because my best friend was in it and I'd heard a lot of good things about it. He told me it was very challenging though, and not to take it lightly. I decided to try and and I loved it because it made me feel... I don't know. Alive? Hard to describe. I don't know what I expected it to be... I guess I never really thought about that.

[jesyflowers]

I guess you're right. I think I just need to sit down and think some more

[WertyNtont]

Hey, I only have a wooden sword. You win out of the fear that you inspire in me.

Clearly, after three weeks, I am a hazard to other people and fragile objects within a radius of about seven feet. (let's not hijack this any more or the neighbors will get pissed)

[fd8IIys2]

Well I joined Kendo because my best friend was in it and I'd heard a lot of good things about it. He told me it was very challenging though, and not to take it lightly. I decided to try and and I loved it because it made me feel... I don't know. Alive? Hard to describe. I don't know what I expected it to be... I guess I never really thought about that.

OK, the "alive" part I can relate to - but if the only reason you're there is to make somebody else happy then you're done.

Nobody is going to (or should) talk you into staying at this point, if you do, that's cool but don't if it's not something that you really get into. The worst thing is to practice with people who really don't want to be there - maybe your dojo mates see that already?