[SkapySisy]

Not wanting to hijack the "Committed" thread, I decided to start this one.

OK, we all know lots of people start kendo and the vast majority never make it to 6 months. My guess is that most of us here are in the minority in that respect, and that we're all pretty serious about our commitment to kendo. So my question is what would make you quit kendo? I'm sure there are some obvious answers like moving to an area with no dojos, but they are few and far between (or at least maybe I'm just not thinking that clearly today).

Some of the reasons I have heard are:

• not being competitive
• raising family/significant others
• school/work schedule (hopefully not a permanent situation)
• burn out
• politics
• major illness (though Ignatz would likely disagree)
• achieving a certain rank (shodanitis?)

I'm sure there are other reasons, but I'm curious what would make you hang up the old kotes for good?

RC_Kenshi

P.S. I'd prefer not to disclose mine for personal reasons, but it would essentially boil down to not being fun any more.

[OgrGlgHu]

Not wanting to hijack the "Committed" thread, I decided to start this one.

So my question is what would make you quit kendo?

Death.

Then I would know I actually did Kendo as a lifelong pursuit.

[sjdflghd]

Kendo 4 life!!

[nerkvcbtre]

Death.

Then I would know I actually did Kendo as a lifelong pursuit.

probably i will die in the floor of my dojo, and i will keep practice of kendo until the end of the universe (as a ghost or whatever...)

[Metalhead]

Bad dojo

As in poor students who rarely show up and a sensei who is losing even his motivation.

Our dojo has been slowly dying. There are a few of us who keep trying to revive it but the dead weight keeps dragging us back down. It is really depressing. I actually stopped going to club practices last year and only doing private practices with my sensei. This was due to the fact I was gone for a year (in another city) and came back to find the club in moral and financial ruins with absolutely no one improved at all in their kendo. And a sensei who had basically given up on the club and found another club who valued his teachings more...

Wow I just ranted a bit didn't I? Sorry.

[avaiftBoara]

The will remove my Shinai from my cold and dead fingers.







....Or a bribe with a bowl of Chili.

[nofkayalk]

i had to quit kendo, though i still hope to get back into it at some point in the future
mine was because of a shoulder problem. it made it impossible to hold a shinai, let alone swing it.
i was thinking of maybe becoming a lefthanded kodachi kendoka

[ephennaCypota]

ChessQueen's post reminded me of something...

I know for a fact that we had 4 or 5 people give up kendo because we had a real jerk in our class who ran them off. His kendo was very strong, but he was an uncouth smartass who teased people relentlessly. He was known even to make racist remarks and even after having been told to knock that crap off, he continued.

Kendo came VERY natual to this guy and, as I said, his kendo was very strong. I think he got bored with beating everybody on a regular basis and didn't feel he was getting much of a challenge anymore. He started to pour more energy into a get-rich-quick scheme, got a new girlfriend, and eventually had no time for us, so he quit.

Mixed emotions about it because he was a really good player, but in the end, I know I (for one) was grateful that he was gone because for a while there, we couldn't keep ANY new folks in class for more than a couple of months.

[PheliarearY]

Interesting thread.

I've done Kendo for 24 of my 34 years on earth so it would take a lot at this point.

- Health issues. A severe injury would likely not stop me, but an illness might. Hard to say.

- Difficulty dealing with everyone quitting every few years and starting over. This cycle gets old after a while.

- Politics.

- Having children. I've been married for 9 years, but do not have any children yet. Who knows what will happen when I do have children.

- Money. Going to tournaments, seminars, and other events gets expensive.

Other than that, I can't see myself quitting.

I opened my Grand Rapids Kendo Kai in 2004 and I was told that we've already had about 300 people come and go. Wow. I've heard every reason from "wife happens" to "I got a job at McDonalds."

I guess that since I had trouble coming up with reasons for quitting I won't be doing so anytime soon.

[911_993_911]

About the question, I don't plan to quit kendo like ever... I hope I can keep my promise and life don't turn against my will

[avarberickibe]

I think health reasons would be the only thing for me. I don't mean " I got hurt and don't wanna anymore"... I mean physically unable to do kendo at all. Even then if I were able to help out with our club I would probably still stay in the loop so to speak.

[xtc2d6u8]

I've done Kendo for 24 of my 34 years on earth so it would take a lot at this point.

I've got the same time in, and no intention of stopping.
- Health issues. A severe injury would likely not stop me, but an illness might. Hard to say. I think this is the only thing that's out of our hands. Tough to swing a shinai from a hospital bed.
- Difficulty dealing with everyone quitting every few years and starting over. This cycle gets old after a while. And you've only just started running a club. Oddly enough, as the years pile up and you start to collect some lifers, all the beginners coming and going just gets to be noise. Take pride in the ones you keep, they are your accomplishment as an instructor.
- Politics. These are ugly, but we manage to avoid them by ignoring them.
- Having children. I've been married for 9 years, but do not have any children yet. Who knows what will happen when I do have children. Didn't stop me or many other people.
- Money. Going to tournaments, seminars, and other events gets expensive. You don't need to hit the tournaments to keep practicing.

[BruceQW]

Very true Gendzwill-San, I'll keep your words in mind. Thank you.

I'm sure I'll be around for a while yet.

[Boripiomi]

I think if some kid from my school joined my dojo that'd be it for me. It's selfish, but I would hate having to talk to whoever it was about Kendo at school, Kendo is something I'd like to pursue alone. But that'll probably not happen seeing my dojo is an hour away and I only have one more year of high school left so it doesn't matter. That's about it though.

[Marlboro-oroblraM]

I think if some kid from my school joined my dojo that'd be it for me. It's selfish, but I would hate having to talk to whoever it was about Kendo at school, Kendo is something I'd like to pursue alone. But that'll probably not happen seeing my dojo is an hour away and I only have one more year of high school left so it doesn't matter. That's about it though.

This is a view of Kendo that I haven't heard of. Most of us can only wish to be able to go about our daily lives and be able to chat Kendo issues with friends outside of the dojo...or even at least know what you are talking about with having to explain what it is.

Why do you feel the need to practice alone anyways MSPaintClock? Kendo is something that requires another person, so antisocial behavior really will only hurt you in the long run. Besides, me thinks that it would be a glorious day where I could go to class/work and talk to a friend about Kendo stuffs since it's rare enough as it is. I guess just a little explaination is in order to really understand what you mean before anybody jumps the gun on assessing your personality (if that is something you desire to do, of course).

As for me quitting Kendo, I think that the only two things that would make me outright have to quit would be my health and job. I'm doing my best to apply in places that have Kendo dojos within reasonable distance so I can continue on with Kendo without a hitch. All I can do about the health issue is to take care of my body so I can do things well into my 60s and 70s.

[Barbshowers]

I suppose that when I die I might give some thought to quitting.

[plalleste]

I will stop kendo when I stop enjoying it... I realize it's a dumb answer but I have to remind myself that kendo is a recreational activity for me. It's my one chance to get away from work and family and do my thing. My son does kendo when he's in Korea and we practice together on weekends but it's more of a fun activity as opposed to keiko.

My dojo should start a children class in the next couple of years. We're up to 7 children of the kenshi in the dojo who want to learn. We're just waiting for all of the children to be at least 5 years old and to find a "volunteer" to teach. I hope I will be able to enjoy keiko with my children. If I see that my presence is causing problems, I will remove myself, unless I get stuck teaching it...

Sickness is the only thing that is out of my control. Anything else, I think I can probably find a solution if I want to and enjoy it...

[ireleda]

Why do you feel the need to practice alone anyways MSPaintClock? Kendo is something that requires another person, so antisocial behavior really will only hurt you in the long run. Besides, me thinks that it would be a glorious day where I could go to class/work and talk to a friend about Kendo stuffs since it's rare enough as it is. I guess just a little explaination is in order to really understand what you mean before anybody jumps the gun on assessing your personality (if that is something you desire to do, of course).

I don't like talking about Kendo outside of Kendo. Just like how I don't like to talk about school outside of school. How I see it, sharing interests with someone who is more interested in the intrest than you are is annoying. I'm alright with practicing with people at my dojo because I generally see them once a week, not saying that I wouldn't mind hanging out with them more but I'd prefer not too, it'd be awkward. I don't know any of you guys and I can choose when I want to post on this forum, so it's not the same. I hope this makes some sense.

[wllsqyuipknczx]

I suck too much to quit. Give me ten years or so and I'll think about it.


Unless I am dead in the meantime...obviously that would be a hinderance.

[Pvfcadbh]

if i have to move somewhere in the middle of nowhere with no kendo, then i'd start a dojo. and travel to the nearest dojos more...

if i have kids and a wife someday, i would probably get them to practice or allow me some time to practice. i wouldn't marry a girl who doesn't understand my love for kendo in the first place anyway, so i don't think that'd be a problem...

politics... i try to stay out of it and be friends with everyone equally!

so i don't think i'm quitting anytime soon... even if gangsters shoot my legs and arms i would come back as robocop, lol