Kendo and Boy Scout
 

Any of you are in scout ? My son is in Boy scout and I was wondering if he can do Kendo as one of his activity but I just found this on scout website.

Boxing, karate, and related martial arts—except judo, aikido, and Tai Chi—are not authorized activities.

Does anyone has any experience before ??

I think it will depend more on the local council and your son's troop than anything else. I have to admit that my time with the BSA was more than 30 years ago, so my experience could well be out of date.

Are striking arts too violent for scouts? What's the rationale?

I wasn't aware that they had any restrictions on outside activities. Unless you're asking if they can do kendo as a part of some BSA function? I can see not wanting some of that stuff to be in official functions for insurance reasons, otherwise they really can't enforce any other rules. I doubt that it's considered "too violent" since they have archery and the use and care of firearms in their various camp related activities.



(got my eagle scout thing a while back)

Boxing, karate, and related martial arts—except judo, aikido, and Tai Chi—are not authorized activities.


I don't know the first thing about boy scouts but think of it this way, it doesn't say he can't . I hardly think boxing and karate are related to kendo at all and in aikido we do bokken kata and occasionally try and hit each other with shinai so I wouldn't see any problems. It looks like they're discouraging martial arts that are typically thought of as encouraging an agressive or violent mindset, at least they haven't called Kendo out specifically.

The BSA is very terrified of anything that could get you hurt.....In any way. When I was in scouts I attended several Horsemanship camps and they never let you run the horses for fear that someone would fall off. I am afraid that basket weaving is a bout as close as you will get to BSA authorized Martial activity.

Your troop/intstructor must have sucked. We used to go hunting and stuff.

Remember that the Boy Scouts of "AMERICA" that mens Boy Scouts of "a country that is just waiting to sue anyone we can so we can get a free ride and shun all of our responsibilities." If we were some where else we would prolly have the "Alligator Wrestling" merit badge, or an award for BASE jumping. I do believe there is a litigation merit badge in the works tho.

Disclaimer: This is meant as a slap to all the Lawsuit happy peeps in the US not the BSA.....please dont sue me.

Does anyone has any experience before ?? I was Scoutmaster for quite a number of years, so I will try and clarify for you. Kendo is not an acceptable SCOUTING activity. This means that the Boy Scouts of America has no set safety plan for it, so it is not allowed at Scout camps or meetings. This has no bearing at all on what your son does outside of Scouting, and kendo would make a wonderful addition as the teachings of kendo are in tune with the teachings of the BSA.

He is trying to get merit badge for sports. He has to do two sports for few months. I thought soccer is one and the other is for kendo. Do you think Kendo can be added as part of sports activity ?

I wouldnt see why not. Its not lie the whole troop is doing it as a "Scout" function. I think thats where the BSA'a concern comes in. I would ask the scout master and if he does not know check with your local council.

He is trying to get merit badge for sports. He has to do two sports for few months. I thought soccer is one and the other is for kendo. Do you think Kendo can be added as part of sports activity ? I agree with Dan in that it shouldn't be a problem. He should have a merit badge counselor assigned to help him with the merit badge. This is the person that verifies that the work for the merit badge was completed. He (or she) is the one with the ultimate decision as to whether it is acceptable or not. However, I don't see that it should be a problem. Your troop advancement coordinator could also give you a definite answer, but your first line for questions should be the merit badge counselor.

From the BSA site
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/...s/mb-SPOR.aspx


4. Take part for one season (or four months) as a competitive individual or as a member of an organized team in TWO of the following sports: baseball, basketball, bowling, cross-country, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, water polo. Your counselor may approve in advance other recognized sports, but not any sport that is restricted and not authorized by the Boy Scouts of America. Then with your chosen sports do the following:

Blah, blah, blah

and then the restricted activities as posted above
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/...S/gss09.aspx#e

Boxing, karate, and related martial arts—except judo, aikido, and Tai Chi—are not authorized activities.
The only reference to fencing I could find was putting a fence around a garden, so it does not look promising.

I love it. They dont want you to practice punching someone, but you can have your arms ripped off in Judo. Gentle way......Ha!

You ain't kiddin'. I broke my collar bone twice doing judo.

I love being an Eagle Scout and a Yondan. Scouting taught me how to have that fighting spirit. How else would you be able to survive in the woods and deal with the scoutmaster's son.

The deal is (as I understand it) that BSA considers judo, tai chi, and aikido as defensive arts whereas karate, TKD, and likely kendo as offensive arts. Iaido may be able to be approved by the BSA since there is no striking involved.

see neils post re judo in school in japan
http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/sho...03-Judo-Deaths

I've already read that. The questions were regarding the BSA and its policies.

Instead of the offensive vs defensive nature of the art, I'd argue with the tactic that kendo, like aikido, is primarily concerned with the self development of the student rather than combat ability. Some educating of the approving body may be required. I'd bet judo was included because the founder, and other early pioneers, pushed rather strongly the philosophy of non aggressiveness that makes people think it's a fluffy bunny art. I think kendo would qualify as less aggressive than judo if people were educated properly.