Through kendo eyes

[J. F. McBrayer]

I'm going to have to agree with Szabolcs Waldmann on this. There's no need for any of us to flame the kendoists. Kendo, like sport fencing, is what it is, and it's just not what we're interested in. If what we are studying is legitimate, it can stand on its own without having to bring other peoples' hobbies down.

[John_Clements]

FYI, on our example videos we don’t “stage” anything. I personally have NEVER staged anything in such a display.

Such instructional or example videos present an example of executing various counter-techniques with proper energy, speed, and range. The video in question was in no way a sample of free-play or sparring (there are plenty of those on our website already for comparison).

As in any serious martial art, during instructional demonstrations or exhibitions I will tell my partner to make certain attacks or deliver certain techniques at various speeds and energy. Sometimes I am specific on what type so a proper counter to it can be safely executed, at other times they are told to just strike to a certain location or along a certain angle. The less foreknowledge they have of my intention the more natural the result will be. Often I have no conception of what counter I will perform until I perceive their attack. But nothing is ever "staged". The energy is real but controlled, the timing is real, the range is correct, and the intensity is genuine but safe.

Otherwise you end up with the soft and slow crap that so many in our craft today try to pass off as being "authentic" when it would get them killed if attempted for real.

JC

[Cory Watkins]

There is no need to flame them as a whole, but yall tangled with an exceptionaly arrogant bunch on that forum. I have a great deal of respect for my own teachers and fellow students. I also have a great deal of respect for many other practitioners of kendo. That lot however.....weell there are a few i still respect.