virtual kendo!

[Uesugi Kenshin]

hey all, i figured you kendo players would get a kick out of this:

http://www.ananet.or.jp/abc/oasis/KD/

its in japanese but its fairly straight forward...uberfun
You are the on on the left side.
The buttons in the black space under the players are men(top) doh(middle) and kote(bottom) you can move your guy forward or back by just dragging your mouse along the black space under the players.

Well thats all for now, cheers

[coin]

Wohoo! We need more cyber ma! :D
Forgive my ignorance, but why does not Kendo also use Jodan/Chudan/Gedan instead of Men/Doh/Kote?
What's the difference in meaning (if any)?

[Charlie Kondek]

Originally posted by coin
Forgive my ignorance, but why does not Kendo also use Jodan/Chudan/Gedan instead of Men/Doh/Kote?

It does. The video-game doesn't! :D

But seriously, you'll see jodan fighting sometimes and gedan rarely. Usually, learning to do the chudan well is enough to keep one busy for one's entire kendo career. Plus, there's strategic differences in the different postures, and if those strategies don't fit in with your strengths as a fighter, then you shouldn't bother using them. For instance, jodan is a very aggressive kamae, sacrificing some aspects of defence for an edge in attack (from what little I know - I've never formally studied jodan). Clearly, jodan isn't for everyone. Just overbearing ego-trippers... Whoops! I've said too much!

(Just kidding, anyway! ;) )

[coin]

Ah, cool. :D Just trying to make sense out of this entire martial art chaos I've found myself in now that I've engaged myself a little more in japanese styles. ;)

And yeah, from what I've heard, leg attacks aren't that common in kendo. But that's nothing I could really back up with proof, so hold the flames. :)

Anyway, thanks for the clarification.

[Charlie Kondek]

Originally posted by coin
And yeah, from what I've heard, leg attacks aren't that common in kendo. But that's nothing I could really back up with proof, so hold the flames.

You are correct. Leg attacks are not only not common, they are forbidden. After all, there's no armor there, no safe way to attack them.

What styles do you do, my friend? (I'll read your profile after this...)

[coin]

What styles do you do, my friend? (I'll read your profile after this...)

*blushes*
I'm kind of new to all of this. The short version is as follows:
(I don't know if there is a place for personal presentations, where this should be posted instead..)

A friend of mine with experience in martial arts convinced me that it would be a good idea to start practicing Eskrima with him last autumn, since he wanted to try it out but he didn't want to do it on his own. That was the first ever contact with martial arts, and organized sports outside of/since school, for me.
In january this year I saw a note at the training place announcing a Bukido-jutsu course (japanese weapons training), which I learned was mainly intended for the ju-jutsu practicing people. (This training place houses a lot of different ma's, as Taek-won do, Krav Maga, Wing Chun Kung Fu, etc etc.)
So I decided to have a go for it, since I'm a big fan (in the anime-dorky kind of way) of everything japanese. And I find especially the bo staff and the jo to be attractive weapons, both which we would learn in the bukido-jutsu class.
And while doing this (only one hour a week though :( ), I discovered that japanese martial arts seemed to be what I was searching for..
And since I've been looking for something which can be used in a more "relaxing" manner, not to say meditative, I decided to sign up for an Iaido class starting this august.

Sorry. :D It wasn't so short after all.. Here is a mini run down: I have less than one year experience of martial arts. I probably hardly know anything about it except the basic media misconception and internet confusion. I try to learn the basic japanese needed to understand what people mean when saying jodan-uchi (but it's never enough it seems. :))

I didn't mean to be rambling away like this, so it became a lot longer than I expected.

PS. I have absolutely no idea of how to spell certain words used above, for example "ju-jutsu" and "wing chun". I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. ;) DS.

[Charles Mahan]

I must be missing something. I've never found Iai to be especially relaxing. At least no more relaxing, than driving around the Dallas highways. I come off the mat a bit drained. Takes a lot of concentration and focus to do it right. Two things which do not go well with relaxation in my experience.

[coin]

You might be right.. And for all I know, Iaido might be something I really hate, I just haven't had a chance to try it yet.

But I was probably also in error when using the word "relaxing". Maybe "consuming" is a better word? (I'm trying really hard to find a word, but I think "consuming" is the best I can do for now.. Do I make sense?)

[Charles Mahan]

Still searching for that word myself :D

[Charlie Kondek]

Well, coin, it sounds like you're on the right path! Sounds like there is a wealth of martial arts at the place where you're practicing. I wish you well on your journey. Stick with it and keep hanging around here, there's lots to be learned.

P.S. I think there's a really good kendo dojo in Gotheburg. Do you know it? A friend of mine practices there - he started in the states but moved back to Sweden.

[coin]

Actually, the Iaido practice is organized by a small club, hiring space in another dojo, so neither Iaido nor Kendo is practiced there. But that was not really a problem, since the hours worked out great. :)

I know that there are Kendo clubs in gothenburg, but I haven't looked into it yet. I wanted to start out with Iaido to see how well I harmonize with a sword before throwing myself into action. ;)

[Charlie Kondek]

Oh, right on. I only meant, you could go watch the practice and see what it was all about. People entering the arts should pick iaido or kendo and stick with just the one at first, then cross-train in both if possible or if interested. Unless you're entering a koryu, where the rules are different.

[Charles Mahan]

Originally posted by SanjuroUSA

Do you really practice Iaido on a mat or was that a figurative word?
Polished wooden floor is easier on your feets.

We share the dojo with an Aikido group so there is a layer of wrestling mats on the ground, but it is covered by a very short tight knit berber carpet. Very firm actually, but just enough give that we do not need knee pads. The poor aikido group still has to use crash mats on top, because taking a hard fall on the carpet would suck :D

The transition to hardwood and pads is not that bad once you get used to the ease of sliding, and the carpet teaches you not to drag your feet.

Mostly I was using it as a figure of speech though ;)

[Jack B]

Actually, Charles, the front half of the mat is pretty soft and okay for falls if you know how to take them. The back half, however, reminds me of the Judo tournament we set up once with un-broken-in Swain tatami on top of concrete at the Fair Park Coliseum. Stings just a bit. Us older guys stay near the door. :D