Quote:
Originally Posted by Tenchu
That is not true.
Anyway, why learn a weapon if you never could use it?
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Oh yes it IS true. If you belonged to a proper kendo dojo you'd know this. Go visit the Bankok Kendo Dojo and ask their sensei. He'd tell you that, too.
If we used real swords in the dojo, there would be serious injuries and even deaths. Any fool should know real swords are sharp. Even Iaito(Very thin blunt edged sword) can cut and even kill a person.
There IS a time when a type of real sword is used in kendo, and you will never learn to use a real sword from it.
In KATA ONLY, the only time iaito, a blunt-edged sword(never live blade-meaning sharp) are ever used in kendo is when high ranked(5th dan and up) sensei are doing a demonstration at a place such as a seminar. That is the ONLY exception. There is NO contact involved.
I didn't mention this before, because I think you mean swords are used by everybody in kendo, when they are NOT. So, that is what I was referring to. I should have mentioned the kata demonstration w/swords bit in my previous post, but didn't think it necessary. But, I guess it was. Sorry about that. But still, you will not ever learn to use a real sword in kendo, because it is WAY too dangerous. There are serious control issues and real swords are NOT SAFE for use by students or anyone else, due to the speed the kata is done, once it is learned. We never EVER spar with swords either in legitimate dojo.
There ARE idiots out there who do, but they are always untrained people who have taught themselves. I've seen some pretty awful stuff...
It's unfortunate.
And, swords are never EVER used otherwise in kendo because of the fact that they are sharp, even if you use Iaito.
No offense, but your last sentence is a very unsensible question. Try using your brain please. Why? Because the law says you cannot use it. Not sure about Thailand, but here in the US, if you use a sword on someone you'll get arrested and tossed in jail. If you kill someone, well... forget life outside jail. You'll be there for a long time. You can't even legally carry one with you for protection. The Samurai are gone. Deal with it. The only thing you are allowed to do, is transport it in it's case to and from the dojo.
While kendo does not teach how to use a real sword, both Kenjutsu and Iaido do. There is no sparring in either art, and you only do solo kata.
You use a bokuto for a long time until the sensei gives permission to buy an iaito he/she approves of. Live blades are not allowed for 5-6 years at least, for obvious reasons. Sensei has to decide if you have enough control. Some never are allowed a live blade.
Paired kata in those arts is not learned until the highest levels due to the dangers of using such swords, and control is a MUST, since the kata simulate actual situations. There is no contact in the paired kata
You need to know that a legit sensei would kick you out of the dojo for using a sword for hurting someone or for carrying it around for protection. Once you get accepted as a student in any sword art, you then represent your dojo and what you do reflects on the dojo. And, they only take serious people not into being a samurai and all that. So, studying a real swordart is more serious than you think.
If you want to learn about why to study a swordart if you can't use a sword, you should visit koryu.com and read the article titled "A Koryu Primer." It's very informative and was written by a highly respected sensei. There's a lot more to studying a traditional, legit swordart than you think. If you can't be bothered to read that, then you aren't serious about it.
Kendo is as serious as a traditional koryu, so expect to get kicked out of a kendo dojo for the above as well. Kendo sensei don't want some sword wielding backyard Samurai nut in their dojo either.
If you want more information on why we study kendo, please visit the AUSKF website. Type
AUSKF into your favorite search engine and the page will appear. I'd have given you links, but I'm on a pocket PC, and it's hard to go get links, since I can't open a 2nd window. Sorry about that.
Well, now you have been given lots of stuff to read, so read before posting please.
Kaoru
Kaoru