Jason does Kendo (剣道）- Part Two

[crustypaynus]

bleach opening 5 nice :_)

[Yaklich]

Love the music from Bleach in the background haha :D I've been watching your vids regarding Japan and it's very cool that you did all the vids, they've been very helpful. I plan on applying to the Jet Programme this November to be an ALT and here's hoping I get accepted!

[myargonauts]

@Yaklich best of luck!

[GengoNoTabi]

aa fond memories

[Ryokushindo]

Very cool video, thanks for sharing!!!

[myargonauts]

@Ryokushindo no worries- thanks for watching!

[SilverGunZoO]

jaaason, I now heard, you used my favorite song,

すごいー

[SilverGunZoO]

I recognize you easy from a distance with your armor on ^^

[myargonauts]

yes - it's always easy to pick me out in a crowd in Japan, even when I'm wearing kendo armor :)

[SilverGunZoO]

you look cool in it ^^

by the way I was thinking, don't you think kendo armor resembles a bit to the grim ripper's clothes ?

[bairoitojin]

Did you understand what the kids said when you took of the gear?

I only caught the word 「くそ〜」

[myargonauts]

@bairoitojin haha - it wouldn't surprise me if they did say that - as I'm sure I was rather smelly at the end -it was July after all - so hot!

[mieboy]

I know it!!!

Slow down ... I think so...isnT?

Great videos! I love Shimane too...been linving here for 3 years...

take care

[budoshumaker]

Meccha Sugoi Jason San....Domo for the two videos on your experiences with Kendo

[mooman126]

what is the song

[myargonauts]

hint - it's a Beatles song

[mooman126]

ok i like the song

[lostinxlation]

I expected that you would totally get owned by the kids with shinais. Well, they went easy on you... disappointment !! :D

[myargonauts]

ohh - there are outtakes - for my eyes only... :)

[TiramisuHappy]

You kept tapping the tip of shinai on the floor. That is an absolute no-no in Kendo. You're NEVER supposed to/allowed to touch the tip of the sword on the floor especially when you've got the full gear on. Just a friendly reminder from someone who grew up competing in the sport in schools. Now you know! : )

Nice practice keiko!

[MTassarion]

haha it's so funny you say that, because I learned the same thing. But today I had a kendo seminar with many 8-dan kendoka from Japan and one of them (the leader of the delegation) also tapped the floor with his shinai during shiai practice. I thought it was weird, but apparently it served some kind of purpose. But probably nothing that has much to do with kendo.

[SilverGunZoO]

hai hai and that is because you must respect your sword even if it's a bamboo sword, touching the tip of a katana would damage it's tip therefore you would not care for it, that's the explanation ^^, but sometimes it happens, for example after strong tsuki, it's not that big of a deal unless it's on purpose

[Ishidasouken]

well I can say what the first song is obviously: Yui - Rolling Star, a previous Bleach Opening

[Vreugdian]

Can you take Kendo lessons in Japan if your a foreigner? (I don't see why not). I would love to teach, eventually buld up the language and try some Kendo. Great music choice by the way!

[myargonauts]

many small towns will have adult kendo classes - often the local police force will all be kendo players - but you may have to speak Japanese at these classes.

My school sponsored a weekly Thurs-night community kendo practice for younger kids and adults, who would come to the school to work out with the JH team.

[Vreugdian]

Yeah thats what I was thinking.

[ryokosdesire]

I never met a rude person in Izumo. It seemed like everyone there went out of their way to help. Kendo looks like a lot of fun. I wish I got into something like that while I was there. Are you going to try and go back to Shimane for your job?

[myargonauts]

cross your fingers - I may be back in Izumo for my next ALT job :)

Details as they firm up.

[LSUHEBERT]

Will students ever horse around and pretend to be ancient warriors or other antics? The garb looked very important, almost sacred. Would play fighting be against the rules?

[myargonauts]

yeah - kids are kids - but there is a level of seriousness that prevails at practice - I don't know many other sports that include a one-minute meditation at the end of practice, etc.

Put a bamboo sword in the hands of a 13 year old boy tho and play fighting will occur. :)

[khmaster12]

This is awesome, Kendo looks like a fun sport. Extra points for using Rolling Days.

[iFukuyama]

u should really learn the word for under=P

[myargonauts]

I mix English in with the Japanese - my sly way of trying to get them to understand. But the vocab I need to learn is a long list... :)

[ryanscottlove]

Great video and a great song!

Slow Down - The Beatles =)

[myargonauts]

Bonus points!  :D

[klynik]

Cool stuff, Jason!

[joyjoyk6]

Strong teacher Jason!!

[ThePacificCrossing]

yesss YUI! last song i have no clue..

great pair of vids with this one Jason.

[myargonauts]

You know you've been in Japan a while when the Yui song is more recognizable than a song by The Beatles... :) (j/k - it is a somewhat obscure Beatles tune and I spliced out the vocals)

[MrOonter]

Nice video! I hate folding up my hakama and keiko-gi. It seems like such a chore but I suppose it's as important as any other part of kendo. I still can't fold it right. Gotta keep practicing. How about you?

[jea740]

it important for hakama so the lines will stay good, but mine got all messy in a year because i was to lazy to learn it but it is important,

[myargonauts]

yeah - I started to do it and as you can see from the last few still pics I must not have been doing it right since my kids took over and folded everything for me. :)

[thatjapanesegirl]

Hahaha. I thought you were wearing "tabi". That's cool you can do Kendo!

[myargonauts]

haha - no - just too much time spent indoors on YouTube and not enough time at the beach. :)

[MediaMaster9000]

This was such a great video! Thanks for posting. As for the last song, it doesn't even ring a bell. I wouldn't have thought that the 10 years between us would have made that much of a difference since my musical interests are, for the most part, about 10 years behind others my age.

Oh well, you've stumped me. At least I recognized Yui's song (Rolling Star). But I'm sure most people have/will.

[myargonauts]

last song is by 4 lads from Liverpool :)

[habiebiee]

hi jason, how are u doing these days?

anything new in your life? and how is the job hunting going?

hv a nice day and thanks for the videos :)

[myargonauts]

I've got applications due in the next month for my return to Japan in March 2010. So busy. :)

Have a nice day too!

[IHaveNoNameRawr]

W00T I was waiting on this video. The people there seem to like you a lot. :D

[myargonauts]

cool! glad you liked it :)

My kids were and remain awesome! I got lucky in my 5 years too - all the coaches were cool folks who didn't mind the overweight gaijin intruding on their practices.

[Degenskonto]

Eigo benkyoo! Says the punching bag lol

[InsaneClown2]

cool stuff! Im tellin ya all that gear suits you well

[myargonauts]

Should I wear it to my job interviews here in the States? :)

[shildrine]

hahaha i can see you doing that. :)

[Vreugdian]

You should wear that to your job interview!!