With the impending World Kendo Championships, I know that in Britain, and I ‘m sure in many other countries around the world, that there are many people who are hoping to make selection for their National Team. It is indeed a great honour to participate in such an event, and be a representative of one’s country. However, to be selected is no easy task, and I certainly cannot write a definitive guide on ‘how to be chosen’. However, as someone who has been lucky enough to be selected in the past, for European Championships and of course the World Championships, perhaps I can offer some advice at least to those trying out. Once again, I am keen to stress this article is not a definitive system of how to ensure selection, nor is it any reflection on how the British team is selected either – I’m simply not privy to that information.
Before even attempting to try out for your team, you have to decide whether or not you can cope with what will happen if you are selected. Believe it or not, it is not simply a case of showing up to a few taikai around the globe and having some enjoyable shiai. These shiai are very enjoyable, don’t get me wrong, but being a national representative means that it is no longer ‘a bit of fun’. How will you cope with the pressure of the kendo population of your country’s reputation resting on the result of your shiai? What are you going to do when you lose that match your really really wanted to win? for that matter, are you capable of really really wanting to win? Can you give the commitment to kendo, both emotionally and financially, that is required to be a team member?
You need to make every possible effort to improve at kendo, and in turn be noticed by the relevant people who will make the selection. If you make the decision to try out, doing kendo just-for-fun ends there and then. At the WKC there are professional players, i.e. those who play everyday, for hours on end, and do nothing else with their working lives. Although that is impossible for most of us, we must do our best to compete on their level. This means, get to every practice you can – if it means a 2 hour hour drive to attend practice, if you want it enough you’ll make the drive. Also ‘I don’t feel like it’ is a thought which should no longer exist, whether you feel like it or not, practicing as often as possible is of great importance. If your National Team has regular meets or training sessions, you must attend them. Not only are these opportunities to impress those who make selections, but also it builds team spirit, an element of international shiai that is crucially important.
When you do practice don’t just run though the motions, always push yourself to the limit and beyond, not just when you think your coach or sensei is looking – there are often more eyes watching you than you think. Be prepared to spend money, obviously this is not easy, and believe me, I am not sat here typing this out on a diamond encrusted keyboard. When I was first selected for the GB team I was a student, yes I leant on my family, I worked a lot and I racked up some debt, but it has paid dividends as I have achieved many of my goals so far.
The commitment places a lot of strain on your family and social life, especially if you are married and/or have kids. There is no solution for this unfortunately (as far as I’m aware), you are either able to cope with this strain or you are not. Though if there is a solution to this then someone please let me in on the secret! I can assure you it is not cured by taking a kendo-bride…
One thing that many hopeful’s forget, is that being at National Team member means that you are a representative of your Country, Association and it’s members. Although this seems obvious this means that you should wear your hakama and dougi correctly at all times, and your bougu neatly. Correct behaviour on the shiai-jo is incredibly important. That means no tantrums when you lose, or making inappropriate gestures towards the shinpan when you are scored against. Obviously you mustn’t celebrate victory on the shiai-jo. Less obvious is that the kendo that you do also holds great importance. Of course, if you do kendo that looks beautiful, but are unable to spot a chance to make ippon during shiai, you are unlikely to be chosen. Conversely, if you are great at hitting ippon, but your kendo looks awful you will probably still not be considered. We must strive to do effective kendo that is aesthetically pleasing, this is difficult, but not impossible, it is not the so called ‘shiai-kendo’ that truly finds success in shiai, but simply good kendo…
As stated at the start of this article, this is simply my advice, based on my experience and the strategy I use when trying out for selection for the National Team in my country. It has been successful so far, and hopefully, if National Team membership is your ambition it will be of some use.
Great post Andy.
For sure our biggest problem has been with people dropping out over the course of the few months before the championships was that they either didn’t anticipate the level of commitment to attend trainings (both national and club) or they didn’t realise the financial implications.
And your also right about the kendo wife not being the solution, but it helps
Very encouraging indeed. I would like to add that all the prerequisites you mentioned (commitment, sweat, proper behavior and such) should be met or at least an attempt to meet the standards you just described.
I think I would have more fights at home with a Kendo wife…..
A supportive partner, wife and workplace are desirable. Without at least two of those, it’s just impossible. No-one does it on their own. b
Oops! I meant to say “supportive partner, FAMILY and workplace”. Pick any two. b
Thank you Andy!
This is a great help for my goal of becoming a National Team member one day.
Although you said this isn’t a definitive guide, I find it greatly helpful.
Cheers.
Nice article Andy!!
One side of the coin that Andy doesn’t mention is that you have to be prepared for the time when you are no longer a team member, be that because of age, other commitments, injury, distance, and what have you. I speak with personal experience when I say that – after 3 years of living and breathing kendo for national team I moved to Japan and was no longer acceptable as a squad member (under the then rules of the British Kendo Association). What this meant is that my reason for doing kendo along with the support of my sempai, kohai, the association all dissapeared (at once). Suddenly I was by myself and re-accessing why I was doing kendo, what and who for.
Of course, I got over this, but it wasn’t without some personal stress and not a little bit of frustration. I was so annoyed at not being able to be selected for the last WKC (in Taiwan) that I could’t bring myself to go on the short 2hr plane ride from Osaka to watch and support my friends. I regret that now and see it as a pretty childish action.
However, now I am in the situation where – even if I cannot be selected – I am more than willing to go out of pocket and spend my time and money helping the British Team and British kendo in anyway I can, be it bed space, beer, I.T. work, what have you.
(Actually, not just the British team, but I am more than happy to help any foreign kenshi… but I do have a soft spot for the U.K.!)
Actually, Andy will be staying with me in Osaka this weekend, doing lots of kendo (peppered with some beer afterwards). His making an effort to come to Osaka is also testament to his effort and seriousness about kendo and the squad. It also give me a chance to extend my help – small as it may be – to my kohai.
Good luck to everyone trying out for the next WKC!!!