2 worlds

[Tuna]

i frequently make the experience while talking with friends who have nothing to do with Shorinji Kempo,they stop listening when i only mention the word and it's not a normal desinterest...they don't want to hear anything about it.
only mentioning the word "Sensei" make them think Shorinji Kempo is a cult.
it's really stupid to avoid saying anything concerning Shorinji Kempo,because it plays an important role in my life.
do you draw a big line between the "Shorinji Kempo" world and the "outer world"?
how to reach people if you are not able to reach your own friends???

[KayJay]

Everyone has their interests, and martial arts may not be theirs. You are basically speaking another language to your friends. And this not only applies with Shorinji Kempo but all types.
Why not invite your friends to observe one of your classes? It might fill them in that what you enjoy doing is not from another world...perhaps they even may gain an interest in doing it also.

My daughter and husband were the same way. I could tell them about my classes and I'll get that deer in the headlike look. No interest. However, my daughter did finally sit through a class (after, I hate to admit, I bribed her), and she took a definite interest in what we do. Although she hasn't an interest in joining due to her schedule, but she now relates to what I talk about.

[David Anderson]

Dominik -- Your enthusiasm for S-Kempo is natural and understandable, but you might be better off simply not talking about it with your friends. I would venture to guess that your friends are in their late teens, and are uncomfortable with people who have made such a deep committment to something 'odd' [in their view at least].

If your friends know about your activities, and you live up to the ideals of your organization, you don't have to say anything more. If they decide to take an interest, it will be because of the kind of person you are, not because you have bent their ears about it.

[Luar]

i frequently make the experience while talking with friends who have nothing to do with Shorinji Kempo,they stop listening when i only mention the word and it's not a normal desinterest...they don't want to hear anything about it.
only mentioning the word "Sensei" make them think Shorinji Kempo is a cult.
it's really stupid to avoid saying anything concerning Shorinji Kempo,because it plays an important role in my life.
do you draw a big line between the "Shorinji Kempo" world and the "outer world"?
how to reach people if you are not able to reach your own friends???

Dominik - Do you practice at Aosaka Sensei's branch and did we meet there last November?

[Gordon Nore]

i frequently make the experience while talking with friends who have nothing to do with Shorinji Kempo,they stop listening when i only mention the word and it's not a normal desinterest...they don't want to hear anything about it.
It's very difficult for people to talk about an activity that they don't know about and have never done. I suggest you talk martial arts with your martial arts friends. As for your outside friends, if you see them as outsiders, then that is how they will see you.

only mentioning the word "Sensei" make them think Shorinji Kempo is a cult.
That's not a big surprise. I remember what it was like to be 19. Deferring to authority wasn't "cool" when I was that age.

how to reach people if you are not able to reach your own friends???
Whom do you need to "reach"? Just because you practise a martial art, or any other activity, doesn't mean you're required to recruit others to it.

Enjoy your art, train hard, don't worry about your friends. That's my advice, anyway.

[AllanJGAnderson]

I think this applys to everything realy, I myself, tend to tone out my girlfriend's shopping stories, manicure babble and what not. I'm 100% possitive she does the same when I have a great HKD class and don't stop repeating terms she doesn't understand. Or when my nerdy(er) friends talk about video games, I think it's just a matter of interest. The fact that we as martial artists tend to use lots of unfamiliar terms that don't always have a good english counterpart (Uke, Sensei, Randori ect..) just makes it harder to listen to or mis-interprut and thus not care, or make an effort to understand.
As for 'two worlds' I would follow Gordon's advice, and while we're distinguishing people, pick up a copy of Forest E. Morgan's 'Living the Martial Way' hands down the most clear-cut book on warriorship.

[Tuna]

Dominik - Do you practice at Aosaka Sensei's branch and did we meet there last November?
no.




Whom do you need to "reach"? Just because you practise a martial art, or any other activity, doesn't mean you're required to recruit others to it.
yes,i meant it more philosophically...

[Kimpatsu]

Dominik, il me pareil que maintenant, les jeunes gens regardent les arts martieux de manquer le savoir-faire qu'ils demandent. "C'est pas le gaz."
Donc, n'importe que les efforts de les faire comprendre ce qui est le Shorinji Kempo que vous faites, enfin sera impossible d'atteindre votre but, par-ce qu'on manque ce qu'ils cherchent.
Malgre que, selon moi aussi, ca c'est tant pis...
Votre ami,

[Tripitaka of AA]

Tony, Dominik is I believe, a speaker of German, not French. Clearly his surname has misled you...

On the other hand, given the typical level of language skill among Europeans, he probably speaks French, Italian, German and Russian far better than I manage to mangle English :).

[Luar]

Tony, Dominik is I believe, a speaker of German, not French. Clearly his surname has misled you...

On the other hand, given the typical level of language skill among Europeans, he probably speaks French, Italian, German and Russian far better than I manage to mangle English :).

What no Spanish???? :eek:

[Tripitaka of AA]

Oops, sorry Raul... but then, I'm British, famously lazy whe it comes to foreign languages (as in most things, Tony is exceptional ;) ).