Suggestions with looking after teen kendoka.

[StanLee]

I know that this should go in the Daily Dojo section, but placed it here because I would get more people to look at it.

The situation. I have been asked by my kendo dojocho to accompany him and the children of our kendo dojo to the International Embu Taki in Edinburgh on the 3rd-4th July.

Although I am not competing or demonstrating, I offered my services to help out on the trip.

So, I manage to have a chat with him after practice the other day to find out more info.

To my suprise / horror... I am tasked with looking after the teenage kendoka. There are around 6-8 of them with ages ranging between 16 to 18.

Not only am I making sure they "behave" on the journey from London to Edinburgh, there's an after embu party with the hachidan senseis from japan where many drinks will flow. I was thus asked to make sure the teens don't overdo it and embarrase the dojo.

Here's some more background info. I don't really know the teens that well, in fact all of them have been doing kendo for much much longer than I have. However, I'd like to think I am slightly more mature :D both mentally and budo wise. They may not "respect my authority" since I have not earnt it from them. All of the teens are also Japanese (with a British upbringing I think).

Therefore I would like to ask budoseek to advice me on this situation.

How should I keep them in check without spoiling the atmosphere. I have already decided to introduce myself to them and be friendly, as supposed to being stern.

All suggestions welcome!

Thanks.

[Ewok85]

Got a shinken? :eek:

If they are good kendoka they should understand that embarassing the dojo is a big nono and act good enough.

[nosh276]

To keep them from doing things they shouldn't put slightly cut tape going from the door to the door frame, if they leave the room it will break and you will know. Make sure they know that it's there. Don't be overbearing, give them free time to wander, shop etc, without a guardian. Be strict on meeting places and times. Eat with them at dinner. I hope that helps with relations and discipline.

[stella fuentes]

most teenagers usually toe the line when the rules are clear cut and they feel as if they are given a "choice'. Between being remembered as the group/dojo that was the most disciplined and the most sotted, and the prospect that not a lot of guest hachidan/teachers might want to visit a dojo that has ill disciplined students...i think they will choose to act with honor.

have a talk with them, let them know it's not just their own selves but also the whole dojo or body that will be reflected by their behavior, and their senseis as well.

i hope this helps. :)

[StanLee]

Thank for the replies so far.

Leon, I do own a shinken and I know how to use it!

Brandon and Stella, both great advice. Will try to put it to good use.

[StanLee]

Anyone else with any comments?

[raindown]

yeah I have a comment.

At 18 years old I was paying for college, living in an apartment with my girlfriend (paying for that too) going to work on time, Paying my phone bill on time and helping old ladies across the street. I’m 20 now, so I’m not talking about a long time ago.

You are underestimating the capacity of a mature teenager .Especially one with a background in budo. Its mildly insulting, but I digress.

I am completely self sufficient and under control (more then a lot of 40 year olds I know)

So lets not kid out selves into thinking that teenagers are wild beasts.

-thank you

[raindown]

oh, and if you want my advice on how to chaperone them:

Talk to the oldest teens privately. Ask for their help in controlling the other ones. This will give them a sense of responsibility and it will let them know that you respect them. Tell them 'thank you' and tell them how much you appreciate it. They will straiten their backs suddenly and feel 10 years older.

What ever you do don’t treat them like children. They will rebel like children.

Oh and its beter if you respect them as humans (They eat, drink, have sex, smoke, and sleep the same way you do.)

Just remember that.

[The Nephilim]

Stan, see my reply on AMA. It has been repeated with the other posters a to what you should do. But we all say the same thing. So no worries next weekend.

Have fun. :D

[StanLee]

yeah I have a comment.

At 18 years old I was paying for college, living in an apartment with my girlfriend (paying for that too) going to work on time, Paying my phone bill on time and helping old ladies across the street. I’m 20 now, so I’m not talking about a long time ago.

You are underestimating the capacity of a mature teenager .Especially one with a background in budo. Its mildly insulting, but I digress.

I am completely self sufficient and under control (more then a lot of 40 year olds I know)

So lets not kid out selves into thinking that teenagers are wild beasts.

-thank you

Reilly, let's not get on the offensive straight away! I do understand that not all teenagers are wild beasts" yet I have also seen a lot of them causing trouble. I'm from an area of London where the majority of crime is committed by teenagers.

Yes your situation is extreamly different, and my background was distantly similar to yours, apart from paying my own bills. However, you have not met these "young adults" and I have as much of a clue to their behaviour as you do. Not all teenagers are as well informed about life as you are already. Many are mollycoddled by their protective parents well into their 30's!

As to them being mature teenagers, I too am not sure about that. I will have to wait and see. I hope you'll understand that there is a group of them, and in my experience, that tends to create "laddish" behaviour with everyone in the group feeding off each other.

Thank you for your advice anyway, but please don't sound too condesending, I have taken time to carefully post my thread without being biased so as to give neutral ground where others can constructively dicuss this slight problem I may encounter.