We studied the differences between the views of school children and instructors on kendo, considering the length of the children's experience and the instructors' Dan-i, or rank. Our aim was to determine how to popularize kendo among children and to enhance their desire to practice. We compared the children's views with those of instructors and drew the following conclusions:
The conclusion of this study may be summarized as follows.
1. The school children had a strong desire to win matches and improve their skills. They were positive for “Other school events than kendo practice”, “Positive effect of kendo practice”, “Characteristics of kendo skill”, “Popularization of kendo”, and “Teaching method of instructors”. But they were negative for “Traditional behavior and manner”, “Positive feeling for instructors”, and “Effect of kendo practice on school performance”.
2. Instructors had a strong desire to focus on spirit and made much of the good points of teaching kendo. They were positive for “Matches are necessary for the popularization of kendo”, “Kendo is more educational than other sports”, and “Popularization of kendo in foreign countries”.
3. Students who had less experience of kendo practice were more positive and felt more satisfaction than those who had much experience. The former group had a strong desire to practice match style in order to participate in matches, and had a positive impression of their instructors.
4. Kendo instructors who had a higher rank were more positive toward teaching kendo than those with a lower rank. The latter had the strongest desire to put great priority on spirit. The former had the strongest desire to find the good points of teaching kendo. They also had a stronger desire to give priority to teaching “Nippon Kendo Kata”, to consider the relation between the number of kendo practitioners and kendo lessons, to conduct events other than kendo practice, and to focus on victory. Instructors with a lower rank saw no distinctive difference between teaching adult beginners and teaching children.
5. Children were more negative than instructors for “Traditional courtesy and manner in kendo”, “Effect on school performance”, and “Affection and longing for instructors”. They were more positive for “School events other than kendo practice” and “Enthusiasm for making kendo an Olympic sport”.
There are two big goals for popularizing kendo among school children: to enhance their desire to keep up kendo practice, and to gain more beginners.
To enhance their desire to keep up their practice, instructors have to be creative and to motivate the children. They also have to recognize their own experience and spirit for kendo, and improve their quality as instructors. To achieve these goals, instructors have to make the effort to gain a higher Dan-i and improve their coaching skills. Moreover, they have to value the relationship of shi-tei-dogyo, aiming at being good instructors who deserve their students'respect.
To gain more beginners, we should focus on public relations. In addition, children who practice kendo and their families should invite other children along. The most important issue for us is to enhance children's desire to keep up their kendo practice.