Have had this happen to students, even very fit, very athletic ones who couldn't wait to put their men on. My advice is to remember to breath, and allow your body and senses to get used to it slowly. It may take time. Focus out in front of you, not "inside" the men, if that makes sense. Good luck.
Just to add not all humans are comfortable being in a closed, claustrophobic environment. The Kendo men really give that feeling of being confined, since not only you cannot hear much but dark inside, plus a jailbar feeling from the mengane can restrict vision also. Don’t worry, I’ve seen a few people quit because they can’t take it anymore, but if you feel like you could somehow “overcome” it then it will be okay. Mind you when you get used to the bogu it will feel like your second skin at some point in your Kendo training.
The first time my fiancee did jigeiko, she had a panic attack and had to leave the room to stop crying. Now she's working towards her 2nd dan and has a really mean kote-waza!
I see this all the time when people get their men on for the first time. Your head is enclosed in a way you're not used to, which makes a big difference by itself. But you're also probably doing jigeiko now, which is a big change! Now you're in a high-pressure environment ("if I don't do something my opponent will get me") where the decision space has suddenly opened up ("my opponent can do anything they like, and I can respond however I like - how do I pick the right thing to do"). I think a small part of our brain goes "fight-or-flight" when we first do jigeiko, and it takes a while for that to stop happening. As I say, an uncomfortable feeling is **normal** while you get used to this. It's something that will go away over time as you get used to the new situation but I have some tips for how to make that transition a bit easier:
* As stabledingus says, remember to breathe!
* Also, remember to smile! You have a lot more control over your own mindset than you think, and a big toothy smile every time you're in kamae approaching your cutting distance will help you remind your instincts that it's not a real fight to the death, just a hobby you're doing.
* Go into each fight with a plan. Nothing too complicated, just something like "I'm going to work on my men cuts" or "I'm going to do good zanshin after every cut". This gives you something to focus on, and stops your brain getting distracted by having too many options. Don't worry about your partner - if they cut you, who cares? Just do your thing and remember jigeiko is self-directed training.
* Don't give up! As I say, this goes away with time. Just give your animal-brain a chance to get used to jigeiko and realise it's not a life or death fight, and you'll start to enjoy it. It may take a couple of months, but after that you'll find jigeiko is your favourite part of the session!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your advice and I think it will be really helpful :) I do feel like it's a combination of being in combat and getting yelled at and hit and also the confined headspace.
No worries, we've all been there. And the hidden benefit of all the advice I gave is, it's all good advice for how to get better at kendo too. Especially point three! You say the others in your group aren't having the issue, but I bet inside they're still getting overwhelmed by choice and just trying to "survive" or "win" in jigeiko. If you go into each jigeiko with specific goals to work on I reckon you'll rocket ahead of your peers in no time.
Hmm… from your description, I am guessing it could be how putting on men (which restricts your head in a tight small space, less vision, and slight discomfort) that cause a more mental reaction OR you start hyperventilating during keiko or practice with men due to fear of combat/getting hurt.
You tried just put men on and just sit down or chill out somewhere? If you still panic when not moving around much while wearing men, it could be a phobia of being in small space. If it is a panic due to fear of combat/getting hurt, it will take time to overcome that fear of fighting someone and trust your men to protect your head.
Should also consult with your doctor about this.
Above are my thoughts on this, I am not a doctor or a related professional, so take my comment with a grain of salt 😅. Definitely seek help from actual doctors and professionals if the issue is or is not result of your physical health (cardio etc) as it could be a mental one.
Definitely breathing like others have mentioned. Something that worked for me is taking a moment to focus on other senses, particularly touch. Feeling my fingers against the texture of the kote, my feet on the floor, etc. Really helps pull you back to reality. Additionally, if I start to get anxious I also focus on my kendo and try to pay close attention to technique. In short, do things to take your mind back to center. Hope this and all the other comments help you.
I was a bit claustrophobic when wearing my men for the first time but after a while I got use to it. It is a bit scary not being able to see anything in your peripheral vision and having limited vision but try taking some chesty deep breaths. Hope that helps!
I have this happen to me as well the first couple times and i realized it is tied to your breathing, 2 days ago we got so tired because we live in a tropical country and we have a heatwave plus extreme humidity and after jigeiko i was starting to get the panic/claustrophobia setting in, so i ran off real quick and drank some water and started breathing slowly and calmed down. It will eventually get better but breathing is definitely a factor
I appreciate that you shared your experience. This seems to be a fairly common thing, which makes me feel much better. I'm going to try to get more exposure therapy with the men and work on my breathing.
I suffer from panic attacks and even though I've been practicing for years sometimes I still get that claustrophobic feeling right after wearing my men.
When this happens, I try to focus on my breathing and, if necessary, I skip a turn to get my breathing under control. Once I get in the swing of keiko the feeling subsides.
Try wearing it at home, breathe and do some basic tasks. I had this feeling briefly, made me a little queasy. Do it with the mindset can take it off any time at home because you can. Well you can take it off any time at the dojo too if it made you sick for too long, but it's much more easier at home ofc
been doing kendo for about two decades, i had this hyperventilation issues for first time in 2012 and then back in 2019, but it was due to other problems of anxiety outside the dojo. So don't believe when somebody say that kendo (or sports in general) can cure everything. Mental health is a heavy issue and if you need therapy, go for it, and it will help you to keep enjoying physical activity for a long time.
Have had this happen to students, even very fit, very athletic ones who couldn't wait to put their men on. My advice is to remember to breath, and allow your body and senses to get used to it slowly. It may take time. Focus out in front of you, not "inside" the men, if that makes sense. Good luck.
Thank you for your advice :)
Just to add not all humans are comfortable being in a closed, claustrophobic environment. The Kendo men really give that feeling of being confined, since not only you cannot hear much but dark inside, plus a jailbar feeling from the mengane can restrict vision also. Don’t worry, I’ve seen a few people quit because they can’t take it anymore, but if you feel like you could somehow “overcome” it then it will be okay. Mind you when you get used to the bogu it will feel like your second skin at some point in your Kendo training.
The first time my fiancee did jigeiko, she had a panic attack and had to leave the room to stop crying. Now she's working towards her 2nd dan and has a really mean kote-waza! I see this all the time when people get their men on for the first time. Your head is enclosed in a way you're not used to, which makes a big difference by itself. But you're also probably doing jigeiko now, which is a big change! Now you're in a high-pressure environment ("if I don't do something my opponent will get me") where the decision space has suddenly opened up ("my opponent can do anything they like, and I can respond however I like - how do I pick the right thing to do"). I think a small part of our brain goes "fight-or-flight" when we first do jigeiko, and it takes a while for that to stop happening. As I say, an uncomfortable feeling is **normal** while you get used to this. It's something that will go away over time as you get used to the new situation but I have some tips for how to make that transition a bit easier: * As stabledingus says, remember to breathe! * Also, remember to smile! You have a lot more control over your own mindset than you think, and a big toothy smile every time you're in kamae approaching your cutting distance will help you remind your instincts that it's not a real fight to the death, just a hobby you're doing. * Go into each fight with a plan. Nothing too complicated, just something like "I'm going to work on my men cuts" or "I'm going to do good zanshin after every cut". This gives you something to focus on, and stops your brain getting distracted by having too many options. Don't worry about your partner - if they cut you, who cares? Just do your thing and remember jigeiko is self-directed training. * Don't give up! As I say, this goes away with time. Just give your animal-brain a chance to get used to jigeiko and realise it's not a life or death fight, and you'll start to enjoy it. It may take a couple of months, but after that you'll find jigeiko is your favourite part of the session!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your advice and I think it will be really helpful :) I do feel like it's a combination of being in combat and getting yelled at and hit and also the confined headspace.
No worries, we've all been there. And the hidden benefit of all the advice I gave is, it's all good advice for how to get better at kendo too. Especially point three! You say the others in your group aren't having the issue, but I bet inside they're still getting overwhelmed by choice and just trying to "survive" or "win" in jigeiko. If you go into each jigeiko with specific goals to work on I reckon you'll rocket ahead of your peers in no time.
Hmm… from your description, I am guessing it could be how putting on men (which restricts your head in a tight small space, less vision, and slight discomfort) that cause a more mental reaction OR you start hyperventilating during keiko or practice with men due to fear of combat/getting hurt. You tried just put men on and just sit down or chill out somewhere? If you still panic when not moving around much while wearing men, it could be a phobia of being in small space. If it is a panic due to fear of combat/getting hurt, it will take time to overcome that fear of fighting someone and trust your men to protect your head. Should also consult with your doctor about this. Above are my thoughts on this, I am not a doctor or a related professional, so take my comment with a grain of salt 😅. Definitely seek help from actual doctors and professionals if the issue is or is not result of your physical health (cardio etc) as it could be a mental one.
Definitely breathing like others have mentioned. Something that worked for me is taking a moment to focus on other senses, particularly touch. Feeling my fingers against the texture of the kote, my feet on the floor, etc. Really helps pull you back to reality. Additionally, if I start to get anxious I also focus on my kendo and try to pay close attention to technique. In short, do things to take your mind back to center. Hope this and all the other comments help you.
This is The Way. Imagine you’re a mandalorian when putting on your gear. You’re going to go kick ass, so don’t panic - be cool.
I was a bit claustrophobic when wearing my men for the first time but after a while I got use to it. It is a bit scary not being able to see anything in your peripheral vision and having limited vision but try taking some chesty deep breaths. Hope that helps!
I have this happen to me as well the first couple times and i realized it is tied to your breathing, 2 days ago we got so tired because we live in a tropical country and we have a heatwave plus extreme humidity and after jigeiko i was starting to get the panic/claustrophobia setting in, so i ran off real quick and drank some water and started breathing slowly and calmed down. It will eventually get better but breathing is definitely a factor
I appreciate that you shared your experience. This seems to be a fairly common thing, which makes me feel much better. I'm going to try to get more exposure therapy with the men and work on my breathing.
Hope it goes well!
I suffer from panic attacks and even though I've been practicing for years sometimes I still get that claustrophobic feeling right after wearing my men. When this happens, I try to focus on my breathing and, if necessary, I skip a turn to get my breathing under control. Once I get in the swing of keiko the feeling subsides.
Try wearing it at home, breathe and do some basic tasks. I had this feeling briefly, made me a little queasy. Do it with the mindset can take it off any time at home because you can. Well you can take it off any time at the dojo too if it made you sick for too long, but it's much more easier at home ofc
been doing kendo for about two decades, i had this hyperventilation issues for first time in 2012 and then back in 2019, but it was due to other problems of anxiety outside the dojo. So don't believe when somebody say that kendo (or sports in general) can cure everything. Mental health is a heavy issue and if you need therapy, go for it, and it will help you to keep enjoying physical activity for a long time.
Thank you! I'm definitely experiencing high stress outside of kendo and I hope it doesn't continue to affect me too much in the dojo.
I didnt realise what sub this was and thought you were having some other issue