I can't fight my senpai because she's a girl.

I've recently started practicing kendo and I've progressed very well. I can spar anybody in the dojo with my full power but have been avoiding sparring with this one girl. What should I do? I don't want her to think I dislike her or don't take her seriously. Whenever I do have to spar her I hold back and keep my distance, so she thinks I'm not taking her seriously. The truth is, she is just really attractive! She is a small, beautiful, fair skinned asian girl with an adorable battle cry that messes up my focus every time. She probably thinks I don't like her. Question is, how do you mix sparring and romance? I'm afraid to ask her out because it will be really awkward from then on if she refuses. What should I do?

I would say go for I mean if you don't you will never know and it's just a wasted opportunity. Also if it doesn't work just say well I hope we can still friends or something to the idea of that. Besides that if she is in the Kendo club to learn to fight then holding back is an injustice to her.

You're right about it being an injustice to her, animage. I think it's not just me, but other younger guys tend to have trouble fighting her because of her almost majestic beauty. I thought I was over puerile crushes, but I can't help but feel some butterflies in my stomach when I look at her. Not good in a combat situation, haha.

Hmmm, I would say go full strength, at least to land a point, show that you accept her as an advisory, but not to the point of total domination, remembering an anime, best to acknowledge her, showing you put honor and faith in her strength, making it equal grounds, after all, I'm sure she joined knowing full well what it takes to be in the club. She might then acknowledge your strength as well, and want to talk to you more. http://i.imgur.com/MWzNASZ.jpg At least that's my scenario observation, but hey, better than nothing I guess, right?

Hmm, that's a really intresting perspective, Ichirai. She probably joined in the first place so that she could be seen as more than just a cute girl. Maybe I can win her respect by taking her head on! It's just so hard to focus with all the butterflies in my stomach. Maybe if I keep trying to spar her I might get used to it...

I would just try to match her, like making love with your fighting. Like, don't let her win but don't try to hurt her. Equal her, like a dance or making love. That's what I would do anyway. I'm jealous you get to take Kendo lessons. I would love to take Kendo and iado/kenjutsu. But I live in a small town right now without such being available.

What is life if you take no chances. To get you must give. In this case you should just go for it, its worth the risk.plus if she does say no try to be friends or ask her out as a friend than see how it goes.

That sounds like a great idea, vampire neko. I don't know if I'm good enough to be able to control the match that way, but that would definitely be something to shoot for. I have to somehow get over my fear of getting to close with her and just push her to the wall sometimes if I need to. I used to be in a small town just like you, always wanting to try out kendo. It is expensive as hell starting out but it's worth it.

Her battle cry though. That is my biggest weakness. Not only does it sound kind extremely feminine, it conjures thoughts in the back of my head that I should not be thinking. That .5 millisecond of me being thrown off by her battle cry makes me lose every time.