Kendo
剣道Japanese swordsmanship with a bamboo sword in full protective armour; a direct continuation of the samurai art of the sword.
Quick Facts
JapanCharacter & Origin
Training
Who It Suits
Organisation & Competition
What the style is built from
Editorial rating on a 0–3 scale, based on how much room each area gets in ordinary training.
Catalogs & Databases for Kendo
About Kendo
Kendo is the modern Japanese art of the sword, fought with a bamboo shinai in bogu armour. It grew out of the training methods of the samurai kenjutsu schools: the shinai and protective gear appeared in the eighteenth century, making it possible for the first time to fence at full intent without risk of death. After the abolition of the samurai class, combat training became a way (do), and in 1952 the All Japan Kendo Federation was founded. Points are scored on four targets — head (men), wrist (kote), torso (do) and a thrust to the throat (tsuki) — but the hit alone is not enough. It counts only when delivered with correct posture, with a shout (kiai), with a stamp of the foot and with sustained alertness afterwards (zanshin). The judges therefore assess the whole act, not the touch; this is fundamental to kendo and confusing to a newcomer watching. Training is loud and intense. Its basis is cutting in the air (suburi), paired drills (kirikaeshi, uchikomi) and free fighting (ji-geiko). The armour weighs around three kilograms and summers are considerably hot in it. Grading runs through kyu to dan levels; at higher grades bearing and composure are assessed, not only technique. Kendo is demanding on the shoulders and legs, but the load on the joints is lower than in grappling sports — which is why it can be practised well into later life.
Styles & Branches
Similar styles
Selected by overlap in the style profile, not by historical lineage.