Kendo – The Way of the Sword

Kendō (剣道, lit. ‘way of the sword’) is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu . Originally, it was mainly practiced by samurai. Today it is considered a discipline in which the mind and body face each other in a sporting challenge.

The Japanese sword may have emerged around the Heian Era (794-1185) used by a tribe that specialized in cavalry battles in northern Japan.

 (You can watch the video of this post or continue reading below)

In the Kamakura period (1192 to 1333), samurai used swords in their training, and later in the Muromachi period (1336 to 1573) Japan entered a period of anarchism that lasted for about a hundred years where, along with the shogun , the samurai led the way into battles against the various hoguns.

After a long period of internal conflict, Japan entered the Tokugawa or Edo period and it was 250 years of peace and balance of power. Samurai had no reason to train for battle, so schools of kenjutsu (later called Kendō ) began to appear and different ken (sword) techniques developed.

As it had become a discipline and not a way of defeating people in battle, the sword was already made of bamboo, also known as “shinai” (竹刀). Accessories and protections ( kendogu ) were also developed to soften the impacts of the swords. blows of the sword and to protect in specific areas such as the head, arms and torso.

” Kendogu ” is also called ” bogu ” (防具) and includes the men (helmet), do ( but, bib ), kote (gloves), and tara (waist and upper legs) with the shinai (four bamboo slats united by leather fittings that represent the sword)

Kendō techniques include strikes and thrusts. Strikes are only made against the wrists, head, or body . Thrusts are only allowed to the throat, often restricted to the higher grade dan . (The dan are the grading system according to the rank or level of the kendōka

The following is a video showing some Kendō techniques.

As in other martial arts such as Karate , Ninjutsu, Kyudo, etc., the kata are fixed patterns that teach the basic elements of the discipline that is being practiced. The kata include fundamental techniques of attack and counterattack that are generally practiced with wooden swords or bokutō (木刀).

After the Meiji Restoration Period (1968) the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK) was established, which states that the society’s goals include “the restoration of classical martial cultures, the promotion of international peace and harmony through the education and training of traditional martial arts artistic disciplines.”

Currently, Kendō is practiced throughout the world as a sport, being both a physical and a philosophical discipline. There are many organizations that promote the study of Japanese martial arts, including kendō . If you want to practice this martial art, there may be a school near you that you can join and practice it! ^^

The following is a video of a kendō match. enjoy it! ^^