Japan’s history has still effect on the sports and arts that are practiced today. The noble art of sword fighting turned from a way of killing someone to a sport discipline which is practiced by thousands of Kendoka worldwide. Let’s talk a little more about Kendo (剣道).

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, which descended from swordsmanship and uses bamboo swords and protective armour. Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and many other nations across the world. Kendo is an activity that combines martial arts practices and values with strenuous sport-like physical activity.

Swordsmen in Japan established schools of kenjutsu, the ancestor of kendo, which continued for centuries and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago as kenjutsu practice for warriors. They are still studied today, in a modified form.

The introduction of bamboo practice swords and armor to sword training is attributed to Naganuma Shirōzaemon Kunisato during the Shotoku Era. Naganuma developed the use of the armour and established a training method using the shinai.

Kendo training is quite noisy in comparison to some other martial arts or sports. This is because kendōka use a shout to express their fighting spirit when striking. Additionally, kendōka execute an action similar to a stamp of the front foot, when making a strike.

Like some other martial arts, kendōka train and fight barefoot. Kendo is ideally practiced in a purpose-built dōjō, though standard sports halls and other venues are often used. An appropriate venue has a clean and well-sprung wooden floor, suitable for fumikomi-ashi.
Kendo techniques comprise both strikes and thrusts. Strikes are only made towards specified target areas on the wrists, head, or body, all of which are protected by armour. The targets are the upper, left or right side of the head, the right arm at any time, the left arm when it is in a raised position, and the left or right side of the torso. Thrusts are only allowed to the throat. However, since an incorrectly performed thrust could cause serious injury to the opponent’s neck, thrusting techniques in free practice and competition are often restricted to senior dan graded kendōka.

Kendo is a really interesting martial art which is still extremely popular not only in Japan but worldwide.