Kendo

is a Japanese martial art.

History

Kendo means the "way of the sword". The rules and gear of kendo were first created in the 18th century, and its modern rules and styles date to the 19th century.

Rules

An opponent may be struck at seven places: both sides and top of helmet (men), on either hand (gloves, kote) or either side of the body breastplate (do). There is also one legal thrust (tsuki) on throat.

The "men" can only be struck from face, not from back. However, only one of the two hands can be struck, it depends on which kind of posture("kamae") your opponent are using. A struck to the right side of body(one kind of "do") will often be ignored by referee because in the old days samurai will have a smaller sword in this position, which gives this position a good protection. Very important, because "tsuki" is somehow dangerous, junior practicer perform "tsuki" is forbidden both in match and daily training.

In a match, the attacker must name the location of each strike. Often, name these locations by Japanese list before("men","kote","do","tsuki"), but some people will name it by Korean or Chinese or other language, or even a meaningless shout. All these kinds of shout name "kiai". An effective attack must contains "kiai" besides other essential factors.

Equipment

The weapon used in kendo is a bamboo sword, called shinai. The kendo armour, which the players must wear, is called bogu and is made of a helmet (men), breastplate (do), waist protector (tare), and special gloves (kote).

Lesson contents

Lesson is called keiko in kendo. keiko means that We think about past. kendo's keiko is distinguished between shinai keiko and kata keiko. the building which we do kendo is called dojyo. In particular keiko done in summer is shochugeiko and one done in winter is kangeiko.

shinaikeiko keiko which use shinai and bogu

• suburi (waiving sword many times to improve your muscle)
• kirikaeshi (Striking partner's men consecutively and confirming sword handling)
• uchikomi keiko (Training basic strike like men, kote, doetc.)
• oikomi keiko
• kakari geiko (Striking where partner show a plow as many as possible in time)
• ji geiko
• shiai geiko

Kendo Media

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  Kendo in the early Meiji period (1873)

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  Kendo at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920

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  Lee Teng-hui, later President of Republic of China (Taiwan), wearing kendo protector as a junior high school student in Japanese Taiwan

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  Kendo "Swordsmanship" by Yoshitoshi (1873)

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  At the European Championships in Bern 2005. The kendōka to the right may have scored a point to the kote.

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  Men(kendo)

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• Kasahara Cup 2013 - 20130929 - Kendo competition in Geneva

Related pages

• Fencing
• Sports in Japan