kendo

Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art that uses a bamboo sword, the shinai, and protective armor, the bogu. Rooted in traditional kenjutsu, it is practiced as both a sport and a discipline focused on character development, courtesy, and effective sword technique. Training emphasizes controlled striking with precision, as well as a cultivated mindset and spirit during practice and competition.

Historically, kendo emerged from sword schools in the Edo period and was reorganized in the Meiji era into a standardized system. After World War II, rules and rank structures were standardized for international competition. In Japan, the All Japan Kendo Federation (ZNKR) governs practice; internationally, the International Kendo Federation (FIK) coordinates events.

Practice typically involves bogu equipment: men (helmet), kote (gauntlets), dō (chest protector), and tare (waist protector). The shinai is used to strike, while bokken may be used for kata training. Common training elements include kihon (basics), suburi (swinging drills), kirikaeshi (repetition of cuts), and waza (techniques). Etiquette, or reiho, governs bowing and conduct on the training floor.

Competition uses shiai, where points are awarded by referees for successful strikes to valid targets: men, kote, and dō. Bouts typically last several minutes and may end with a decision of ippon or higher score. Ranks advance from kyū to dan, with dan grades commonly reaching eighth dan for senior competitors; women participate in many federations as well.

Today kendo is practiced worldwide, with national associations and clubs in many countries. It remains both a sport and a martial art, blending physical skill with etiquette, discipline, and strategic understanding of timing and distance.