The Way of the Sword is the modern descendant of the sword fencing techniques of the Samurai, the warrior class of ancient Japan. Its forms and methods were developed over centuries of combat and are now used to hone personal discipline.
As with many other Japanese martial arts, the philosophy of Kendo is based upon the precepts of Zen, and the guiding belief that enlightenment and heightened awareness flow from the ability to focus and calm the mind. Kendoka, the modern practitioners of Kendo, strive to master not only the physical techniques of Japanese swordwork, but also the mental and spiritual aspects.
From its roots in ancient samurai practice, Kendo has adapted itself to changing social conditions over the centuries. In its present form, competition between practitioners no longer involves life-and-death combat with razor-sharp blades but, rather, controlled matches using non-lethal instruments and governed by strict rules of respect and formal conduct. This difference in focus distinguishes Kendo from Kenjutsu, the Japanese sword art derived from traditional fencing. Unlike Kendo, whose techniques are updated for practice as a non-lethal aesthetic, Kenjutsu’s primary concerns are combat and warfare, and as such, it closely parallels the lethal techniques employed by samurai on the battlefield.
In place of the katana, the traditional sword of the samurai, modern Kendoka use shinai, an implement constructed of four bamboo staves bound together at specific junctures with leather bands. This non-lethal weapon, along with the use of bogu (body armor), enable Kendoka to engage in fencing contests without fear of death or serious bodily injury. The bogu is modeled after the traditional armor of the samurai.#
Kendo practice traditionally takes place in a dojo (training hall). Dojo organisation is hierarchical, with the sensei at the top, and beginning students at the bottom. Students train in Kendo through the practice of kata, a series of formal exercises, passed down from teacher to teacher, that replicate the movements and techniques required in traditional combat. In addition to learning and practicing the different kata, Kendoka also engage in informal matches known as keiko, which test the practitioners’ live combat ability and are moderated by senior members of the dojo.
