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Kendo 劍道
JapanEast AsiaWeaponsJapanese Budo
'Way of the sword' – bamboo shinai sparring in armour, rooted in samurai swordsmanship.
Key characteristics
- Ki-ken-tai-ichi (spirit, sword, body as one)
Forms & curriculum
- Nihon Kendo Kata
What training looks like
Weapon arts usually start with stance, footwork and handling using training tools (wooden or blunt). Solo patterns come first; partner drills and controlled sparring come later.
Questions to ask a school
- Are training weapons provided?
- What safety equipment is used?
- How do empty-hand basics connect to the weapon work?
Quick facts
| Origin | Japan |
|---|---|
| Era / founder | 1700s bogu; modern rules 1900s |
| Family | Japanese Budo |
| Type | Weapons |
Related philosophy
- Budo 武道 – 'Martial way' – martial training as self-cultivation.
- Bushido 武士道 – Samurai ethic popularized by Nitobe Inazo (1900).
- Mushin (No-Mind) 無心 – Acting without hesitation or distracting thought.
- Zanshin (Remaining Mind) 殘心 – Continued awareness after a technique.
- Ma-ai (Distance) 間合い – Correct combative distance and timing.
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