Kendo

Kendo literally means "the way of the sword." It is a Japanese martial way (budo) derived from the techniques and philosophy of medieval Japanese sword fighting, practiced as a popular sport in Japan, and now all over the world. Kendo practitioners wear armor (bugo) and spar with mock swords (shinai) constructed of four staves of bamboo bound together in tube form using leather caps and a string. There are four legitimate target areas, all protected by bogu. The targets that are "cut" are: the top of the head (men), the wrists (kote), and the sides of the abdomen (do). There is also one target for thrusts, which is the throat (tsuki).

Kendo practice is very formalized and framed by strict hierarchy, detailed etiquette, and a transmitted tradition of teaching and learning. It always emphasizes proper form, which includes a straight back, elegant and efficient movement, well-executed footwork (ashisabaki), loud and clear shouting (kiai), and strikes executed with correct technique and full commitment (sutemi). Besides physical technique, kendo also emphasizes a clear, calm and highly concentrated state of mind. The ideal combination of these various elements is called ki ken tai ichi or ken shin tai ichi ("sword, mind and body in harmony").

This is where kendo differs from most sports, and can in fact be considered as something more than sport. In contrast to European fencing, no points will be awarded during a kendo match (shiai) unless a contestant is able to demonstrate proper form and state of mind consistent with her/his level, regardless of how many apparent "hits" s/he might make. If, for instance, a contestant executes a proper strike, but loses concentration immediately afterwards (zanshin - "remaining mind") a point may not be awarded. Or, if a contestant acts in a way not consistent with etiquette (e.g. cheering and fist-pumping after winning a match) her/his points might be taken away. While this kind of judging might seem subjective, it is based on the years of experience referees (shimpanin) often have and is hence objective within a lived tradition.

Another aspect of kendo that differs from sport is found in its expressed goals. The heart of kendo is not competition, but the practice (keiko) and cultivation of the art itself. Like any martial Way, kendo is characterized by life-long dedication to practice. This involves not only physical training and perfection of technique, but also the development of fighting spirit (i.e. perseverance in adversity) and character. In fact, the official mission statement of kendo is as follows:

The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword).

The purpose of practicing Kendo is:
To mold the mind and body,
To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
And through correct and rigid training,
To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo,
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor,
To associate with others with sincerity,
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
This will make one be able:
To love his/her country and society,
To contribute to the development of culture
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.

(The Concept of Kendo was established by All Japan Kendo Federation in 1975.)

Literature:

John J. Donohue: Complete Kendo (Boston: Tuttle, 1999)
Minoru Kiyota: The Shambhala Guide to Kendo (Boston: Shambhala, 2002)
Kotaro Oshima & Kozo Ando: Kendo - Lehrbuch des japanischen Schwertkampfes (Berlin: Verlag Weinmann, 1998)
Hiroshi Ozawa: Kendo: The Definitive Guide (New York: Kodansha America, Inc., 1997)
Jinichi Tokeshi: Kendo - Elements, Rules, and Philosophy (University of Hawai'i Press, 2003)