What is kendo?
Modern kendo has developed from a long tradition of Japanese swordsmanship; literally translated kendo means ‘way of the sword’.
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The samurai of Japan emerged as a powerful social force in the mid-12th century and ruled Japan for about 700 years until the restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868. As the sword was one of the principle weapons in use throughout this period, kendo is one of the oldest forms of Japanese martial arts.
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During this time Bushido, ‘the way of the samurai’, was developed and refined with influences from Shinto, Confucian and Buddhist religions. Bushido was effectively a code of conduct for samurai, ennobling virtues such as loyalty, personal honour, composure and grace.
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In the years following 1868, political changes (from feudalism to imperial rule) meant that samurai were forbidden from carrying swords and deprived of their livelihood. These years saw a drastic decline in kendo. Following an ex-samurai rebellion in 1877, where rebels armed only with swords proved extremely effective in hand-to-hand combat with imperial troops armed with guns, interest in kendo increased. Following this, kendo became the primary training method for police officers.
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The formation of the Great Japan Martial Virtues Association (the Dai Nippon Budokukai) in 1895 unified schools of swordsmanship, standardised the kendo forms and awarded ranks and titles to skilled kendo practitioners. From this kendo blossomed, becoming part of the educational curriculum controlled by the government.
The rise of national socialism in the early 1930s brought with it militarism, ultimately leading to the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. Following Japan’s defeat, kendo and the Budokukai were banned as they were seen to be associated with the rise of militarism.
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In 1953, a year after the signing of the US-Japan peace treaty, the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) was established and kendo was again practiced as a means of physical and mental development. Today kendo is practiced by approximately 7 million people in Japan and around the world.
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Modern kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that can be practiced by both men and women of all ages and abilities, where everybody is treated equally. There are three fundamental components to the practice of kendo:
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The way of the body - this includes proper stance, movement and holding of the sword.
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The way of the sword - this includes how to strike correctly and the timing of a strike.
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The way of the mind - this includes the development of the correct mental attitude.
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It is through the integration of all three of these components that kendo develops. In some regards kendo may be viewed as a modern sport, where two armoured opponents face each other to score points by hitting defined targets with a bamboo sword (the shinai). However, the spirit of kendo has also survived through the ages as an unbroken tradition: to respect oneself and others, and to act positively and without fear.
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Not only does kendo help relieve stress and bring about a feeling of physical and mental well-being, it also helps to develop self confidence and assertiveness in a non-threatening environment.
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