Kendo

Kendo in the early Meiji period 1873

Takasugi Shinsaku, late Edo period kendo practitioner

Swordsmen in Japan established schools of kenjutsu[2] (the ancestor of kendo). These continued for centuries and form the basis of kendo practice today.[3] Formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago as kenjutsu practice for warriors. They are still studied today, in a modified form.[4]

The introduction of bamboo practice swords and armor to sword training is attributed to Naganuma Shirōzaemon Kunisato (長沼 四郎左衛門 国郷, 1688–1767) during the Shotoku Era (1711–1715). Naganuma developed the use of this armor and established a training method using bamboo swords.[5]

Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori (Ippūsai) (山田平左衛門光徳(一風斎), 1638–1718), third son of Naganuma and the 8th headmaster of the Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū Kenjutsu, is credited with improving the art with Japanese wooden and bamboo swords, according to his gravestone's inscription. He is also credited with refining the armor by adding a metal grille to the headpiece and thick cotton protective coverings to the gauntlets.[6] Naganuma Sirozaemon Kunisato (長沼四郎左衛門国郷, 1688-1767) inherited the tradition from his father Heizaemon in 1708, and the two of them collaborated to improve what would become modern kendo training armor.[5][6]

Shūsaku Narimasa Chiba (千葉 周作 成政, 1792-1855), founder of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū Hyōhō (北辰一刀流兵法), introduced gekiken (撃剣) (full contact duels with bamboo swords and training armor) to the curriculum of tradition arts in the 1820s. Due to the large number of students of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū Hyōhō at the end of the Edo period, the use of bamboo swords and armor as a form of practice became popular. Modern kendo techniques, such as Suriage-Men and Oikomi-Men, were originally Hokushin Ittō-ryū techniques, were named by Chiba Shūsaku.[5][7][8][9] After the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s, Sakakibara Kenkichi popularized public gekiken for commercial gain, resulting in increased interest in kendo and kenjutsu.[10][11]

In 1876, five years after a voluntary surrender of swords, the government banned the use of swords by the surviving samurai and initiated sword hunts.[12] Meanwhile, in an attempt to standardize the sword styles (kenjutsu) used by policemen, Kawaji Toshiyoshi recruited swordsmen from various schools to come up with a unified swordsmanship style.[13] This led to the rise of the Battotai (抜刀隊, lit. Drawn Sword Corps), consisting mainly of sword-wielding policemen. However, it proved difficult to integrate all sword arts, leading to a compromise of ten practice moves (kata) for police training. This integration effort led to the development of modern kendo.[13] In 1878, Kawaji wrote a book on swordsmanship, Gekiken Saikō-ron (Revitalizing Swordsmanship), stressing sword styles should not disappear with modernization, but should be integrated as necessary skills for the police. He draws a particular example from his experience with the Satsuma Rebellion. The Junsa Kyōshūjo (Patrolman's Training Institute), founded in 1879, provided a curriculum that allowed policemen to study gekiken during their off-hours. In the same year, Kawaji wrote another book on swordsmanship, Kendo Saikō-ron (Revitalizing Kendo), defending the significance of such sword art training for the police.[14] While Junsa Kyōshūjo remained active only until 1881, the police continued to support such practice.

Kendo at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920

Lee Teng-hui, later President of Republic of China (Taiwan), wearing kendo protector as a junior high school student in Japanese Taiwan

The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK) was established in 1895 to promote martial arts in Japan. It changed the name of the sporting form of swordsmanship, gekiken, (Kyūjitai: 擊劍 and Shinjitai: 撃剣, "hitting sword") to kendō in 1920.[3][15]

Kendo (along with other martial arts) was banned in Japan in 1946 by the occupying powers. This was part of "the removal and exclusion from public life of militaristic and ultra-nationalistic persons" in response to the wartime militarization of martial arts instruction in Japan. The DNBK was also disbanded. Kendo was allowed to return to the curriculum in 1950, first as "shinai competition" (竹刀競技, shinai kyōgi) and then as kendo in 1952.[16][17]

Official gold medal at the 60th Okayama International Sports Meeting in 2005. It emphasizes that modernism cannot escape the traditional. The soul of the warrior code (bushido) is still relevant today and cannot be forgotten.

The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF or ZNKR) was founded in 1952, immediately after Japan's independence was restored and the ban on martial arts in Japan was lifted.[18] It was formed on the principle of kendo not as a martial art, but as educational sport and it has continued to be practiced as such to this day.[19]

The International Kendo Federation (FIK) was founded in April 1970. It is an international federation of national and regional kendo federations, and the world governing body for kendo. The FIK is a non-governmental organization, and it aims to promote and popularize kendo, iaido and jodo.[20]

The International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF), established in Kyoto 1952, was the first international organization founded since WWII to promote the development of martial arts worldwide. Today, IMAF includes kendo as one of the Japanese disciplines.[21]

Kendoka jacket given within the Miyamoto Musashi Budokan : 剣 道 = Kendo, 平 成 17 年 = 2005, 第 60 回 岡山 国体 少年 男女 の 部 = The 60th Okayama National Sports Meetings,, 武 蔵 武 道 館 = Musashi Budokan, 武 蔵 の 里 岡山 県 大 原 町 = Musashi village, Okayama Prefecture, Ōhara-Chō.

Inscribed in popular culture in Japan, kendo has more than one million followers. Since 2012, it has been one of the disciplines taught in Japanese colleges with judo and sado. The manufacture of armor and shinai is still the object of an artisanal practice and contributes to perpetuate a tradition of small traders.[22]

Kendo belonging to the deep culture participates in the formation of the popular classes and the elites. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Prime Minister of Japan from 1996 to 1998, was 6th dan. He had a small dojo set up in the finance ministry. He reports that “the practice of kendo is associated with success”.[22] In June 1996, he promotes Japanese culture within the framework of the G7 which takes place in Lyon thanks to the drive and the authenticity of the diplomatic relationship established by Mr. Louis Michallet, Consul General of Japan, President-Founder of the Club Lyon-Japon (which later merged with the Heiho Niten Ichi Ryū Memorial).[23] Ryutaro Hashimoto and Jacques Chirac continued the organization from April 1997 to March 1998 of "The Year of Japan in France", and inaugurated the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris.[24] Today France has some 4,800 kendo practitioners.[22]

Moreover, through the Japanese tradition, kendo is linked with Miyamoto Musashi who belongs to the national treasure of Japan. The Miyamoto Musashi Budokan located in Ōhara-chō[25] built in honor of the samurai regularly hosts all of Japan's kendo schools.[26] As a result, at the 60th Okayama National Sports Meetings in 2005 held at BdkMiyamoto Musa Budokanshi, two official techniques from the Niten School founded by Musashi were incorporated into the International Kendo Federation by the Japanese Minister of Education.

Practitioners of kendo are called kendōka (剣道家), meaning "someone who practices kendo",[27] or occasionally kenshi (剣士), meaning "swordsman".[28] Additionally, the old term of kendoists is sometimes used.[29]

The Kodansha Meibo, a register of dan graded members of the AJKF, lists (as of September 2007) 1.48 million registered dan graded kendōka in Japan. According to a survey conducted by AJKF, the number of active kendo practitioners in Japan is 477,000, including 290,000 dan holders. From these figures, AJKF estimates that the number of kendōka in Japan is 1.66 million, with over 6 million practitioners worldwide, with registered dan holders and active kendo practitioners without dan grade.[30]

In 1975, the All Japan Kendo Federation developed and published "The Concept and Purpose of Kendo" (reproduced below).[31][32]

Kendo is practiced wearing a traditional Japanese style of clothing, protective armor (防具, bōgu) and using one or, less commonly two, shinai (竹刀, shinai).[33]

• 
  Shinai (竹刀)
• 
  Bokutō (木刀)
• 
  Men (面)
• 
  Dō (胴)
• 
  Tare (垂れ)
• 
  Kote (小手)
• 
  Armour and clothing components

Kendo training is quite noisy in comparison to some other martial arts or sports. This is because kendōka use a shout, or kiai (気合い), to express their fighting spirit when striking. Additionally, kendōka execute fumikomi-ashi (踏み込み足), an action similar to a stamp of the front foot, during a strike.

Like some other martial arts, kendōka train and fight barefoot. Kendo is ideally practiced in a purpose-built dōjō, though standard sports halls and other venues are often used. An appropriate venue has a clean and wooden sprung floor, suitable for fumikomi-ashi.[31]

Kendo techniques comprise both strikes and thrusts. Strikes are only made towards specified target areas (打突-部位, datotsu-bui) on the wrists, head, or body, all of which are protected by armor. The targets are men, sayu-men or Yoko-men (upper, left or right side of the men), the right kote at any time, the left kote when it is in a raised position, and the left or right side of the dō. Thrusts (突き, tsuki) are only allowed to the throat. However, since an incorrectly performed thrust could cause serious injury to the opponent's neck, thrusting techniques in free practice and competition are often restricted to senior dan graded kendōka.

• 
  Kendōka perform sonkyo after combat.
• 
  Two kendōka in tsuba zeriai.
• 
  Kendo target areas, or datotsu-bui.
• 
  Two kendōka, one (left) is playing in nitō (two sword style) and the other (right) is playing in ittō (one sword style).

Once a kendōka begins practice in armor, a practice session may include any or all of the following types of practice:

Kirikaeshi (切り返し)

Striking the left and right men target points in succession; practicing centering, distance, and correct technique while building spirit and stamina.

Waza-geiko (技稽古)

Waza or technique practice in which the student learns and refines the techniques of kendo with a receiving partner.

Kakari-geiko (掛稽古)

Short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness and readiness to attack, as well as building spirit and stamina.

Ji-geiko (地稽古)

Undirected practice where the kendōka tries all that has been learned during practice against an opponent.

Gokaku-geiko (互角稽古)

Practice between two kendōka of similar skill level.

Hikitate-geiko (引立稽古)

Practice where a senior kendōka guides a junior through practice.

Shiai-geiko (試合稽古)

Competition practice which may also be judged.

Kendo "Swordsmanship" by Yoshitoshi (1873)

Techniques are divided into shikake-waza (to initiate a strike) and ōji-waza (a response to an attempted strike).[31] Kendōka who wish to use such techniques during practice or competitions often practice each technique with a motodachi. This is a process that requires patience. The kendōka and motodachi practice the technique slowly at first; as familiarity and confidence build, they increase the speed to the level used in matches and competitions.

At the European Championships in Bern 2005. The kendōka to the right may have scored a point to the kote.

A scorable point (有効打突, yūkō-datotsu) in a kendo competition (tai-kai) is defined as an accurate strike or thrust made onto a datotsu-bui of the opponent's kendo-gu with the shinai making contact at its datotsu-bu, the competitor displaying high spirits, correct posture and followed by zanshin.[38]

Datotsu-bui or point scoring targets in kendo are defined as:[39]

• Men-bu, the top or sides of the head protector (sho-men and sayu-men).
• Kote-bu, a padded area of the right or left wrist protector (migi-kote and hidari-kote).
• Do-bu, an area of the right or left side of the armour that protects the torso (migi-do and hidari-do).
• Tsuki-bu, an area of the head protector in front of the throat (Tsuki-dare).

Datotsu-bu of the shinai is the forward, or blade side (jin-bu) of the top third (monouchi) of the shinai.[39]

Zanshin (残心), or continuation of awareness, must be present and shown throughout the execution of the strike and the kendōka must be mentally and physically ready to attack again.

In competition, there are usually three referees (審判, shinpan). Each referee holds a red flag and a white flag in opposing hands. To award a point, a referee raises the flag corresponding to the color of the ribbon worn by the scoring competitor. Usually, at least two referees must agree for a point to be awarded. Play is stopped after each point is awarded.

Kendo competitions are usually a three-point match. The first competitor to score two points, therefore, wins the match. If the time limit is reached and only one competitor has a point, that competitor wins.

In the case of a tie, there are several options:

• Hiki-wake (引き分け): The match is declared a draw.
• Enchō (延長): The match is continued until either competitor scores a point.
• Hantei (判定): The victor is decided by the referees. The three referees vote for victor by each raising one of their respective flags simultaneously.[40]

The All Japan Kendo Championship is regarded as the most prestigious kendo championship. Despite it being the national championship for only Japanese kendōka, kendo practitioners all over the world consider the All Japan Kendo Championship as the championship with the highest level of competitive kendo. The World Kendo Championships have been held every three years since 1970. They are organised by the International Kendo Federation (FIK) with the support of the host nation's kendo federation.[41] The European championship is held every year, except in those years in which there is a world championship.[42] Kendo is also one of the martial arts in the World Combat Games.

Kata are fixed patterns that teach kendōka the basic elements of swordsmanship. The kata include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking, and have useful practical application in general kendo. There are ten Nihon Kendō Kata (日本剣道形). These are generally practiced with wooden swords (木刀, bokutō or bokken). Occasionally, real swords or swords with a blunt edge, called kata-yō (形用) or ha-biki (刃引), may be used for display of kata.[47]

All are performed by two people: the uchidachi (打太刀), the teacher, and shidachi (仕太刀), the student. The uchidachi makes the first move or attack in each kata. As this is a teaching role, the uchidachi is always the losing side, thus allowing the shidachi to learn and to gain confidence.[47]

Kata one to seven are performed with both partners using a normal length wooden sword. Kata eight to ten are performed with uchidachi using a normal length weapon and shidachi using a shorter one (kodachi).[47]

The forms of the Nihon Kendō Kata (日本剣道形) were finalized in 1933 based on the Dai nihon Teikoku Kendo Kata, composed in 1912.[48] It is impossible to link the individual forms of Dai nihon Teikoku Kendo Kata to their original influences, although the genealogical reference diagram does indicate the masters of the various committees involved, and it is possible from this to determine the influences and origins of Kendo and the Kata.[49]

In 2003, the All Japan Kendo Federation introduced Bokutō Ni Yoru Kendō Kihon-waza Keiko-hō (木刀による剣道基本技稽古法), a set of basic exercises using a bokuto. This form of practice is intended primarily for kendōka up to second dan (二段, ni-dan), but is very useful for all kendo students who are organized under FIK.[47]

Kata can also be treated as competitions where players are judged upon their performance and technique.[50][51]

Many national and regional organizations manage and promote kendo activities outside Japan. The major organizing body is the International Kendo Federation (FIK). The FIK is a non-governmental international federation of national and regional kendo organisations. An aim of the FIK is to provide a link between Japan and the international kendo community and to promote and popularize kendo, iaido and jodo. The FIK was established in 1970 with 17 national federations. The number of affiliated and recognized organizations has increased over the years to 57 (as of May 2015).[52] The FIK is recognized by SportAccord as a 'Full Member'.[53] and by the World Anti-Doping Agency.[54]

Other organizations that promote the study of Japanese martial arts, including kendo, are the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK) and the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF). The current DNBK has no connection to the pre-war organization, although it shares the same goals. The International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) was established in Kyoto in 1952 and is dedicated to the promotion and development of the martial arts worldwide, including kendo.[21]

Kendo Jidai and Kendo Nippon offer kendo magazines in Japanese. Kendo World (Kendo World Magazine) and Kendo Jidai International offer English publications.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kendo.

• International Kendo Federation (FIK)
• All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) (in Japanese)
• Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK)
• http://www.ekf-eu.com/ European Kendo Federation