Kendo Kata

Kata were originally used to preserve the techniques and history of kenjutsu for future generations.[1] In the past, many ryu or schools of kendo and kenjutsu had their own set of kata that students used to learn.[2] Kata were first unified in the Keishicho Gekken Kata or Police Department Attacking Motion Kendo Kata, when exemplary kenshi were hired to standardize kata instruction in 1880.[2] Nihon Kendo Kata were finalized in 1912 for use in public school instruction.[1][2] Modern usage of kata is as a teaching tool to learn strike techniques, attack intervals, body movement, sincerity and kigurai (pride).[1]

Kendo kata at an agricultural school in Japan around 1920 man in right foreground is in Chūdan-no-kamae.

In kendo kata, the teacher role always moves first.[1] Both the student and teacher use bokken (木剣), except in some demonstrations which use blunted katana.[3] The first seven kata use tachi, a long bokken, for both student and teacher.[1] The last three kata use tachi for the teacher and kodachi, a shorter bokken, for the student.[1] In general, mastery of the first three kata are required for advancement to 1-Kyu and more for Dan grades.[4]

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho is a new form of bokken training that is directly translatable to bogu kendo.[4] Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho also facilitates learning the Nihon Kendo Kata, and because of this was adopted by the All Japan Kendo Federation for use in primary and secondary school.[4] While Nihon Kendo Kata uses all five kamae, Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho uses only Chūdan-no-kamae, the most common stance.[4] Instead of student and teacher roles, there are the equal roles of Motodachi and Kakarite.[4] The Motodachi receives the waza of the Kakarite.[4] The first four waza are focused on attack initiation techniques, while the final five are focused on techniques for responding to an attack.[5]