The late 18th century saw the development of kendo protective equipment and shinai, which greatly reduced the risk of injury while practicing with bokuto and live blades. Kendo suffered a temporary decline with the Meiji Restoration (1868) as the wearing of swords in public was outlawed and the samurai class abolished. Civil unrest in 1887 saw kendo return in the form of police training, and interest continued to increase with the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). 1895 saw the founding of the Butokukai, an organization dedicated to the study of martial arts, and kendo was officially introduced into middle school physical education curriculum in 1911. Kendo became a required course for all boys in 1939 as Japan prepared for war.

Because of its militaristic and nationalistic associations, kendo was outlawed for several years in post-WWII Japan, and its adherents had to hide their practice from occupying military troops. By 1952, however, a “pure sport” form of kendo called Shinai Kyogi was reintroduced into the public school system and kendo was once again part of Japanese police training. Modern kendo continues to grow under the leadership of the All Japan Kendo Federation, the International Kendo Federation, and national federations all over the world.

Uh...so ok, what is Kendo then?

Kendo is the modern study of the Japanese sword. Using protective armor (bogu) and a shinai (bamboo practice sword), kenshii (Kendo practitioner) train their body and mind through rigorous practice. There are four attackable locations that students are trained in, the men (head), kote (wrist/forearm), do (stomach, and, the reserved for highly trained students, tsuki (throat). Using these attacks in combination with different techniques, students learn Japanese swordsmanship. Unlike European fencing where a simple tap would be considered a valid point, in Kendo simply striking the opponent is not enough. Several factors are considered before a point is award, such as proper form, striking location, follow through after the attack, and spirit.

The Kendo bogu consists of protection to the four valid points in kendo. There is a helmet that guards the head and throat, gloves that cover the forearms, a breastplate to cover the stomach, and a lower body protector. The shinai is a practice sword made up of four wooden staves that compress when someone is hit, reducing the force of the blow.

For a more detailed explanation of kendo/kenjutsu and other Japanese sword arts, check Neil Gendzwill’s Japanese Sword Arts FAQ at http://www.ii.uib.no/~kjartan/swordfaq/