What would a Samurai Consider a Sport?

Japanese style of fencing derived during the Meiji period in Japan (1868-1912), from the ken (two-handed sword) fighting techniques of the samurai. Today kendo, which means "way of the sword", is practiced with shinai (bamboo swords), and fighters wear protective equipment. The bogu (protective gear) consists of a men (face mask), a do (breastplate), kote (fencing gloves), and the tare, a kind of apron to protect the stomach and hips. Under the protective gear, kendoka (students of kendo) wear a hakama, or wide split skirt, reaching the ankles. The shinai is made of four lengths of seasoned bamboo bound by waxed cord. Contestants are barefoot and fight on a smooth floor.

The main cuts or thrusts that may be delivered in kendo are limited as follows: (1) oshomen - a downward cut aimed at the center of the forehead; (2) hidarimen - a diagonal cut to the left side of the face mask; (3) migimen - a diagonal cut to the right side of the face mask; (4)migido - a diagonal cut to the right side of the breastplate; (5)gyakudo - a diagonal cut to the left side of the breastplate; (6) kote - a cut at the right wrist or lower forearm; (7) hidari kote - a cut at the left wrist or lower forearm; and (8) tsuki - a thrust at the throat.

An important part of training is the use of the kiai, which is an explosive sound, a kind of controlled and personalized yell intended to inspire courage and determination in the utterer and fear in the opponent, and to upset the concentration of the opponent as a cut or thrust is made.

A shiai (match) is normally known as a "3-point" match, lasting three to five minutes. Kendoka bow to the opponent and prepare for the shiai by placing the right foot forward with the left heel slightly raised. The shinai is raised in both hands with the tip aimed at the opponent's throat. When a blow is delivered, the attacker must yell out the type of blow in order for it to be evaluated by the judges. The first fighter to score 2 points is the winner. If a match is tied at the time limit, it is either declared a draw or continued, with the first fighter to take a point the winner.

Traditionally kendoka were divided into two ranks: student and teacher. In modern schools, however, kendoka advance in rank from tenth kyu (student level) to first kyu. Shodan (first degree, expert level) can be achieved in approximately two to three years. There are nine expert levels. No outward indication of rank is usually worn, although some federations give small colored patches to sew on the shoulders of younger kendoka. Before a practice begins, kendoka sit according to level of proficiency and face the sensei (teacher), who leads them in a moment of meditative silence (mokuso). Kendo practice is repetitive and a move must be repeated thousands of times and mastered before a new technique may be learned. The purpose of such discipline is not only to learn new skills but to build good character and a sense of harmony in the student.

History

The earliest known reference to swordsmanship in Japan is AD 789, when sword exercise was part of education for the sons of noblemen. With the unification of Japan in the 16th century, however, the need for highly skilled swordsmen diminished because the country was at peace. Modern kendo is the result of ryu-ha-kenjutsu, or the academic study in the late 19th and early 20th centuries of swordsmanship pursued by the samurai class. After World War II (1939-1945), all martial arts, including kendo, were banned in Japan during the American occupation of the country, which lasted until 1952. In that same year the All-Japan Kendo Federation was founded. Kendo is now practiced in Japan by more than two million people, and it has some following in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. The international governing body is the International Kendo Federation (IKF), which was established in 1970, the same year of the first world championships. Japanese kendokas have won the individual and team titles at all world championships. (Taken from MSN Encarta)

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