Overview of Kendo, and its history
What is Kendo
Kendo or "way of the sword", is the martial art of Japanese fencing.
Kendo developed from traditional techniques of Japanese swordsmanship known as kenjutsu.
Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sporting like physical elements.
Practitioners of kendo are called kendoka, meaning "one who practices kendo", or kenshi, meaning "swordsman".
Here is a short introduction to Kendo
Kendo is practised wearing traditionally styled clothing and protective armour (bogu), using one or two bamboo swords (shinai) as weapons. Kendo may be seen as a Japanese style of fencing. The movements in kendo are different from European fencing because the design of the sword is different, as is the way it is used. Unlike western style fencing, Kendo employs strikes with a defined 'edge' and tip of the shinai. Kendo training is quite noisy in comparison to other martial arts or sports. This is because kendoka use a shout, or kiai, to express their spirit, and when a strike or cut is performed, the front foot contacts the floor in a motion similar to stamping.
There are estimates that about 10 million people world-wide practice kendo with approximately 8 million in Japan. The number of kendo players not yet graded to a dan level is not included: those kendoka would outnumber considerably the dan graded players.
Kendo is one of the modern Japanese budo and embodies the essence of Japanese fighting arts.
Kendo is practiced using a shinai. One, or more rarely two shinai, are used. The shinai is the practice "sword" and is made up of four bamboo staves, which are held together by leather fittings. Kendoka also use bokken/bokuto (wooden swords) to practice more formal, set forms known as kata.
Protective armour bogu, is worn to protect specified target areas on the head, arms and body. The head is protected by the men, the forearm, wrist and hand by kote, the body by the do and tare. The clothing worn under the bogu comprises a jacket, or keikogi and a hakama, which is a trouser-like garment with wide legs. A tenugui is tied around the head, under the men. Like in other martial arts, kendoka train and fight barefoot.
History
Since the earliest samurai government in Japan, during the Kamakura period (1185-1233), sword fencing, together with horse riding and archery, were the main martial pursuits of the military clans. In this period kendo developed under the strong influence of Zen Buddhism. The samurai could equate the disregard for his own life in the heat of battle, which was considered necessary for victory in individual combat, to the Buddhist concept of the illusory nature of the distinction between life and death.
Those swordsmen established schools of kendo training which continued for centuries, and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The names of the schools reflect the essence of the originator’s enlightenment. Thus the Itto-ryu (Single sword school) indicates the founder’s illumination that all possible cuts with the sword emanate from and are contained in one original essential cut. The Muto (swordless school) expresses the comprehension of the originator Yamaoka Tesshu, that "There is no sword outside the mind". The 'Munen Muso-ryu’ (No Intent, no preconception) similarly expresses the understanding that the essence of kendo transcends the reflective thought process. The formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago and are still studied today.
The introduction of shinai (bamboo practice swords) and bogu (armour) to kendo training is attributed to Naganuma Sirozaemon Kunisato (1688–1767). This is believed to be the foundation of modern kendo.Concepts such as mushin, or "empty mind" as professed by exponents of Zen, are an essential attainment for high level kendo. Fudoshin, or "unmoving mind", is a conceptual attribute of the deity Fudo Myo-O, one of the five "Kings of Light" of Shingon Buddhism. Fudoshin, implies that the kendoka cannot be led astray by delusions of anger, doubt, fear, or surprise arising from the opponent’s actions. Thus today it is possible to embark on a similar quest for spiritual enlightenment as followed by the samurai of old.
The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai was established in 1895 to solidify, promote, and standardise all martial disciplines and systems in Japan. The DNBK changed the name of Gekiken ("hitting sword") to kendo in 1920. Kendo 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. Kendo was allowed to return to the curriculum in 1950.
Modern practice
Kendo is ideally practiced in a purpose-built dojo, though standard sports halls and other venues are often used instead. An appropriate venue has a clean and well-sprung wooden floor, suitable for the distinctive stamping footwork used by the bare-footed practitioners.
In modern kendo, there are strikes and thrusts. Strikes are allowed only to be made on specified target areas, or datotsu-bui on the wrists, head or body, all of which are protected by bogu. The targets are men (top of the head), sayu-men or yoko-men (upper left and right side of the head), the right kote, or wrist at any time, the left kote when it is in a raised position (such as jodan-no-kamae also known as jodan) and the left or right side of the do or torso. Thrusts are only allowed to the throat (tsuki). However, since an incorrectly performed thrust could injure the neck, thrusting techniques in free practice and competition are often restricted to senior dan graded kendoka.
Here is another overview of Kendo made for another club but which hold the same thoughts as Cork Budokai
Kiri-kaeshi: successively striking the left and right men, practice centering, distance, and correct technique, while building spirit and stamina.
Waza-geiko: waza or technique practice in which the student learns to use the many techniques of Kendo with a receiving partner.
Kakari-geiko: short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness, the ability to attack no matter what has come before, as well as building spirit and stamina.
Ji-geiko: undirected practice where the kendoka has a chance to try all that has been learnt, against an opponent.
Gokaku-geiko: practice between two kendoist of similar skill level.
Hikitate-geiko: practice where a senior kendoka guides a junior through practice.
Shiai-geiko: competition practice which may also be judged.
Competition
In shiai, or competition, a point is only awarded when the attack is made firmly and properly to a target point with ki-ken-tai noichi, or spirit, sword and body as one. This means that for an attack to be successful, the shinai must strike the specified target, the contact by the shinai must happen simultaneously with the attacker's front foot contacting with floor and the kendoka must vocalise an expression of kiai that displays good spirit. Additionally, the top third of the shinai must make contact with the target and direction of movement (hasuji) by the shinai must also be correct.
In a tournament, there are usually three referees, or shinpan. Each holds a red flag and a white flag in opposite hands. To signal a point, the shinpan raise the flag corresponding to the colour of the ribbon worn by the scoring competitor. Generally, at least two shinpan must agree, for a point to be awarded. The match continues until a pronouncement of the point that has been scored.
The first competitor to score two points 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:
The match may be declared a draw.
The match may be extended (encho), and the first competitor to score a point wins.
The winner may be chosen by a decision made by the shinpan, or hantei, in which the three referees vote for their choice. This is done simultaneously, by show of flags.
Grades
Technical achievement in kendo is measured by advancement in grade, rank or level. The kyu and dan grading system is used to assess the level of one's skill in kendo. The dan levels are from sho-dan (1) to ju-dan (10). There are usually 6 grades below sho-dan known as kyu.
In the AJKF the grades of kyu-dan (9) and ju-dan (10) are no longer awarded. However, FIK grading rules allow national kendo organisations to establish a special committee to consider the award of those grades.
All candidates for examination face a panel of examiners. A larger, more qualified panel is usually assembled to assess the higher dan grades.
Kendo examinations typically consist of a demonstration of the applicants skill and for some dan grades, also a written exam. The hachi-dan (8 dan) kendo exam is extremely difficult, with a reported pass rate of less than 1 percent.
Kata
There are 10 nihon kendo kata (Japanese kendo forms). These are performed with wooden swords (bokken/bokuto), the kata include fundamental techniques of attacking and counter-attacking, and have useful practical application in general kendo. Occasionally, real swords or swords with a blunt edge, called kata-yo or habiki, may be used for a display of kata.
Nihon Kendo KataKata 1–7 are performed with both partners using a daito or tachi (long sword) style bokutoh of around 102 cm. Kata 8–10 are performed with one partner using a daito and the other using a kodachi or shoto (short sword), style bokutoh of around 55cm. During kata practice, the participants take the roles of either uchidachi (teacher) or shidachi (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 or student to learn and gain confidence.
In 2003, Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho, a set of basic exercises using a bokuto, was introduced. This was intended primarily for kendoka up to ni-dan (2), but is very useful for all kendo students.
This abstract on Kendo has been based on information found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo
