kendo
Japanese Name:
剣道
Romaji Name:
kendou
Description
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Kendo is a Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords called "shinai" and protective armor. It is a form of swordsmanship practiced as both a sport and a way to develop discipline, respect, and mental focus. Practitioners compete by scoring points through strikes.
History
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Kendo has its roots in the samurai swordsmanship traditions (kenjutsu) practiced in Japan for centuries. During the Edo period (1603–1868), samurai trained with wooden swords (bokken) and developed various schools (ryu) of kenjutsu.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Japan modernized, kenjutsu evolved into kendo to be practiced as a sport and educational discipline. Protective armor and bamboo swords were introduced to allow full-contact sparring safely.
The All Japan Kendo Federation was founded in 1952 to promote standardized rules and competitions.
Today, kendo is practiced worldwide, emphasizing not only physical skill but also mental discipline, respect, and character development. It is both a competitive sport and a way to preserve traditional Japanese culture.