Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art of sword fighting. The traditional Japanese swordsmanship or Kenjutsu serves as a platform of Kendo.
Its meaning “Way of the Sword” is best shown in the physically and mentally challenging activity of Kendo combining strong martial arts values having sports-like physical elements.
Concepts of Kendo
The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) developed and published “The Concept and Purpose of Kendo” shown below:
Concept
Kendo is a way to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana.
Purpose
To mold the mind and body.
To cultivate a vigorous spirit,
And through correct and rigid training,
To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo.
To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor.
To associate with others with sincerity.
And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself.
Thus will one be able:
To love ones country and society;
To contribute to the development of culture;
And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples.
The History of Kendo
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), sword fencing along with horse riding and archery were the primary martial pursuits of the military clan. The strong influence of Zen Buddhism contributed to the development of Kendo. An individual combat can easily pressure a samurai to disregard his own life in the midst of a battle. The samurai were taught to practice discipline based on the Buddhist concept of the illusory nature of the distinction between life and death.
Those swordsmen instituted schools of kenjutsu (the ancestor of Kendo), which continued for centuries up to the present practice of kendo today. The names of the schools show the essence of the originator’s enlightenment.
The Ittō-ryū, or the Single sword school, reflects the founder’s illumination that all possible cuts with the sword emanate from and are contained in one original essential cut. The Mutō-ryu, or the swordless school expresses the comprehension of the originator Yamaoka Tesshu, that “There is no sword outside the mind”. The Munen Musō-ryū, which means “No intent, no preconception”, conveys the understanding that the essence of kenjutsu goes as far as the reflective thought process. The formal kendo exercises known as kata were developed several centuries ago as kenjutsu practice for warriors until the present time, although in a modified form.
The Shotoku Era (1711-1715) introduced bamboo practice swords (shinai) and armour (bōgu) to “ken” training, attributed to Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato. Naganuma developed the protective equipment called kendo-gu or bogu. He also established a training method using the shinai.
In addition, the inscription on the gravestone of Yamada Heizaemon Mitsunori’s (Ippūsai) (山田平左衛門光徳(一風斎), 1638 - 1718) third son Naganuma Sirōzaemon Kunisato (長沼 四郎左衛門 国郷, 1688-1767), the 8th headmaster of the Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryū Kenjutsu, states that his exploits included improving the bokuto and shinai; and refining the armor by adding a metal grill to the head piece and thick cotton protective coverings to the gauntlets (kote). Kunisato inherited the tradition from his father Heizaemon in 1708, and the two of them worked hard together to improve the bogu until Heizaemon’s death.
The modern kendo would not have been as refined if not for the contribution of Kunisato and Heizaemon. Kendo started to make its modern appearance during the late 18th century. The use of the shinai and armour made it possible to deliver strikes and thrusts with full force without injuring one’s enemy. These advances, along with the development of set practice formats, set the foundations of modern kendo.
The concepts mushin (無心 むしん), or “empty mind”, are adapted from Zen Buddhism and are considered imperative for the achievement of high-level kendo. Fudoshin (不動心 ふどうしん?), meaning “unmoving mind”, is a conceptual attribute of the deity Fudo Myo-O, one of the five “Kings of Light” of Shingon Buddhism. Fudōshin, entailed that the kendoka should not be confused by delusions of anger, doubt, fear, or surprise arising from the opponent’s actions. It is possible to embark on a similar quest, in the modern time, for spiritual enlightenment as followed by the samurai of old.
The year 1895 saw all martial disciplines and systems in Japan to be solidified, promoted, and standardized made possible by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (DNBK). The DNBK changed the name of Gekiken (Kyūjitai: 擊劍; Shinjitai: 撃剣, “hitting sword”) to kendo in 1920. The occupying powers in Japan in 1946 banned Kendo along with other martial arts. 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. Its comeback was initially called Shinai Kyougi “Shinai Competition” and then as Kendo from 1952.
The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF or ZNKR) was founded in 1952, immediately following the restoration of Japanese independence and the succeeding removal of the ban on martial arts in Japan
The International Kendo Federation (FIK) an international federation of national and regional kendo associations and the world governing body for kendo was founded in 1970. The FIK is a non-governmental organization that aims to promote and popularize kendo, iaido and jodo.
The World Kendo Championships are an FIK event and have been held every three years since 1970.