How to Practice Kendo

Kendo is the Japanese version of fencing. Using light armor and special practice swords called shinai made of split bamboo, kendo participants (or kendoka) often use circular strikes. This tends to make kendo matches more physically punishing than European-style fencing bouts. Kendo has less ritual associated with it than sumo wrestling. Kendo translates as "way of the sword," with "do" having a sport connotation.

Instructions

1. Locate and join a qualified kendo instructor or kendo club. Listings for kendo schools, called dojos, can be found through the All United States Kendo Federation or Kendo America.

2. Study kendo equipment. This consists of bogu (the armor, which includes headgear, light gloves, a body protector and a padded hip/groin piece), jacket, flowing pleated pants (hakama) and a shinai. It can be challenging for larger individuals to find bogu in their size. There are several styles of shinai available.

3. Purchase equipment under guidance of the dojo. Many schools will have specific bogu sets or jacket and hakama sets that are required. A dojo might also require a certain style of shinai.

4. Expect to break shinai. They will wear out. Many kendoka try to buy multiple shinai at one time to ensure the bamboo is from the same lot. Others take pains to match the number and spaces of the bamboo nodes in their shinai. Oiling a shinai will help it survive longer. If allowed by the dojo, carbon shinai are also available.

5. Learn to properly care for the equipment. Bogu, jackets and hakama are expensive. It is mandatory to learn to properly fold the hakama to maintain the creases. The purpose of this flowing garment is to disguise the movement of the feet; improperly creased hakama will not do this and may impede free movement.

6. Train diligently. Many kendo styles, like other martial arts, start students out slowly with long stance training sessions or thousands of repetitions of basic moves.

7. Study the thinking behind kendo. Kendo is a sport of strategy, and many fine books on kendo and kenjutsu (the use of the sword in combat) are available in English.

Tips & Warnings

• Related sports include iaido, which centers on drawing the blade, and kumdo, a Korean version of kendo.

Resources

• AUSKF is the official site of the All United States Kendo Federation.
• Locate dojos at Kendo USA.
• Kendo World is the only English kendo magazine.