Kendo is the Japanese art of sword-fighting, deriving from the words Ken (sword) êáé do
( Way), which means the “Way of the Sword”.
Kendo does not claim a certain founder of the art neither different schools/styles of kendo exist. Kendo as a martial art was established in approximately 1800, due to the need of the samurai warriors to practice their skills with safety. This martial art is an activity of perfect mental and physical combination and it matches the strong Principles of the martial arts with absolute sport-like characteristics.
The Kendo practitioners are known as kendoka. In our days kendo is more of a sport, a very technical one, and probably the only martial arts where age and weight are not an issue! In fact, the older the athlete gets, the more mature his technique becomes.
Kendo is a very safe martial art, where the protection equipment known as BOGU, provides the necessary protection, giving the athlete the unique advantage of absolute body contact with his/her opponent, using his sword (Shinai) during practice (Keiko) or at a match (shiai).
5 reasons to practice kendo:
1. helps the body to have a correct position, correct walking
2. Good physical status
3. Although it is a spiritual sport it also is an absolutely technical sport
4. Self defense (using a stick or an umbrella)
5. Official matches and possibly National Team |
