Kendo, written as 剣道 (Sword way) is a traditional Japanese 武道/Budou (The Martial way). It aims to forge the mind and body of practitioners called 剣道家/Kendo-ka (also called 剣士/Kenshi) through Japanese Samurai swordsmanship techniques. According to The ALL Japan Kendo Federation, there are about 1.9 million people in the country who practice Kendo, and 30% of them are women.
It is also estimated that there are over 6 million practitioners worldwide. Kendo-ka use 竹刀/Shinai (bamboo swords) and wear protective armor called 稽古着/Keiko-gi and traditional Japanese garments, 袴/Hakama. Kendo techniques include thrusts, strikes and response to attacks.
The techniques used in Kendo can be traced back to the 13th century. Swordsmen in Japan opened several schools to teach 剣術/Kenjutsu (Sword techniques), and some centuries later, the formal exercise known as 型/Kata were developed. During the 正徳時代/Shotoku Era (1711–1715), 長沼四郎左衛門国郷/Naganuma Shirozaemon Kunisato developed a method to practice swords using bamboo swords and armors.
In the 1820s, 千葉 周作 成政/Chiba Shusaku Narimasa, one of the greatest Samurais in the history, introduced 撃剣/Gekiken (training duels with bamboo swords and armor) to the curriculum of traditional arts. His school became very popular and at the end of the Edo period, the use of bamboo swords and armors became a standard practice. Many of the techniques in modern Kendo are based on the teachings from his school.
In the late 1800s after the Meiji Restoration, 榊原鍵吉/Sakakibara Kenkichi held some public 撃剣 events and the popularity of Kendo increased.
In 1876, the use of swords was banned by the government to avoid riots and crimes. However, policemen were allowed to use them (They were called 抜刀隊/Battoutai, sword-wielding policemen), and the sword training for them was standardized, which led to the development of Kendo. The name for the sword training, 撃剣, was changed to 剣道 in 1920 to mean the sporting form of it.
In 1946 after WW2, Kendo along with other martial arts were banned in Japan in by GHQ to suppress the power of Japanese. But in 1950, it was allowed to be practiced again. Two years later, Japan’s independence was restored and The All Japan Kendo Federation was founded. The ban on martial arts was lifted and now we practice them as an educational sport.
During the same year, The International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF) was established in Kyoto in the aim of promoting the development of martial arts worldwide. Today, many organisations all over the world including the International Kendo Federation (FIK) are working to popularizing Kendo.
Rules of Duels
Just like in fencing, there are scorable points called 有効牙突/Yuko-gatotsu that are defined as an accurate thrust or strike with 竹刀. Below are the areas where competitors can get points by hitting correctly.
・面/Men:The top or sides of the head
・胴/Dou:The right or left side of the torso
・突き/Tsuki:In front of the throat
After striking, 残心/Zanshin (continuation of the awareness) must be shown. Back then Samurais had to be prepared for the possibility of sudden attack by the next enemy. Kendo follow that tradition of focusing minds during the duels.
There are usually three referees who raise flags to judge if a strike was accurate or not. A competition is a three-point matche and the first to score two wins.
There are 級/Kyu and 段/Dan grading systems in Kendo. 級 is below 段 and there are six grades from 六級/Rokkyu to 一級/Ikkyu. Above 一級, there are ten 段 levels from 初段/Shodan (first-dan) to 十段/Ju-dan (10th level). 八段/Hachi-dan (8th-dan) is the highest dan grade that one can attain by taking a test of physical Kendo skills now and the exam is extremely difficult. Less than 1 percent of the test-takers pass it.
(9th and 10th dans were given only to significantly important 剣道家)
Titles, or three kinds of 称号/Shogo below can be achieved by passing the screening of the Kendo organization, receiving a recommendation from the president of regional organisation, and passing an exam on the theory of Kendo.
・練士/Renshi: For 6-dan. One must wait more than a year to be qualified for this title.
・教士/Kyoshi: For 7-dan with Renshi title. One must wait more than 2 years to be qualified for this title.
・範士/Hanshi: For 8-dan with Kyoshi title. One must wait more than 8 years to be qualified for this title.
Due to the coronavirus, all matches are canceled this year but you can check the information about competition on the All Japan Kendo Federation website here: https://www.kendo.or.jp/en/competition/
Today’s words and phrases 今日の単語/フレーズ
・be qualified for：〜にふさわしい、適任である
・be based on : 〜に基づいて
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