What is Kendo ?
BRIEF
HISTORY
Kendo
takes his origin in sword fighting by Japanese warriors ( samurai ) on
battlefields during feudal period ( 11th to 17th century). Sword
fighting techniques were ever improved in many Kenjutsu schools known
as Ryu.
Though
fire weapons were very used and destructive on battlefields, sword (
Katana or Ken ) remains the faithful companion and the real soul of a
Samurai.
Katana
Inside
Ryu, Bokuto, the hardwood sword is used for trainings, most of the time
without any protective equipment.
Bokuto
Kenjutsu,
the art of swordmanship,which prepare to war and duel turned
progressively to Kendo, martial art for the way of sword during modern
period ( 19th century ). Severe injuries which occured sometimes during
training with bokuto and change of finality led to important
modifications. Main changes are the introduction of a protective
armour, the Bogu, and elaboration of Shinai , made of four bamboo
sticks , which will be our two handed sword .This equipment made
possible the full delivery of blows without injury.
Bogu
Shinai
PRACTICE
More
than 8 million people are practicing nowaday this martial art, mainly
in Japan.
In France, kendoka are about 2500. A Kendo training is done on wooden
floor with a relative elasticity. Kendoka have bare feet. The goal
consists to cut off one of the main points which are pieces of armour :
Men, Kote or Do of the opponent, or pierce the opponent's throat (
Tsuki ).Those strikes and pierce attacks are shown in red on the
picture below.
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