About Kendo
Kendo means “the way of the sword.” It is a Japanese martial art and sport rooted in the principles of samurai swordsmanship, practiced today by people of many ages and backgrounds.
What is kendo?
Kendo grew from kenjutsu, the older Japanese martial art of swordsmanship. Its practice brings together the values of traditional martial arts and the physical challenge of a modern sport. The All Japan Kendo Federation describes its purpose as disciplining human character through the principles of the katana.
Kendo challenges practitioners physically and mentally, and asks for patience, concentration, and technical skill. Practitioners are often called kendoka or kenshi. Training develops respect for partners and a commitment to steady improvement, both inside and outside the dojo.
How kendo is practiced
Practitioners wear a kendogi jacket and hakama, along with bogu (protective armor). They train with a bamboo sword called a shinai; some paired forms use wooden swords. Kendo’s rules and equipment differ from European fencing, and a successful strike depends on more than simply touching a target: posture, timing, footwork, spirit, and control all matter.
Training combines basic movements, paired drills, sparring, and formal kata. A kenshi uses kiai—a forceful shout—to express commitment, while dynamic footwork accompanies a strike. The armor and shinai allow students to practice attacks with partners while protecting the areas targeted in kendo.
From kenjutsu to kendo
During Japan’s feudal period, sword training was known as kenjutsu. Practice with a real sword or bokken (wooden sword) could be dangerous. During the Edo period (1603–1867), teachers developed protective armor and the bamboo shinai, making repeated practice with partners safer and allowing students to focus on technique. New training methods grew around this equipment, and the art came to be known as kendo—the way of the sword.
After feudalism ended in the late nineteenth century, kendo changed along with Japanese society. It entered public education, and collegiate and national organizations formed in the early twentieth century. Today, kendo is practiced in schools, universities, workplaces, local communities, and clubs in Japan and around the world.
Kendo in the Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation was formed to promote kendo and provide opportunities to train. Its member clubs span Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. PNKF activities include interclub practices, training clinics, international exchanges, rank promotion examinations, and an annual tournament.
PNKF’s strength comes from its members and the clubs where they practice. Each dojo is independent, while federation membership connects practitioners across the region and makes it possible to visit and practice with other affiliated clubs. Find a nearby dojo to ask about beginner instruction and visiting a practice.