About Kendo

Kendo can be literally translated as “The Way of the Sword”. Aimed at improving the mind and body through the practice of swordsmanship, Kendo is a martial art with roots in the Japanese Samurai tradition, dating back well over a thousand years. A concise History of Kendo can be found on the All Japan Kendo Federation site.

Modern Kendo consists of two basic types of practice. The first is Kata, consisting of choreographed series of attacks and counter-attacks practiced using wooden swords or replica live blades. The second is practice using the “shinai”, a bamboo sword designed to be safely used in conjunction with protective equipment, to permit full contact practice of cuts, thrusts and blocking techniques

Below is a link to a short video clip. It will give you some idea of what shinai practice looks and sounds like. Kendo Match Video Clip This and other clips are available at the “Kendo Lab” Web Site.

Please click the follow links to understand more about kendo:

• The Spirit of Kendo

• The Etiquette of Kendo

• The Starting and Ending Formalities

Relevant Links for Kendo

Important Kendo Organizations:

Canadian Kendo Federation

All Japan Kendo Federation

All United States Kendo Federation

Kendo Reference Sites:

Kendo Equipment Manual - Best Equipment Reference on the Net

Kendo Laboratory (Videos and Moving gifs)

Kendo World Magazine

World Kendo Championships:

Team Canada Kendo Site

Kendo Equipment Sellers (Bogu-ya):

e-Bogu

Aoi Budogu

Wuhao New York

Warriors Martial Arts Equipment

Canadian Kendo Club

Toronto Kendo Club

JCCC (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre) Toronto

International Kendo Clubs

Choyokan (Chicago)