KENDO - Way of D Sword
Kendo means "way of the sword" and is the traditional martial art of Japanese fencing. Kendo players fence with flexible bamboo practice swords (shinai) using both the edge and point of the sword to hit targets on their opponent's armour. The four main targets are the top of the head, the throat, the abdomen and the wrist. In budo, Japanese martial arts, "do" refers to a path or way to self-improvement through martial training. Kendo teaches not only physical fencing techniques but also a philosophy which is inherent to budo. Kendo develops strong spirit, positive attitude and respect for others. A Brief History of Kendo Around 900 AD, Japanese smiths developed the curved samurai sword by improving on earlier Chinese and Korean designs. This was the start of the Japanese style of fencing, as the shape and size of a sword influence the techniques used to wield it. The finest swords were made around 1300 AD and fencing schools exist today which date back to that period. The main influence of modern kendo, Itto-ryu, dates to the 15th century. Fencing was originally practised with a steel or wooden swords, often resulting in serious injury to the fencers. Around 1750, Chuto Nakanishi devised a bamboo practice sword and light practice armour. With the new equipment, fencing could be practiced at full speed with only the danger of bruises. By 1780 the equipment had been refined to look very much as it does today. However the focus of the practice was still more on battlefield technique than philosophy and sport; kenjutsu rather than kendo. During the Meiji restoration, when samurai were forbidden from wearing swords in public, and after World War II when all military activities were banned, swordsmanship declined in Japan. In both cases the battlefield training was evolved into an activity more suitable for peacetime, and so modern kendo with its emphasis on sport and spiritual growth was born. To avoid injuries, the kendokas use protecting armor (bogu). The different parts of the bogu are: Men - a fencing mask combined with shoulder flaps for protection of the head, face, throat and shouldersDo - a breastplate, covering the torso and stomachKote - a pair of padded gloves for the hands and the wristsTare - an apron which is worn around the hips to protect the thighs and the groinThe bogu is worn over clothing which consists of a heavy cotton jacket (kendogi) and a pair of wide, skirt-like trousers (hakama). A soft cloth (tenugui) - often decorated with Japanese calligraphy and powerful symbols - is worn under the Men to absorb the sweat and minimize chafing from the mask. The cost for all this equipment is highly dependent of the quality of the gear - hand-crafted, exquisite Japanese bogus with artistic stitching and Titanium face visors naturally being the most expensive. The equipment is of course completed by the "shinai" - the bamboo sword. The shinai consists traditionally of four bamboo sticks tightly bound together by leather straps and a leather handle. Nowadays there are also graphite shinais available, made of much more durable carbon fiber material, well suited for training purposes.For beginners, most Kendo-clubs offer training equipment, until the new kendokas decide it's time to purchase their own, custom made, snugly fitting - and perhaps not quite so foul-smelling - bogu. The total weight of the equipment is about five kilograms. During a training session, you lose just as much water through perspiration as during a heavy spinning or high impact aerobic session. Kendo is in fact a great cardiovascular work-out even if you're not interested in participating in competitions.• Bokken / Bokuto - wooden sword used for kataShinai - Bamboo practice sword • Sakigawa - leather tip • Nakayui - leather strap tied at the upper one third of the shinai • Tsuru - yellow string which runs along the back of the shinai • Tsuba - hand guard • Tsukagawa - leather handle coverBogu - protective gear • Men - head/face protector • Men gane - metal grill over face • Men tare - flaps/ shoulder protection • Tsuki tare - throat protector • Kote - hand and wrist protector • Do - chest and torso protector • Tare - waist, thigh and groin protector Himo - strings on kendo bogu - men himo, do himo etc.Zekken - tare cover with name tag Keiko gi / do gi - Kendo top jacketHakama - wide skirt-like pants
