Kenjutsu teaches you to use the samurai sword in battle, what exactly does kendo teach and is it as deadly?

Question

what are the main differences and is kendo more for sport than for skill with a katana? Please make the answers simple. Thankyou in advance.

Answer 1

From Kenjutsu developed Kendo, using the bamboo sword ('shinai') to replace the metal sword, and thus allowing the free practice of swordsmanship. Various basic cuts and thrusts are made repeatedly to build up speed and stamina. To focus concentration and to aid correct breathing a shout, or 'kiai', is made on the completion of each strike. When practising Kendo, padded armour (traditionally made of bamboo and cotton) is worn over the customary dress of the samurai. To score, a good cut must be delivered to well-defined targets (the top of the head, right wrist and the breastplate) using the upper third of the shinai. Thrusts to the throat may be made with the point of the shinai. All the targets are well protected by the armour.

First impressions of Kendo are of a noisy, aggressive and violent full-contact martial art. Kendo is certainly dynamic, but a little study will soon reveal a high level of skill and concentration, together with a grace and physical agility that any choreographer would appreciate. Students are from all walks of life and of any age, and women train on equal terms with men.

The arts of the sword as we know them today probably began with Iizasa Choisai the founder of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This school included the use of many weapons from sword and stick to spear and throwing knives. One part of its curriculum was the fast draw and instant use of the sword, either in self-defence or as a pre-emptive strike. This section of their study is called Iai Jutsu. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1542-1621) like Iizasa Choisai is reputed to have received a divine inspiration which led to the development of his art called Muso Shinden Jushin Ryu Batto Jutsu. Here Batto means simply to draw a sword. The significant factor common to both of these schools as with many other sword schools which concerned themselves predominantly with the drawing of the sword, was that the art was practised purely as kata. How then can a martial art be fully effective when it it is practised only as solo kata against an imaginary opponent? This is a much more difficult question than it at first seems, the problem begins when trying to define 'fully effective', and consider what 'effect' is required. Of course, in kata there is no repeated opportunity to prove your technique in combat as there is in fencing kendo, and in the repeated patterns of kata there seems to be no opportunity to modify your movements in response to those of your opponent. As a fighting art of the modern world it is all too easy to see the sword arts superficially and criticise them as inappropriate, simply because we do not walk along the street carrying a sword. The way of the martial artist should be to avoid conflict. This was explained thousands of years ago by Sun Tsu in The Art of War and later by masters of strategy. The martial artist who trains fully and correctly, directed by a sensei, will develop an ability to recognise difficult situations and avoid them before they become a problem, or will engage the conflict before it has grown to become a significant matter, or will maintain a state of mind and body that will not offer opportunities for an aggressor. This is the meaning of Iaido.

Answer 2

Kendo is more of a sport than a martial art. That's not to say that you won't be able to use what you've learned in kendo to fight with a sword, simply that it's not anywhere near as realistic as kenjutsu. There is, however, a lot more sparring in kendo than in kenjutsu (for the obvious reason that you're using a shinai rather than a bokuto or an actual katana), so you may simply want to take both. Use what you learn in kenjutsu in a kendo-style sparring setting. The only problem with that, of course, is that you'd get fouled for using some kenjutsu techniques. ^_^

Answer 3

Kendo is a sport that is derived from Kenjutsu, it is Japanese fencing. The main differences between Kendo & Kenjutsu are as follows:
1) Kendo is a sport. Thus, it has rules and a scoring system that govern it. Kenjutsu has no rules.
2) Kendo focuses on fencing, not cutting techniques. Blows are delivered, but stopped abruptly at the moment of contact. Thus, many Kendo players don't really know how to cut properly. It'd be like always bunting when your up to hit when playing baseball.
3) The intent in making contact in Kendo is to only score points, not to hurt your opponent. In kenjutsu, it's to maim & kill.

If you're looking for Kendo to yield practical self-defense skills, or to expect to be know how to handle a real sword...then I think you would be very disappointed.

Answer 4

As others have mentioned....there's really no comparison between properly taught kenjutsu, and the sport of kendo.

Kendo teaches you to...well, to put it frankly, 'hack' with a shinai -vs-actually drawing through a target like you would with a real shinken.

What kendo teaches is exactly the opposite of what one would do with a real japanese blade. The idea is simple, compare a steel blade, that has curvature in it's construction and swing it for an hour. Your shoulders and forearms will be burning. Now, compare that to a "blade" of super light straight bamboo straps bound together....and swing that. The behavior, and dynamics of the two tools are simply not the same.

Kendo is a sport, and in turn....is neutered in it's active application of swordsmanship techniques. It has rules, kenjutsu does not. While kendo may have roots in the koryu martial styles of Japan, it does not hold true to the combat applications of real swordplay.

This same premise is for sport naginatado, which is practiced by Japanese women. The flimsy light tools they use aren't even close to the weight, heft, and dynamics of a real naginata.

Is kendo fun? Sure....I've played with it a bit. Is it practical or realistic in any way whatsoever? No....not a bit.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

kendo is the sport form of kenjutsu.

As the prior answerer mentioned, it does not teach you to cut properly.

The focus is completely different, kendo, while fun is a VERY watered down form of kenjutsu, not as much as sport fencing is of traditional rapier, but still. That is primarily because kendo is still at least movement in 3 dimensions and not "linear" back and forth.

in kendo the strike is not designet for power to cut, but a quick snapping motion that is actually initiated by the left (lower hand on the shinai) and controlled by the right hand (hand holding under the tsuba- or guard of the shinai).

It is to attack three or four (depending upon rank) targets. the Men- or head, (left or right is migi or hadari- called for both head and torso), the Do- or torso/trunk (left or right again) and the kote, or lower arm strike/forearm).
The "tsuki" is also a legitimate target that is a thrust to the throat- however in many cases this is prohibited for use by lower ranking students or kendoka.

by contrast kenjutsu teaches how to properly cut and use power to do so- the origin of the strike and control is different. The right hand pushes, the left controls generally, but they both add some power. It is kind of the direct opposite of kenjutsu. also the cutting arc is different.

also the goal "generally" is to strike and avoid blade contact. While not always realistic, this was to preserve the blade as improper contact could damage the edge- especially with a katana.

kenjutsu is a combat oriented art and techniques are geared to kill your opponent and that includes a "full-body" target where strike zones are not limited.

Also kendo is a "race to hit" the first to strike scores. in a real combat your primary goal is not to kill the guy first, its to kill the guy and preserve yourself.

Answer 7

Shortest answers I can do, lot of better more complete answers above:
Kenjutsu is a war art. It teaches striking vital targets, cutting, slashing, body movements. Kendo is a sport that teaches quick hits, hitting padded targets, and lacks the cutting. It is a fun sport that teaches quick reflexes. Normally most folks do not go around with a katana or a boken, or a shinai.

Answer 8

dewmeister is correct, Kendo is more sport then fighting art, Kenjitsu is more fighting art with zero sport to it.

Also Kendo uses larger soft swords called Shinai while Kenjitsu uses the Bokken more. Bokken are hard wood swords shaped exactly like a Katana and they are used exactly the same way. Kendo uses Shinai in larger arcing motions due to the Shinai's size and weight, it is very different from wielding a light, stiff and quick Katana.

Answer 9

Most Kendo practitioners learn Kendo for the sport competition aspect.

It is the equivalent of TKD, but with swords.

Answer 10

Kendo is based on kenjutsu and is evidently very practical.

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendo

Hope this helps!