Should I take Kendo or Fencing?

Question

A few details about me... I've got a looong history of martial arts, and a relatively high rank in practical jujitsu.

LOVE swords, love bodybuilding - and have started to think that some form of sword practice would be great fun, as well as a terrific way to keep the cardio up. I *do* have a relatively low tolerance for boredom or unnecessary stylistic rules.

For those who have studied one or the other style - which do you think would meet my tastes better...kendo or fencing? Or maybe there's even another style preferable which I haven't considered?

Thanks in advance for any information!

Answer 1

Depends I guess. In my opinion though, I'd say Kendo gives more full body work out than fencing. With fencing, you focus more on speed, coordination and accuracy, so power is not the focus since you rely on the point of your sword combined with footwork and wrist action to create the neccesary momentum to hit your opponent, while Kendo requires hip action and full body swings to perform a strike. With repetition, you can work up a sweat in no time. Besides, in terms of practical self defense, Kendo techniques translates better when using a baseball bat or a golf club and much preferred compared to fencing with an umbrella or a walking cane since fencing targets are pretty much limited to vital spots like eyes, throat, gut and groin, while a baseball bat or golf club will hurt no matter which part of the anatomy you hit. Like I said, depends on what you want, power or speed?

Answer 2

I recently started feincing, and I love it.

There are two main ways that fencing is taught: Sport, and Classical. I fence foil, and Classical, and from what I've heard, Classical is much more true to the historical style. Fencing requires discipline of the mind, and body. Sometimes your brain will understand what it is supposed to do, and the body doesn't get it right away. That can be annoying, but it also challenges an individual to high standards, which is good.

It is said that it takes two lifetimes to master fencing, i.e., by the time someone has "mastered" the sport, he/she will be past his or her prime, and there are always new things to learn. However, Classical fencing (or at least as I am learning it) does focus a lot on the little details in movement and technique. You mentioned concern about getting bored with stylistic rules, so I thought I should warn you about that.

I hope you give it a try! Cheers, and Merry Christmas!

Answer 3

that's greater modernly effective? they do no longer seem to be modernly effective, the firearm has made them out of date. comparing the two, what could you assert is greater much less stressful to improvise whilst confronted in this present day-day and age and in a position to apply effectively with regardless of environment? Foil and Epee are unlikely that might actually assist you with something till you hit upon an prolonged pointed merchandise Sabre - there are similiarities between Sabre fencing and a few ecu cane/stick arts, some Sabre can circulate over to sticks and batons Kendo - trains with a stick already, even though it quite is a specially formed and sized stick None of those arts are very solid for improvising. although the two are magnificent for bobbing up velocity, agility, short bursts, accuracy, staying power, self-discipline, etiquette, and strategic thinking, which in turn carry over into different issues.

Answer 4

Your best bet is to try out both arts for a while and simply see which one you like best.