Kendo Philosophy - Kendo Creed published by the International Kendo Federation:

The concept of Kendo is:

To discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the katana.
The purpose of practicing Kendo is:

To mold the mind and body, To cultivate a vigorous spirit, To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor, To associate with others with sincerity, To forever pursue the cultivation of one's self, And through correct and rigid training, to strive for improvement in the art of Kendo.

MSU Kendo Club Mission:

In Japan, many kenshi (a person who practices kendo) start practicing at age six. In the U.S. this is not the case. Most kenshi in the U.S. start their kendo journey in their college years or even later. The M.S.U. kendo club is in a unique position to introduce a large student community to kendo. We recognize that our function is to:

1. Introduce newcomers to the art of kendo, and instill in them a love and appreciation of the art of kendo that will stay with them past the end of their college career.
2. Provide challenging practices for those who are already experienced kenshi.
3. Build an understanding of the true nature and spirit of kendo in all who practice with us.
4. Place graduating members with other dojos so that their kendo journey doesn't end with graduation.

Kendo Equipment:

Kendo equipment consists of the swords, uniform and armor. There are two types of wooden swords used. First, the bokken or bokuto, a solid wood sword made of oak or another suitable hardwood. The bokken is used for basics and forms practice (kata). Second, the shinai, is made up of four bamboo staves and leather. The shinai is used for full contact sparring practice. The uniform or dogi consists of woven cotton top called a keikogi and pleated skirt-like trousers called a hakama. The armor or bogu consists of four pieces: the helmet (men), the body protector (do), the gloves (kote), and the hip and groin protector (tare). Modern Kendo armor design is fashioned after the Oyoroi of the Samurai.

Kendo Practice Overview:

Kendo is a vigorous martial art. In most kendo practices you will be in motion continuously for the entire practice. This sort of continuous practice contributes to a healthy life full of vigor and also helps build stamina, endurance, quick reflexes, speed, strength, and decisiveness.

A Kendo practice is composed of many types of training. Each type has a different purpose for developing the Kendo student. Kendo, like other martial arts requires discipline and a dedication to training. A new student begins with learning the basics such as: etiquette (reigi), different postures and footwork, and how to properly swing a sword. The student progresses through a series of skills preparing them to begin training with armor (bogu). Once a student begins to practice in armor, a practice may be composed of any or all of the following types of practice and this will depend upon what the instructor's focus is at a particular time:

  1. Kiri-Kaeshi: successively striking the left and right men, practice centering, distance, and proper cutting while building spirit and stamina.
  2. Waza-Geiko: technique practice in which the student learns to use the many techniques of Kendo with a receiving partner.
  3. Kakari-Geiko: short, intense, attack practice which teaches continuous alertness, the ability to attack no matter what has come before, as well as building spirit and stamina.
  4. Ji-Geiko: sparring practice where the kendoist has a chance to try all that he or she has learned with a resisting partner.
  5. Gokaku-Geiko: sparring practice between two kendoist of similar skill level.
  6. Hikitate-Geiko: sparring practice where a senior kendoist guides a junior kendoist through practice.
  7. Shiai-Geiko: competition matches which are judged on the basis of a person scoring valid cuts against an opponent.

Kendo practice is physically challenging and mentally stimulating. A typical practice at MSU Kendo consists of:

Periodically we will practice kendo-no-kata. Kata are pre-arranged forms. The practice of kendo kata helps us to understand the theory and practice of kendo in a way that improves our work with the shinai. Shinai-kendo practice in turn brings about an understanding of how to create kendo in a way that helps to improve the performance of our kendo kata.

Here are some typical Kendo goals that are achieved throught practice:

Final Lessons we hope to learn from Kendo:

What is Kendo?

Don't feel like reading? Click here to watch our introductory video...

Kendo, is the art of Japanese fencing. "Ken" or tsurugi is from the character meaning sword. The character for "Do" or michi includes the meaning way or path which translates as "The way of the sword". A path in life which is followed through the training of kendo.

It is a martial art that involves physical development, mental and spiritual development, and sport-like competition.

Basically, kendo involves the use of some sort of sword or "shinai", body armor or "bogu", a face mask or "men", and clothing for underneath (the top is called a "gi" and botton is called a "hakama"). Most parts are made specific for kendo, but some can be used for other martial arts.

Origin of Kendo

Modern kendo bears but faint resemblance to kenjutsu and to its feudal origins of sword wielding samurai warriors which are today depicted in movies and television. Kendo, literally translated, the way of the sword, cannot be traced to a single founder or given an exact founding date. The story of the rise of modern Kendo begins with the samurai and extends over the culture of several centuries.

By the end of the 12th century, the authority of the Japanese central government had declined. Bands of warriors grouped together for protection forming local aristocracies. Feudalism had come of age, and was to dominate Japan for several centuries. With the establishment of the Shogun in Kamakura and military rule controlling Japan, a new military class and their lifestyle called Bushido, "the way of the warrior", gained prominence. Bushido stressed the virtues of bravery, loyalty, honor, self discipline and stoical acceptance of death. Certainly, the influence of Bushido extended to modern Japanese society and Kendo was also to be greatly influenced by this thinking.

The Japanese warrior had no contempt for learning or the arts. Although kenjutsu, "the art of swordsmanship", had been recorded since the 8th century, it gained new prominence and took on religious and cultural aspects as well. Sword making became a revered art. Zen and other sects of Buddhism developed and the samurai often devoted time to fine calligraphy or poetry.

The next great advance in the martial arts occurred during the late Muromachi period (1336-1568) often call the "Age of Warring Provinces" because of the many internal conflicts. This period brought an increased demand and respect for men trained in the martial arts. Consequently, many schools of Kenjutsu arose, eventually numbering about 200. Each was taught by a famous swordsman whose techniques earned him honor in battle. Real blades or hardwood swords without protective equipment were used in training resulting in many injuries. These schools continued to flourish through the Tokugawa period (1600-1868), with the Ittoryu or "one sword school", having the greatest influence on modern Kendo.

Kendo began to take its modern appearance during the late 18th century with the introduction of protective equipment: the men, kote and do and the use of the bamboo sword, the shinai. The use of the shinai and protective armor made possible the full delivery of blows without injury. This forced the establishment of new regulations and practice formats which set the foundation of modern Kendo.

With the Meiji Restoration (1868) and Japani's entry into the modern world, Kendo suffered a great decline. The Samurai class was abolished and the wearing of swords in public outlawed. This decline was only temporary, however, interest in Kendo was revived first in 1887 when uprisings against the government showed the need for the training of police officers. Later the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) again encouraged an awareness of the martial spirit.

Consequently in 1895, the Butokukai, an organization devoted to the martial arts was established. In 1911, kendo was officially introduced into the physical education curriculum of middle schools and in 1912, the Nihon Kendo Kata, a set of regulations for Kendo, was published. In 1939 as Japan prepared for war, Kendo became a required course for all boys.

After the war, because of its nationalistic and militaristic associations, Kendo was outlawed and the Butokukai was disbanded. However by 1952, supporters of Kendo successfully reintroduced a "pure sport" form of Kendo, called Shinai Kyogi which excluded the militaristic attitudes and some of the rougher aspects of practice characteristic of prewar Kendo, into the public schools. Today, Kendo continues to grow under the auspices of the All Japan Kendo Federation, the International Kendo Federation, and federations all over the world.

Although the outward appearance and some of the ideals have changed with the changing needs of the people, kendo continues to build character, self-discipline and respect. Despite a sportlike atmosphere, Kendo remains steeped in tradition which must never be forgotten. For here lies the strength of Kendo which has carried it throughout history and will carry it far into the future.

Above information is from the All US Kendo Federation website (http://auskf.info/mainpages/auskfmain.htm).

msu 2006 MSU Kendo Club
The club is a member of the MWKF and is an official RSO and Club Sport of Michigan State University