Introduction to Japanese Kendo

Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art with competitive equipment. Formal competitions are usually held indoors, where the quality of the wooden floor is high due to the bare feet of the competitors. The contestants compete one-on-one, both wearing kendo uniforms and protective gear, holding bamboo swords, and striking each other's effective parts according to the rules, with the referee counting the number of points to determine the winner. Can also be held in groups, by the number of players equal to the group of both sides were one-on-one to determine the winner after the calculation of the total score. The following is what I have organized for you: the introduction of Japanese kendo.

Origin of Japanese Kendo

? Kendo? The term first originated from the ancient Chinese book Wu Yue Chun Qiu (The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu Yue) during the pre-Qin period. The two-handed swordsmanship inherited from China was spread to Japan during the Han and Tang dynasties through official exchanges between the Japanese government sending envoys to the Sui and Tang dynasties and mainland China, as well as civil exchanges between the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding areas along the mainland coast and the Japanese archipelago. After years of war in Japan, the sword method evolved, and in the increasingly stable Edo period, imitating the style of Japanese armor, the production of kendo guards and the basic shape of the bamboo sword, establishing the prototype of the future sports kendo.

History of Kendo in Japan

Kendo as a sport has an ancient history in Japan, and like many other socio-cultural phenomena, it is rich in Japanese culture.

Kendo is inextricably linked to the samurai, and can be said to have been developed by them. Japan's mountainous terrain makes it easy for local forces to form, and the relatively narrow area and limited resources make it easy for local forces to collaborate internally and compete externally, which makes it easy for local forces to clash with each other, and the professional samurai class came into being. In order to match their environment, samurai were expected to be loyal, courageous, rule-following, and honorable, and these traits were incorporated into the sport of kendo.

By the time of the Meiji Restoration, Japanese society was undergoing rapid change, and the centralized power of the imperial family clashed with the samurai in the process of eradicating local rule. The samurai, with cold weapons in hand, faced off against the guns of the imperial army, and although they bravely fought and won battles, they were ultimately annihilated[1]. The Hollywood movie starring Tom? The movie "The Last Samurai", starring Tom Cruise, is a reflection of this period of history. However, because the sword in the hands of the samurai impressed the Imperial family, kendo was popularized and served Japanese militarism from the Meiji era until the end of World War II, when it was abolished from the military training curriculum. From the 1950s onwards, kendo gradually emerged as a pure sport until today.

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Characteristics of Japanese Kendo

1, with confrontation: Kendo simulates the fight against the two sides of the sword equipment. Kendo training can improve eyesight, footwork, adaptability. Although confrontational, but because the protective gear is complete, so compared with other technical sports, Kendo is a safe sport, in the fierce formal competition is rarely injured.

2, athletic: Although it seeks to simulate the two sides holding swords and instruments to fight the actual battle. However, because of the limitations of the props and rules, the sport has become more athletic, with no foot protection (in fact, naginata and gunplay have foot protection, but the reasons for this are unknown), and attacks on the feet are prohibited; the previously permitted grabbing of the sword has been abolished; and the shape of the bamboo swords is so far removed from the real swords that it is impossible to learn the correct blade tendons;

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3. The philosophy is profound. Kendo contains the wisdom of Eastern philosophy, it seeks to gas, sword, body consistent [1], with the static braking, unchanged to meet all the changes, after the attack, the weak over the strong and soft to overcome the rigid and so on, in the Kendo can be experienced. Kendo also emphasizes spiritual power, through which one can train the ability to respond to crisis with calmness and composure.

Equipment for Japanese Kendo

Modern Kendo is a sport that involves fighting with bamboo swords and protective gear in real stances. Therefore, there is also a special study in equipment; bamboo blade is made of four pieces of bamboo plate plus the tip of the blade leather and grip leather combination. The protective gear consists of a mask, chest protector, waist drape, gloves, and cotton pants. The venue is usually on a wooden resilient floor with barefoot sparring. As a result, the protection is well done and, therefore, there is a lower rate of injury than occurs in other martial arts sports.

Japanese Kendo Blade Grip

1) Upper Section

2) Middle Section

3) Lower Section

4) Wakizashi

5) Hachisagi

6) Hirakei (Flat Green Eyes)

7) Kasumi (Kasumi)

Japanese Kendo Ranks

First rank on April 1, Heisei 2 (1990)

First rank qualification owner Junior high school grade 2 or above

Second rank First rank qualification 1 year or more after qualification 16 years old or older

Third rank Second rank qualification 2 years or more after qualification 18 years old or older

Fourth rank Third rank qualification 3 years or more after qualification Over 21 years of age

Over 25 years of age 4 years after qualifying for 5th dan

Over 30 years of age 5 years after qualifying for 6th dan

Over 36 years of age 6 years after qualifying for 7th dan

Over 46 years of age 10 years after qualifying for 8th dan

Over 65 years of age after qualifying for 8th dan

Over 65 years of age 10 years after qualifying for 10th dan

Over 65 years of age 10 years after qualifying for 8th dan

Over 65 years of age 10 years after qualifying for 8th dan

10th dan, 9th dan, after qualification

Trainer A person with a 6th dan qualification and good judgment

Cleric A person with a 6th dan qualification and good guidance

HAN A person with a 8th dan qualification, who has a high level of morality and purity, is a proficient sword master, and is skilled in the art of swordplay, and who is 55 years of age or older

Kendo-kata

The study of Kendo Kata increases the understanding of the basic comprehensive theory of Kendo.

The principles of swordsmanship include the concept of how to use a taijutsu properly, the grip of the sword, the body posture, the sparring stance, the body distance, the sparring technique, the correct timing of strikes, the unity of the ki and sword bodies, the three kills, the chi, the breathing, and so on, all of which are essential for learning to move from the simple to the complex of kendo movements. In addition, if one learns about the creation of Kendo Kata and how it was developed, and if one learns about Bushido, the spirit of Bushido, and the exercise methods of the ancient warriors, one will be able to take one's spiritual training to the next level.

Furthermore, Kendo Kata is chosen as the most basic of all Kendo techniques, in other words, it consists of correct striking, smart movement, learning to control spacing, ki, correcting bad habits, and embodying the essence of each school.