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Kendo

Kendo is Japanese budo competition with shinai and protective armour. Valid strikes are not just contact: target, correct technique, posture, kiai and zanshin all matter.

LevelMain sport FamilyCombat Sports CategoryCombat sport / budo

AI-generated illustration: Kendo — AI-generated illustration

Classification

Category Combat sport / budo

Family Combat Sports

Level Main sport

Getting started

Kurzbeschreibung Japanese budo sport with shinai, bogu, footwork and valid-strike criteria.

Geeignet für Suitable for people who like etiquette, rhythm, posture and precision under pressure.

Cost Often low at first with loaner shinai or beginner course; bogu comes later. Dojo/club fees, shinai, keikogi/hakama and later bogu. Kendo dojo, national federation, university sport or FIK-adjacent group. Do not buy bogu immediately; wait for dojo clearance.

First progress Footwork and suburi begin immediately; free shiai comes much later.

Fitness level medium

Was du brauchst

dojo
sensei/coach
shinai
comfortable clothing
later keikogi/hakama and bogu

First steps

observe practice
join a beginner course
learn reiho and footwork
practise suburi and target technique
wear bogu only after clearance

Kendo dojo, national kendo federation, university sport or FIK-adjacent club list.

Check shinai for splinters, follow dojo rules and build partner contact under control.

Weitere Angaben

Tags individual, kendo, combat-sport, kampfsport-familie, kampfsport-budo, combat-sport-budo

Rules and format

Die Grundlagen

Ziel

Score valid shinai strikes with correct posture, target, kiai and zanshin.

Teilnehmer

Two kendoka per bout.

Teamgröße

Individual; teams consist of individual bouts.

Spielfeld

Shiai-jo/dojo area.

Dauer

Depends on format and event.

Wertung

Ippon/valid strikes to men, kote, do or tsuki.

Gewinnbedingung

Best valid time, placing or score in the announced format.

Ausrüstung

shinai
bogu
keikogi/hakama

Wichtige Regelpunkte

uncontrolled action
forbidden strike
leaving the area
unsporting behaviour

Regelquellen

Federations and sources

Federations

International Kendo Federation
International Kendo Federation (FIK)

International Kendo Federation International Kendo Federation · federation · high
Kendo Beginner Guide University of Michigan Kendo Club · club-guide · medium
Beginner's Guide to Kendo Practice Minnehaha Kendo Dojo · club-guide · medium