Kendo History

The History of Kendo (All Japan Kendo Federation)

Brief Synopsis of The History of Modern Kendo (Kendo World article; author Dr. Alex Bennet)

The History and Background of Japanese Kendo Kata (kata videos are viewable on this site)

Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire (profile of Tokugawa Shogunate & Samurai culture)
Part 1: The Way of the Samurai
Part 2: The Will of the Shogun
Part 3: The Return of the Barbarians


Useful Information For Beginners

Etiquette, Equipment and Other Useful Facts (Cambridge University Kendo Society)

How to wear the kendogi and hakama

How to fold and store the hakama and kendogi


Special Events

New Sekai Kendo Butoku Washinkai Seminars - July 7 - 10, 2010
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

FIK Shinpan Seminar (Americas Region), March 27 & 28, 2010
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Hayashi Kunio Sensei (Hanshi Hachidan) - UVic Seminar 2008

Chiba Hitoshi Sensei (Hanshi Hachidan) - Vancouver Seminar 2007


Training Resources

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho | Bokuto Application for Kendo Fundamental Technique Practice
(Photos; Source: Mushinkan Kendo; these drills are a regular component of all Sunrise Kendo practices.)

Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho (video demonstration of fundamental striking practice)

(Sept. 2009): Bokuto Ni Yoru Kendo Kihon-waza Keiko-ho (excellent demonstration from Japan of the fundamental technique practice using the bokuto; these techniques have now become a required component of kendo training by the ZNKR in Japan)

Kendo Basics Part 1 (All Japan Kendo Federation; language: English)

Kendo Basics Part 2 (All Japan Kendo Federation; language: English)

Kendo Basics Part 3 (All Japan Kendo Federation; language: English)

Below: Fundamental kendo drills and striking practice. A demonstration by the Osaka police featuring the
2009 14th World Kendo Championship Individual Men's Champion and 2007 All Japan Kendo Champion (Teramoto). These drills are a regular component of Sunrise Kendo practices.


Free (sparring) practice (ji geiko) by the same members of the Osaka police club

Below: Kakari geiko. The beloved drill of kendoka the world over. This example is performed by a high school club in Japan.


Below: Oji waza (counter-attack techniques). This superb demonstration features Eiga Naoki Sensei (Hokkaido).


Kendo Documentaries / Films

Aikido & Kendo: The Sporting Way (a 4-part series on You Tube)

Way of the Samurai (part of a BBC "Way of the Warrior" series; this documentary has 4 parts and is viewable on You Tube)

Kendo's Gruelling Challenge (National Geographic Special on Kendo's 8th dan test; a 5 part series on You Tube)

A Single Blow (profile of Eiga Naoki sensei and the Japan Kendo Team's preparation for the 2003 World Kendo Championships in Glasgow, Scotland; a 4-part series on You Tube)

NHK Japanology series: Kendo (an introduction; a 3 part series on You Tube)

4th Dan (a short, fictional film depicting an individual's struggle to achieve the rank of 4th dan; available in 3 parts on You Tube in HD)


Kendo Articles, Events, Tournament Videos

Kendo World Online (publisher of the only English-language magazine dedicated to kendo)

Kendo TV Italia (Italian kendo tournament video archive)

1997 World Kendo Championship Individual Finals (Miyazaki M. (white) vs. Miyazaki F.)

2007 Kyoto Taikai (rare footage of Nito (two sword style) vs. Nito)

2007 Kyoto Taikai vs. Naginata (perhaps even rarer footage of shinai vs. naginata)

15th Saikyo Nanadan Sen 2004 (Miyazaki M. (white) vs. Yoshio M. (red); an excellent bout from the 2004 7th Dan Invitational Tournament)

Inter-Prefectural Tournament - Japan (Kagawa ken vs. Hokkaido ken)
(the 3rd, or Chuken, bout features Eiga Naoki (white; Hokkaido); the 4th, Fukusho bout, features
8th dan Furukawa Kazuo (white; Hokkaido) vs. Manabe)

Gyokuryuki - Japan High School Kendo Championships (exciting & spirited matches featuring Japanese high school clubs)

All Japan Tozai Taiko Taikai

All Japan Kendo 8-Dan Holder's Invitational Tournament

2009 East (E) - West (W) Tournament - Women's Team Competition
Senpo match (Sakuma (E) vs. Yamamoto (W))
Jiho match (Kuno (E) vs. Shimokawa (W))
Chuken match (Nabeyama (E) vs. Komuro (W))
Fukusho match (Takashima (E) vs. Tanaka (W))
Taisho match (Horikawa (E) vs. Ishida (W))

Kokutai: 64th Annual National Sports Festival, Niigata, Japan,2009
Team Competition: Hokkaido ken (red) vs. Kanagawa ken (white)
Senpo match: Iida (Hokkaido) x Matsumoto (Kanagawa)
Jiho & Chuken matches: Hayashi (H) x Shodai (K) & Eiga (H) x F. Miyazaki (k)
Fukusho match: Saga (H) x M. Miyazaki (K)
Taisho match: Okajima (H) x Kasamura (K)

ALL JAPAN KENDO CHAMPIONSHIP, held each year on Nov. 3rd
(click this link to view matches)

14th WORLD KENDO CHAMPIONSHIP, Aug. 28 - 30, 2009, Sao Paulo, Brazil
(click this link to view matches)


Kendo Equipment Suppliers

Aoi Budogu

e-Bogu