Kendo and Kenjutsu

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Kendo and Kenjutsu

by Robert Chaffins
(Burnet, Texas, US)

What is the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu, besides the difference in gear?

Answer: Kenjutsu is "the technique of the Sword" and kendo is "the way of the sword". Kenjutsu has old techniques including very dangerous techniques that are not seen in kendo. More specifically, kenjutsu is to kill opponents and kendo is to make others live.

Now those who do kenjutsu practice for their personal development and discipline not for killing anyone. At least in Japan.

Kendo was a method of training kenjutsu. Ancient Japanese warriors invented shinai so they would not get hurt while training. Then shortly after, they invented armour that was close to the one we have now.

(ref: Who practice Kendo in the Edo Period?)

Kendo took its own way and became the kendo we have now. We used to have old techniques such as foot sweeps and all but they are not used nowadays even in training. The reason is easy. We do not kendo to hurt others but train and grow together.

Kendo and kenjutsu now have the same purposes and concepts, which is to discipline and develop ourselves to become better self.

Kenjutsu is basically kata (form) oriented (with or without a partner), while kendo involves more physical interaction with a partner.

Hope this helps.

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Kendo and Kenjutsu

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Oct 31, 2009
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would they make a complete form
by: aaron

From the comments made would it be correct to believe that the practice of kendo, kenjutsu and iaido together would give a person a complete view of how the sword was used in feudal Japan?

Meaning that kenjutsu and iaido would allow us to see various techniques and how they could possibly be applied with a willing opponent. We could then use kendo, take those techniques (the ones that would not hurt people. We lose training partners that way), and practice them with an unwilling opponent.

Thus, kendo allows us to see variations on the drill work and practicing strategy, timing and distance with an unwilling opponent, one who has his own ideas on what is going to happen. Is this correct?

Kendo-Guide.Com: I am not too sure what you mean by "practice them with an unwilling opponent". If you mean that you can use dangerous techniques on those who are not very pleasant to train with or disturb you somehow, then you are misunderstanding kendo.

If you do not mean by the above-mentioned, please accept my apology about my misunderstanding what you wrote.

Kenjutsu, iaido, kendo or other bujutsu and budo include many fighting techniques. But we all have to know that they never teach you to fight. They teach you how not to fight. If we have to fight, there is only one enemy, ourselves.

Kendo is derived from kenjutsu and it has established its own form as budo now. This means we train ourselves to learn how to control our feelings and emotions during training and respect our training partners.

So if you want to learn kenjutsu and iaido, I really think it helps you to understand what is going on in kendo, why we treat shinai as a sword and how all the rituals come from such as sitting down in seiza from the left leg first.

To summarize, all the techniques and teachings of budo and bujutsu are to train ourselves.

Hope this helps.

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Oct 31, 2009
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Submitted by: aaron

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From the comments made would it be correct to believe that the practice of kendo, kenjutsu and iaido together would give a person a complete view of how the sword was used in feudal Japan? Meaning that kenjutsu and iaido would allow us to see various techniques and how they could possibly be applied with a willing opponent. We could then use kendo, take those techniques (the ones that would not hurt people. We lose training partners that way), and practice them with an unwilling opponent. Thus, kendo allows us to see variations on the drill work and practicing strategy, timing and distance with an unwilling opponent, one who has his own ideas on what is going to happen. Is this correct? Kendo-Guide.Com: I am not too sure what you mean by "practice them with an unwilling opponent". If you mean that you can use dangerous techniques on those who are not very pleasant to train with or disturb you somehow, then you are misunderstanding kendo. If you do not mean by the above-mentioned, please accept my apology about my misunderstanding what you wrote. Kenjutsu, iaido, kendo or other bujutsu and budo include many fighting techniques. But we all have to know that they never teach you to fight. They teach you how not to fight. If we have to fight, there is only one enemy, ourselves. Kendo is derived from kenjutsu and it has established its own form as budo now. This means we train ourselves to learn how to control our feelings and emotions during training and respect our training partners. So if you want to learn kenjutsu and iaido, I really think it helps you to understand what is going on in kendo, why we treat shinai as a sword and how all the rituals come from such as sitting down in seiza from the left leg first. To summarize, all the techniques and teachings of budo and bujutsu are to train ourselves. Hope this helps.

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Oct 21, 2009
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There wasn't much distinction between do and jutsu terms
by: Raffa

If I am not wrong it seems to me to remember that until the Meiji era there was no real distinction of meanings between kenjutsu and kendo. More or less was the same for budo and bujutsu.

Then, as the practical use of the swords on battlefield faded, its principles were used as an educative system for masses, and so the modern kendo was born. If you seek the real old kenjutsu then you can partially find it in iaido, or better in a kory?.

Ancient kendo/kenjutsu -> real warrior training -> samurai elite only

Modern kendo/iaido -> educative system -> for masses

Kendo-Guide.Com: Since I am not a scholar, I am not sure about those details. But I would like to comment on some historical fact.

We have to remember that kenjutsu was in danger of extinction due to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 (The last Samurai showed this era).

This meant the end of the Edo Shogunate and also the shift from the sword to the fire arms.

Samurai did not mean much anymore, especially after wearing a sword was banned in 1872. So a guy called Kenkichi SAKAKIBARA started an event called gekiken. This was more like a show. These very skilled samurai who lost their jobs because of the ban were saved by this event.(Of course,
there were pros and cons about such events).

And after the World War II, we all know all the kendo was banned and shinai ky?gi (shinai competition) was created to save kendo somehow. Shinai ky?gi was defined as a sport and did not have any rules about y?k?-datotsu.

Anyway, kendo took a serious path to survive. I just wanted to introduce a bit of history so that we can appreciate what we have now.

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Oct 21, 2009
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Submitted by: Raffa

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If I am not wrong it seems to me to remember that until the Meiji era there was no real distinction of meanings between kenjutsu and kendo. More or less was the same for budo and bujutsu. Then, as the practical use of the swords on battlefield faded, its principles were used as an educative system for masses, and so the modern kendo was born. If you seek the real old kenjutsu then you can partially find it in iaido, or better in a kory?. Ancient kendo/kenjutsu -> real warrior training -> samurai elite only Modern kendo/iaido -> educative system -> for masses Kendo-Guide.Com: Since I am not a scholar, I am not sure about those details. But I would like to comment on some historical fact. We have to remember that kenjutsu was in danger of extinction due to the Meiji Restoration in 1868 (The last Samurai showed this era). This meant the end of the Edo Shogunate and also the shift from the sword to the fire arms. Samurai did not mean much anymore, especially after wearing a sword was banned in 1872. So a guy called Kenkichi SAKAKIBARA started an event called gekiken. This was more like a show. These very skilled samurai who lost their jobs because of the ban were saved by this event.(Of course, there were pros and cons about such events). And after the World War II, we all know all the kendo was banned and shinai ky?gi (shinai competition) was created to save kendo somehow. Shinai ky?gi was defined as a sport and did not have any rules about y?k?-datotsu. Anyway, kendo took a serious path to survive. I just wanted to introduce a bit of history so that we can appreciate what we have now.

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