Is it wrong to see kendo as just a sport?

by Giovanni
(Italy)

This has bothered me for some time now.

As a competitive athlete who has competed on the highest level of European fencing, I find it hard to get into the spiritual aspect of kendo.

Is it wrong to compete in kendo without being too sentimental about the tradition and etiquette and just approach it as a regular sport?

Answer: Thank you for your question. I'm sure there are many others think the same. And it is a decent and honest question.

It is what you think and how you want to perceive kendo so it is OK. At least with me. However, it doesn't mean what kendo is.

The concept of kendo defined by International Kendo Federation is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword).

And the application of the principles of the katana is from samurai swordsmanship, which carries Japanese cultural and historical values. This is kendo. So without them, it is not kendo.

If you don't like these, you don't have to do kendo. There is a sport called sports chambara and you might like it.

But without etiquette, I don't think you will earn respect from others. So please learn good manner and etiquette in whatever you will study.