"Kendo Kendo is an activity that combines martial arts practices and values with strenuous sport-like physical activity. Swordsmen in Japan established schools of ""kenjutsu"" (the ancestor of kendo), which continued for centuries and which form the basis of kendo practice today. The formal kendo exercises known as ""kata"" were developed several centuries ago as ""kenjutsu"" practice for warriors. They are still studied today, in a modified form. The introduction of bamboo practice swords (""shinai"") and armour (""bōgu"") to sword training is attributed to Naganuma Shirōzaemon Kunisato during the Shotoku Era (1711–1715). Naganuma developed the use of ""bōgu"" and established a"
"modern times sparring in Japanese martial art is more strongly associated with kendo and is mainly practiced by students or the police force. Although kendo is common in Japan, it is also practiced in other countries around the world. It is thought likely that the first iron swords were manufactured in Japan in the fourth century, based on technology imported from China via the Korean peninsula. While swords clearly played an important cultural and religious role in ancient Japan, in the Heian period the globally recognised curved Japanese sword (the katana) was developed and swords became important weapons and symbolic"
"made from wood. It is this pressure fit for the most part that holds the hilt in place, while the ""mekugi"" pin serves as a secondary method and a safety. Some other marks on the blade are aesthetic: signatures and dedications written in kanji and engravings depicting gods, dragons, or other acceptable beings, called ""horimono"". Some are more practical. The so-called ""blood groove"" or fuller does not in actuality allow blood to flow more freely from cuts made with the sword, but is simply to reduce the weight of the sword while keeping structural integrity and strength. Grooves come in"
"guard)). It is said that the sharpening and polishing process takes just as long as the forging of the blade itself. The legitimate Japanese sword is made from Japanese steel ""Tamahagane"". The most common lamination method the Japanese sword blade is formed from is a combination of two different steels: a harder outer jacket of steel wrapped around a softer inner core of steel. This creates a blade which has a hard, razor sharp cutting edge with the ability to absorb shock in a way which reduces the possibility of the blade breaking when used in combat. The ""hadagane"", for"
"greatly in carbon content, ranging from wrought iron to pig iron. Three types of steel are chosen for the blade; a very low carbon steel called ""hocho-tetsu"" is used for the core of the blade (""shingane""). The high carbon steel (""tamahagane""), and the remelted pig iron (cast iron or ""nabe-gane""), are combined to form the outer skin of the blade (""kawagane""). Only about 1/3 of the kera produces steel that is suitable for sword production. The best known part of the manufacturing process is the folding of the steel, where the swords are made by repeatedly heating, hammering and folding"
"Japanese swordsmithing Japanese swordsmithing is the labour-intensive bladesmithing process developed in Japan for forging traditionally made bladed weapons (nihonto) including katana, wakizashi, tantō, yari, naginata, nagamaki, tachi, uchigatana, nodachi, ōdachi, kodachi, and ya (arrow). Japanese sword blades were often forged with different profiles, different blade thicknesses, and varying amounts of grind. Wakizashi and tantō were not simply scaled-down katana; they were often forged without ridge (""hira-zukuri"") or other such forms which were very rare on katana. The steel used is known as , or ""jewel steel"" (""tama"" - ball or jewel, ""hagane"" - steel). Tamahagane is produced from iron sand,"
"Bōgu , properly called , is training armour used primarily in the Japanese martial art of kendo, with variants used for jukendo, tankendo, and naginata. During the Edo period (1603-1868) the use of real swords for training purposes was discouraged due to injuries, wooden practice swords in the form of bokken/bokuto and shinai were often used instead, and to further reduce injuries practice armour based on traditional samurai armor was developed, this practice armour was the basis for the modern bōgu. The word ""bōgu"" consists of two parts: ""bō"" meaning ""protect"" or ""defend,"" and ""gu"" meaning ""equipment"" or ""tool."" A"
"with a dulled steel blade. The practitioners had to therefore stop their blows during teaching to avoid hurting themselves or their students. It is claimed that Kamiizumi created the practice sword called the ""fukuro shinai"" (frog bamboo sword), which is made of strips of bamboo similar to a kendo shinai but covered inside a leather pouch. The shinai allowed striking with quickness, fluidity and potency without causing serious or disabling wounds as one would with the wooden sword, and without having to stop the attacks. Nobutsuna, sensing the changes in the ways of war at the time, re-thought his methods"
"to create a set of techniques for the jo. (Ueshiba also used the longstaff bō to perform the same techniques.) The All Japan Kendo Federation specifies that the Tachi used in seitei Jodo should be 101.5 cm in length, and made from white oak. The length of the tsuka, or hilt, should be 24.2 cm. The Japanese sword, with its long history and many variations, has a prominent role in Shintō Musō-ryū. In the early Edo period the katana and the shorter wakizashi were the weapons of choice for samurai during their regular duties. On the battlefield, the slightly longer"
"Tantō A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords () that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was mainly used as a weapon but evolved in design over the years to become more ornate. Tantō were used in traditional martial arts (tantojutsu). The term has seen a resurgence in the West since the 1980s as a point style of modern tactical knives, designed for piercing or stabbing. The ""tantō"" is a knife. The blade is single or double edged with a length between 15 and 30 cm"
"""Shinai"" are available in many styles and balances. A ""shinai"" should not be confused with a ""bokutō"", which has a much more similar shape and length to a Japanese sword and is made from a single piece of wood. However, both ""shinai"" and ""bokken"" are used in ""kendo"". The slats of a ""shinai"" are usually made from dried bamboo. Some may also be treated by smoking them, or soaking them in resin. ""Shinai"" slats are also made of carbon fibre, reinforced resin, or other approved alternative materials. The ""shinai"" comprises four slats known as , which are held together by"
"Japanese sword A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Swords have been made from as early as the Kofun period, though generally ""Japanese swords"" refer to the curved blades made after the Heian period. There are many types of Japanese swords that differ by size, shape, field of application and method of manufacture. Some of the more commonly known types of Japanese swords are the katana, wakizashi, odachi, and tachi. The type classifications for Japanese swords indicate the combination of a blade and its mounts as this, then, determines the style of use of the"
"in different parts of the sword to accentuate the desired characteristics in various parts of the sword beyond the level offered by differential heat treatment. The vast majority of modern katana and wakizashi are the ""maru"" type (sometimes also called ""muku"") which is the most basic, with the entire sword being composed of a single steel. However, due to modern steels being used, this does not cause the sword to be fragile like it did throughout history. The ""kobuse"" type is made using two steels, which are called ""hagane"" (edge steel) and ""shingane"" (core steel). ""Honsanmai"" and ""shihozume"" types add"
"of techniques. The All Japan Kendo Federation specifies that the Jō should be 128 cm in length, with a diameter of 2.4 cm and be made from red or white oak. According to legend, Muso Gonnosuke, the founder of the original art of Shintō Musō-ryū, was inspired to create and use the Jo from a divine vision some time after he was defeated by Miyamoto Musashi in a duel. In this vision, a divine being in the form of a child appeared, brandishing a stick (or log in one version) and proclaiming """"know the solar plexus [of your opponent] with"
"were made from buffalo horn. The Saya is divided in parts: A is a hanging cord made of silk, cotton or leather that is passed through the hole in the ""kurigata"" (栗形) of a Japanese sword's ""saya"". There are a number of different methods for wrapping and tying the sageo on the ""saya"" for display purposes. Other uses for the sageo are tying the sword to the samurai and hojojutsu. The samurai felt the sageo formed a spiritual bond between them and the sword, and they were very particular about tying it correctly when the sword was not in use."
"derived from the verb , meaning ""to bend, to flex"", and was originally short for ""shinai-take"" (flexible bamboo). ""Shinai"" is written with the kanji , meaning ""bamboo sword"", and is an irregular kanji reading. In ""kendo"", it is most common to use a single ""shinai"", sometimes called ""itto"" style. Some ""kendoka"" choose to use two ""shinai"". This ""kendo"" style is usually called , a style that has its roots in the two-sword schools of swordsmanship such as Hyōhō Niten Ichi-ryū. A ""ni-to"" combatant uses a long ""shinai"" called the , which is usually held in the right hand, and a"
"date from the Edo period. Before the Meiji era, Bokken very likely manufactured by woodworkers not specialized in Bokken manufacture. It is at the beginning of the 20th century that Bokken manufacture started, mainly in Miyakonojo (Kyushu region). Today, the last four workshops of Japan are still located in Miyakonojo. The ""standard Bokken"", mostly used in Kendo and Aikido was created by master Aramaki in collaboration with the All Japan Kendo Federation in the 50's and was the first standardized Bokken ever created. The ""bokken"" is used as an inexpensive and relatively safe substitute for a real sword in several"
"the curvature meant that the ""front"" edge was used in the overwhelming majority of instances. Over time, however, the curved single-edged sword became so dominant a style in Japan that ""tou"" and ""ken"" came to be used interchangeably to refer to swords in Japan and by others to refer to Japanese swords. For example, the Japanese typically refer to Japanese swords as 日本刀 ""nihontō"" (""Japanese ""tou"""" i.e. ""Japanese (single-edged) blade""), while the character ""ken"" 剣 is used in such terms as kendo and kenjutsu. Modern formal usage often uses both characters in referring to a collection of swords, for example,"
"risk of damaging or destroying the artisan's hard work. Mass-produced swords including ""iaitō"" and ""shinken"" in the shape of ""katana"" are available from many countries, though China dominates the market. These types of swords are typically mass-produced and made with a wide variety of steels and methods. ""Katana"" are traditionally made from a specialized Japanese steel called ""tamahagane"", which is created from a traditional smelting process that results in several, layered steels with different carbon concentrations. This process helps remove impurities and even out the carbon content of the steel. The age of the steel plays a role in the"
"interest in Japanese martial arts outside Japan during the 20th century, people in other countries started taking an interest in kenjutsu. Many martial artists who study Japanese martial arts know the principles of kenjutsu. For modern kenjutsu type training, most practice is done in suburi style with bokken. One of the more common training weapons is the wooden sword (""bokuto"" or ""bokken""). For various reasons, many schools make use of very specifically designed ""bokuto"", altering its shape, weight and length according to the style's specifications. For example, ""bokuto"" used within Yagyū Shinkage-ryū are relatively thin and without a handguard in"
"Khanda (sword) The khanda in Odia and Hindi, from khadga in Sanskrit, is a double-edge straight sword originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is often featured in religious iconography, theatre and art depicting the ancient history of India. It is a common weapon in Indian martial arts. Khanda often appears in Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh scriptures and art. The word ""khanda"" has its origins in the Sanskrit ' (खड्ग) or ', from a root ' meaning ""to break, divide, cut, destroy"". The older word for a bladed weapon, ', is used in the Rigveda in reference to either an early"
"caused tantō manufacture to fall very low. American and European interest in Japanese martial arts since the war created a demand for the tantō outside Japan from the 1960s through the present time. Tantō with blunt wooden or blunt plastic blades are used to practice martial arts. Versions with a blunt metal blade are used in more advanced training and in demonstrations. Martial arts that employ the tantō include: Tantō A is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords () that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The tantō dates to the Heian period, when it was"
"create. One is the ""shirasaya"", which is generally made of wood and considered the ""resting"" sheath, used as a storage sheath. The other sheath is the more decorative or battle-worthy sheath which is usually called either a ""jindachi-zukuri"", if suspended from the ""obi"" (belt) by straps (""tachi""-style), or a ""buke-zukuri"" sheath if thrust through the ""obi"" (katana-style). Other types of mounting include the ""kyū-guntō"", ""shin-guntō"", and ""kai-guntō"" types for the twentieth-century military. Traditional swords are still made in Japan and occasionally elsewhere; they are termed ""shinsakuto"" or ""shinken"" (true sword), and can be very expensive. These are not considered reproductions"
"with self-defense as a secondary purpose. Additionally, many of the ""gendai budō"" have included a sporting element to them. Judo and kendo are both examples of this. , literally meaning ""gentle way"" or ""way of softness"", is a grappling-based martial art, practiced primarily as a sport. It contains substantially the same emphasis on the personal, spiritual, and physical self-improvement of its practitioners as can be found throughout ""gendai budō"". Judo was created by Kano Jigoro (嘉納 治五郎 ""Kanō Jigorō"", 1860–1938) at the end of the 19th century. Kano took the ""koryū"" martial arts he learned (specifically Kitō-ryū and Tenjin Shin'yo-ryū"
"modern martial art based on ancient Kenjutsu (the art of swordsmanship). Representatives from the kendo division teaches and holds international exhibitions in kendo. Furthermore, highranking Japanese masters holds international seminars in kendo. IMAF members demonstrated ""Nihon Kendo Kata"" at Kameido Katori Jinja on April 29, 2009. Originally, ""Nihon Kendo Kata"" was called ""Dai Nippon Teikoku Kendo Kata"" created in 1912 but was revised in 1912, 1917, 1933 and 1981. In 1933 the ""Dai Nippon Teikoku Kendo Kata"" was changed to the name 'Nihon Kendo Kata' and the last revision in 1981 was made by the All Japan Kendo Federation. A"
"depending on the era, but generally consist of the same general idea, with the variation being in the components used and in the wrapping style. The obvious part of the hilt consists of a metal or wooden grip called a ""tsuka"", which can also be used to refer to the entire hilt. The hand guard, or ""tsuba"", on Japanese swords (except for certain 20th century sabers which emulate Western navies') is small and round, made of metal, and often very ornate. (See ""koshirae."") There is a pommel at the base known as a ""kashira"", and there is often a decoration"
"Kasumi Shintō-ryū Kenjutsu , or (""Shintō-ryū Kenjutsu""), is one of the names used to describe the collection of sword-versus-sword training-forms (""kata"") for the long and short sword found exclusively in the Japanese martial arts system Shintō Musō-ryū (SMR). The system comprises 12 standing forms, 8 of which are for the longsword (""Odachi"") and 4 with the short sword (""kodachi""). The core of the Shinto Muso Ryu system has two elements, the jojutsu training forms and the twelve kenjutsu training forms. The origin of these kenjutsu forms are not clear other than it was a part of SMR from the beginning"
"an appropriate block of Japanese cypress wood (""hinoki""), one that has cured for about a century. On it he first draws guidelines, and then begins to shape the piece using traditional Japanese woodcarving tools. (AsiaAlive) The blades of the knives and chisels are made of three layers of steel, just like renowned ancient Japanese swords. In smoothing the surface of the mask for the final time, Bidou never uses sandpaper, but only the sharp edge of his chisel. That surface is then coated with many layers of lacquer, each layer requiring several weeks to dry. The final procedure is to"
"a source of iron ore, and mainly used to make Samurai swords, such as the katana, and some tools. The smelting process used is different from the modern mass production of steel. A clay vessel about tall, long, and wide is constructed. This is known as a tatara. After the clay tub has set, it is fired until dry. A charcoal fire is started from soft pine charcoal. Then the smelter will wait for the fire to reach the correct temperature. At that point he will direct the addition of iron sand known as ""satetsu"". This will be layered in"
"Kumdo Kumdo is a modern Korean martial art derived from Japanese Kendo. Though romanized in a number ways when written Kǒmdo or Geomdo the meaning remains ""the way of the sword"" and is cognate with the Japanese term. As a martial art, Kumdo has become accepted in Korean culture and society since its introduction from Japan to the degree that the term ""Kumdo"" has, in recent history, become a generic label for other Korean martial arts based upon swordsmanship. As a result, caution should be exercised to avoid confusion among practices espousing martial (i.e., Hankumdo) rather than sporting and competitive"
"Inaridai Sword Inaridai Sword, also known as Inaridai No. 1 Kofun tumulus Iron Sword (稲荷台一号墳出土鉄剣 Inaridai Ichi-gōfun Shutsudo Tekken), is an ancient iron sword excavated in ""Inaridai No. 1 Kofun tumulus"" in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The sword was probably forged in Kinai region in the 5th century and buried with the deceased person in the late of the century. Its silver-inlaid inscription is the important source of the Japanese domestic politics in the period. The original Chinese text is as follows; In English; In the tumulus two men were buried in each wooden coffin. Artifacts excavated around the tomb indicate"
"""tare"", it is for protection against off-target and accidental strikes. Bōgu , properly called , is training armour used primarily in the Japanese martial art of kendo, with variants used for jukendo, tankendo, and naginata. During the Edo period (1603-1868) the use of real swords for training purposes was discouraged due to injuries, wooden practice swords in the form of bokken/bokuto and shinai were often used instead, and to further reduce injuries practice armour based on traditional samurai armor was developed, this practice armour was the basis for the modern bōgu. The word ""bōgu"" consists of two parts: ""bō"" meaning"
"for shock attacks, defensive strokes, and for close-in fighting. Blades were heavy as they were made mostly of bronze and later iron, and pommels were often knobbed and used as balances or for very close-in work. Short swords may have been used in follow-up attacks, as short sword carriers were armoured completely. Records indicate that the art of sword manufacturing, still in a rudimentary state, may have been transmitted to the Japanese Archipelago from the Korean Peninsula some time in the Three Kingdoms period, along with iron smelting and manufacture and later that of steel work; these methods and techniques,"