Kendo Beginners Guide 20120124
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Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo Calgary Kendo Club Established 1972 A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo: Expectations and Obligations Version 0.5 Calgary Kendo Club January 2012 1 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo The Concept of Kendo The concept of Kendo is to discipline the human character through the application of the principles of the Katana (sword). The Purpose of Practicing Kendo The purpose of practicing Kendo is: To mold the mind and body, To cultivate a vigorous spirit, And through correct and rigid training, To strive for improvement in the art of Kendo, To hold in esteem human courtesy and honor, To associate with others with sincerity, And to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself. This will make one be able: To love his/her country and society, To contribute to the development of culture And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples. (The Concept of Kendo was established by All Japan Kendo Federation in 1975.) 2 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo Welcome to the Calgary Kendo Club “Getting Started Guide”!! 5 1.0 What is Kendo?! 6 1.1 The Historical Origins! 6 1.2 Introduction of the Sword! 6 1.3 The Muromachi Period! 7 1.4 The Introduction of Armour and the Rise, Fall and Rise of Kenjutsu!7 1.5 Kendo the Sport! 8 1.6 Kendo the Martial Art! 8 2.0 Kendo Equipment! 10 2.1 Areas of Attack! 10 3.0 Studying the Martial Art of Kendo! 12 3.1 Why Should You Learn About Kendo?! 12 3.2 Why You Should Not Learn Kendo! 13 3.2.1 Special Note to Beginners! 13 3.3 Etiquette and Manners! 14 3.3.1 Dojo! 14 3.3.2 Shinai and Bogu! 15 4.0 The Calgary Kendo Club! 16 4.1 Practice Times! 16 4.2 Equipment! 16 4.3 Membership Fees! 16 4.4 Club Activities! 17 4.5 Outside of Kendo! 17 5.0 Practicing Kendo! 18 3 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo 5.1 Learning Japanese! 18 5.1.1 Japanese Numbers! 18 5.1.2 Japanese Commands! 18 5.1.3 Kendo Commands! 19 5.2 Practice Format! 20 5.3 Grading! 20 6.0 Related Web Links for Further Reading! 21 7.0 More Kendo Terms! 22 4 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo Welcome to the Calgary Kendo Club! Learning is a Life Long Experience. By the time you read this, you’ve probably attended or observed our practices at the Calgary Kendo Club and are curious as to what Kendo is about. Or perhaps you are already somewhat familiar with Kendo and want to know the expectations and obligations in joining the Calgary Kendo Club. Regardless of your experience, the “Getting Started Guide” that you are about to read will undoubtedly help you gain a better understanding to what Kendo is and what it means to us. Anyone Can Grow Through Kendo. One of the beauties of Kendo is that anybody can learn and experience it, whether you are 8 years old, or 88 years old, boy or girl, man or woman. There is something there for everybody to take away and grow as a person. This guide is by no means an exhaustive guide. It will merely help you get acquainted with Kendo but like anything, it is truly a life long journey. Please take the next few minutes to read more about Kendo, where its historical roots are from, and why you should study Kendo. There are also the wrong reasons for studying Kendo that we will identify as well. We will talk about the rules and etiquette of Kendo, more about the Calgary Kendo Club, what we do inside (and outside) the dojo and some other resources for learning more about Kendo. So sit back, relax and enjoy! Dean Ara, 5th Dan Calgary Kendo Club – Chief Instructor (1997-2000) 5 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo 1.0 What is Kendo? Kendo, is the art of Japanese fencing. 剣 Sword "Ken" or tsurugi is from the character meaning sword. 道 Way or Path The character for "Do" or michi means way or path. 剣 道 Kendo “Kendo” translates as "the way of the sword" – a path in life which is followed through the training of Kendo. ! 1.1 The Historical Origins It is difficult to say when and how Kendo originated. Modern Kendo bears faint resemblance to Kenjutsu “the art of swordsmanship,” and to its feudal origins of sword- wielding samurai warriors who are depicted in movies and television today. Kendo cannot be traced to a single founder or given an exact founding date. The story of the rise of modern Kendo begins with the samurai and extends over the culture of several centuries. 1.2 Introduction of the Sword The sword was introduced to Japan from the Continent around 2nd century BC. They say that the sword was originally a ritual-colored object that symbolized the authority of its owner. At that time, the catapult and bow were used for hunting or tribal warfare. However, the sword gradually became used for fighting in the course of national unification. By the 7 and 8th century, tribal units began forging the sword domestically within Japan. By the end of the 12th century, the authority of the Japanese central government had declined. Bands of warriors grouped together for protection forming local aristocracies. Feudalism had come of age, and was to dominate Japan for several centuries. With the 6 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo establishment of the Shogun in Kamakura and military rule-controlling Japan, a new military class called Bushi gained prominence. Bushido, “the way of the warrior,” stressed the virtues of bravery, loyalty, honor, self- discipline and stoical acceptance of death. The prototype of the Nihon-toh (the Japanese sword) was developed as was various sword-fighting techniques. The influence of Bushido extended to modern Japanese society and Kendo was also greatly influenced by this thinking. The Japanese warrior had no contempt for learning or the arts. Although kenjutsu, had been recorded since the 8th century, it gained new prominence and took on religious and cultural aspects. Sword making became a revered art. Zen and other sects of Buddhism developed and the samurai often devoted time to fine calligraphy or poetry. The years that followed were filled with civil wars, and it was during these times that schools of kenjutsu began. Master swordsmen started these schools and each school had its own style unique to the originator. As the years passed and more peaceful times prevailed, emphasis was placed on the spiritual aspects through the practice of kenjutsu.!! These moral and social aspects stemmed from Zen Buddhism and Bushido whose principle ideas were based on Confucianism. Since samurai warriors were the only class allowed to carry a sword, mastering the sword was indispensable for any respected samurai. In fact, the sword was considered to represent the spirit of Bushi. 1.3 The Muromachi Period The next great advance in martial arts occurred during the late Muromachi period (1336-1568). This period is often called the “age of Warring Provinces” because of the many internal conflicts that ravaged Japan. This period brought an increased demand and respect for men trained in the martial arts. Consequently, nearly 200 new kenjutsu schools formed. Real blades or hardwood swords were used in training and since the use of protective equipment was not yet prevalent, many injuries occurred. These schools continued to flourish through the Tokugawa period (1600-1868), with the Ittoryu or “one sword school,” having the greatest influence on modern Kendo. 1.4 The Introduction of Armour and the Rise, Fall and Rise of Kenjutsu Kendo began to take its modern appearance during the late 18th century with the introduction of protective equipment: the men, kote and doh and the use of the bamboo sword, the shinai. The use of the shinai and protective armor made possible the full delivery of blows without injury. This forced the establishment of new regulations and practice formats that set the foundation for modern Kendo. In the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, as the awareness for the need for national defense was growing, kenjutsu became popular even among non-Bushi-class citizens. 7 Calgary Kendo Club: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started in Kendo With the abolishment of the shogunate and the introduction of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the Bushi class became extinct as the formation of ‘modern Japan’ began. The right to bear a sword was also banned and through this, kenjutsu’s popularity declined. This decline was only temporary, however, as interest in Kendo was revived again in 1887 when uprisings against the government showed the need for the training of police officers. The origins of Kendo being a full time employment for modern day police officers in Japan began here. Later the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and the Russo- Japanese War (1904-05) again encouraged an awareness of the martial spirit. Consequently in 1895, the Butokukai, an organization devoted to the martial arts was established. In 1911, Kendo was officially introduced into the physical education curriculum of middle schools and in 1912, the Nihon Kendo Kata, a set of regulations for Kendo, was published. In 1939 as Japan prepared for war, Kendo became a required course for all boys.