Kendo (Japanese swordsmanship) is a martial art based on swordsmanship. This direction traces its history from the traditional techniques of samurai swordsmanship. Surprisingly, for a long time the sword was not used as the main weapon of the samurai. It was used solely for the purpose of self-defense, when the main weapon of the samurai warrior was absent.
Stages of development and formation of kendo
If you follow historical references, then for the first time they started talking about such a martial art in the 10-11th century. At that time, Emperor Kammu created and personally led the training camp, which was located in the capital Kyoto. In this camp, future samurai learned to wield a sword, invent secret techniques and honed their psychological stamina. Mass competitions were held in the camp every year.
For several centuries, the martial art of kendo developed at an active pace, but a turning point occurred in the 15th century. During this period, the legend of kendo, Miyamoto Musashiya, was born. He was the best swordsman: on his account not a single defeat. His main principle in combat is to make the opponent believe in his weakness. At the same time, samurai could only officially carry swords, which means fencing was raised to a new level.
In 1895, the official name "kendo" appeared. The first part of the word means "sword", and the second - "art". Thus, at the end of the 19th century, a special system of education for young people was created in Japan in the spirit of the best traditions of the samurai.
The main goals of the martial art of kendo
This martial art is based on three key principles:
strong character and fortitude;
respect for people;
strengthening the physical body of a warrior.
These were the main goals and objectives at the same time. All this was achieved through regular training and personal desire to improve. During training, the student had to fully concentrate on his body. He demanded the utmost care and dedication.
In the practice of kendo, a technique such as "kata" was often used. This is a fight between student and teacher. At the same time, both warriors in this duel are without a protective suit.
Warrior equipment
The equipment of a warrior consists of the following key elements:
men: special protection for the head;
tare: body protection;
kote: protection for arms and shoulders.
Regarding the main weapon of battle, for many centuries wooden swords were used, which often inflicted severe injuries on fighters. From the beginning of the 18th century, bamboo swords - shinai - began to be used in fencing. They were less traumatic and consisted of 4 bamboo strips, which were fastened together with pieces of leather and rope. But the length of the sword is different. It all depends on the age of the warrior. If a warrior is 10-14 years old, then the shinai is 109 cm long, and at the age of 14-16 years, the sword is 112 cm long. After reaching the age of 18, the length of the sword increased to 118cm.
The sword in the hands of a samurai was considered not only as a combat weapon, but also as a means of internal education.
Attacks in kendo: types
How did the warriors compete with each other, having a sword in their hands? There are two types of attacks in kendo:
chopping: sword strikes in areas such as the crown, arms, head, torso;
stabbing: blows exclusively to the throat.
The warrior had no right to make a mistake. The mistake could have cost him his life.
Kendo today
Nowadays kendo is also very popular. In the context of modernity, it is no longer seen as a unique technique of fencing with a sword, but as an art of special spiritual education and development in students of a strong spirit of a warrior, fortitude of his character.
In training, a classic bamboo shinai sword and special equipment in black or white are used.
See also
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Nadzima Castle
It is believed that the first structures on this site were built by Tachibana Akitoshi (?-1568), head of the Tachibana clan, a branch family of the Ōtomo clan, as auxiliary fortifications for Tachibanayama Castle. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi established control over the island of Kyushu and granted Chikuzen Province to Kobayakawa Takakage, one of the leading vassals of the Mori clan. Takakage began construction of a new castle on the site of the existing fortifications in 1588. The exact date of completion is unknown, but by the time the invasion of Korea began in 1592, the castle had already been finished, as records note that Toyotomi Hideyoshi stayed there overnight on his way to Hizen Nagoya Castle, which served as the headquarters of the invasion forces.
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Kubota Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be Satake Yoshinobu (1570–1633). Yoshinobu was one of the six great generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Odawara Campaign of 1590, he took part in the siege of Oshi Castle under the command of Ishida Mitsunari, with whom Yoshinobu developed a good relationship.
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Kavanhoe Castle
Kawanoe Castle is located on the small Wasi-yama hill near the port area of the Kawanoe district in the city of Shikokuchuo, occupying a central position along the northern coast of Shikoku Island. Kawanoe was also known as Butsuden Castle. The term “butsuden” in Japan refers to temple halls, and for this reason it is believed that a Buddhist temple once stood on the site before the castle was built. Due to its location at the junction of four provinces on Shikoku Island, Kawanoe held significant strategic importance and was repeatedly targeted by rival forces seeking military control over the region.
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Yokote Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be the Onodera clan. The Onodera were originally a minor clan from Shimotsuke Province and served Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of the first shogunate. The Onodera distinguished themselves in battle against the Fujiwara clan of the Ōshū branch and were rewarded with lands around Yokote. Around the 14th century, the Onodera moved to Yokote as their permanent residence. Their original stronghold was Numadate Castle, but after a series of clashes with the powerful Nambu clan, they relocated their base to the site of present-day Yokote Castle. It was likely during this time that the first fortifications appeared at the castle.
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Wakayama Castle
Wakayama Castle was built in 1585, when Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his uterine brother, Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hidenaga, to construct a castle on the site of the recently captured Ota Castle. The purpose of this construction was to secure control over the likewise newly conquered Province of Kii. Following an already established tradition, Hidenaga entrusted the project to his castle-building expert, Todo Takatora. Takatora carefully inspected the future castle site, personally drew up several designs, created a model of the planned castle, and took part in the work of laying out the grounds (nawabari). For the construction he brought in more than 10,000 workers and completed the large-scale project within a single year, which was considered extremely fast by the standards of the time.
Toyama Castle
Toyama Castle is located almost in the very center of the former province of Etchū and is surrounded by a wide plain with a large number of rivers. The very first castle on the banks of the Jinzu River was built in 1543 by Jimbo Nagamoto. The Jimbo clan were vassals of the Hatakeyama clan and governed the western part of Etchū Province. The eastern part of the province belonged to their rivals, the Shiina clan, who were also Hatakeyama vassals. Beginning in the 15th century, the influence of the ancient Hatakeyama clan gradually weakened, and as a result, the Jimbo and the Shiina fought constant wars for control of the province. Meanwhile, the forces of the Ikkō-ikki movement periodically intervened, helping first one side and then the other.
Takada Castle
During the Sengoku period, the lands where Takada Castle would later be built were part of Echigo Province and were controlled by the Uesugi clan.
Kishiwada Castle
The celebrated 14th-century military commander Kusunoki Masashige (1294–1336), who owned extensive lands south of what is now the city of Osaka, ordered one of his vassals, Kishiwada Osamu, to build a fortified residence. This order was carried out around 1336. These fortifications became the first structures on the site of what would later become Kishiwada Castle. From the beginning, the castle stood in a strategically important location—roughly halfway between the cities of Wakayama and Osaka, south of the key port of Sakai. Because of this position, it changed hands several times during periods of warfare.
