KENDO

SEE ALSO: AIKIDO, JUDO, JUJITSU, KARATE

OVERVIEW

Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art. Two contestants wear protective armour and fight with bamboo swords. A contest lasts for three or five minutes, and a further three minutes if necessary to decide a result. The contest ends when one contestant has scored two points, or the highest scoring contestant at the end of the allotted time.

MORE COMPLEX RULES

Scoring
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Strikes made with the forward thrust of the shinai (the sword) count in the following areas:

- Either side of the face

- Either side of the chest

- Either wrist (left wrist only when the left hand is at shoulder height or higher)

Thrusts are valid when made at the throat.

Points are scored when the action is made with full spirit and correct form. Techniques can still score if the opponent steps out of bounds or drops the shinai.

Fouls and misconduct
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A contestant may not:

- Place their foot or feet outside the match area

- Fall with any part of the body outside the area

- Use the shinai to prevent themselves from leaving the area

- Trip the opponent

- Illegally shove or thrust with the shinai

- Hold the opponent using the hands

- Use the shinai hilt to break the opponents hold on their shinai hilt

- Hold the opponents shinai with the hands after dropping their own

These fouls result in a warning and one point to the opponent after the third foul.

- Use disrespectful words

This foul results in disqualification of the offender and two points to the opponent.

Injuries
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If a contestant is injured and cannot continue, the match ends.

If the opponent caused the injury, the injured contestant wins with one point, otherwise the injured contestant forfeits the match and the opponent receives two points.

Similarly, if a contestant ends the match without reason, they forfeit the match and the opponent receives two points.

Officials
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There is one judge, and two assistant judges. They use red and white flags to control conduct, point out and rule on technique and determine the winner if necessary.

There may also be a line judge, and a timekeeper, a scorekeeper, and other assistants.

Equipment
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Floor

The floor is smooth and wooden. The centre is usually marked with a cross or circle. Two starting lines are also marked. The area is usually 10 metres or 11 metres squared (33 or 36 feet). There is a clear area of at least 1.5 metres (5 feet) around this area.

Shinai

It is made of equal sections of bamboo, held together by leather and strings at the tip, halfway point, and the hilt. If one is used, it must have a maximum length of 118 centimetres (46 inches) and weigh no more than 468 grams (17 ounces).

If two are used, the longer has a maximum length of 110 centimetres (43 inches) and weigh no more than 375 grams (13 ounces). The shorter has a maximum length of 60 centimetres (23 inches) and a maximum weight of 235 grams (9 ounces).

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