Fencers Try to Keep Up with Kendōkas | SELF

We challenged a group of talented fencers to try to keep up with skilled kendōkas (kendo artists). Zimo, Tasha, and Cody train to complete three kendo challenges and combine them into a synchronized routine. Will Tasha tap into her kiai and find her war cry? How well can Zimo maintain his posture while striking? What similarities does Cody see between kendo and fencing? Find out as these amazing athletes try to keep up with their talented kendōka instructors, working together to adapt to new techniques.
Still haven’t subscribed to Self on KZbin? ►► bit.ly/selfyoutubesub
ABOUT SELF
Daily health, fitness, beauty, style advice, and videos for people who want to achieve their personal best in life.
Fencers Try to Keep Up with Kendōkas | SELF

[@mayflowers5090]

Tasha feeling scandalised about making a noise when attacking because it's a no in fencing is absolutely cute

[@allergy5634]

As a sabreur, watching a fencer feel scandalised about yelling is funny

[@Dakarai_Knight]

@@allergy5634 For my team it was always the epeé team that had all the yellers

[@iamcuthulu316]

@@Dakarai_Knight, that's extremely uncommon

[@Dakarai_Knight]

@@iamcuthulu316 Really? Whenever we went to competitions we all had the same joke. I thought it was well known that it was epeé people but maybe it varies for some reason by region.

[@Dakarai_Knight]

@@iamcuthulu316 also on top of that I've been fencing for 8 years on two different teams in different states.

[@a-blivvy-yus]

"It felt like I was watching a Star Wars lightsaber fight" - in the original trilogy, the fight choreography was based on kendo, so that's not a surprise.

[@maryoconnor2527]

I can see that! With the standing close enough for the lightsabers to cross, and the holding with two hands, etc.

[@ankakinan5280]

its Star Wars, but with a weeb feeling

[@fried___3217]

it’s so cool that he could recognize that

[@defectivepikachu4582]

it also looks cooler than fencing which is why it was chosen

[@evanlu9731]

@@defectivepikachu4582 Then, there's Count Dooku.

[@chestersnap]

This is really cool! I find it interesting that Cody seemed to struggle the most with the first challenge. I wonder if his longer time fencing made it more difficult to switch to the different stances

[@Kettvnen]

Yup

[@AtheneHolder]

was thinking the same. his training is so engrained in him that it's hard to shake so easily

[@neurotic3015]

Yeah, the first thing I really thought about him was how he had trouble pulling his sword up higher- I totally understand it though, in fencing it's all smaller and very precise thrusts, so it must've been a really unnatural movement for him to be pulling the shinai overhead in such a way.

[@chriswerley5165]

Ookniuzyzyz

[@megaman992]

Harder programmed muscle memory for longer time in competition

[@willcookmakeup]

So cool to see an Olympian on an episode. It was interesting to see he struggled the most. But when you’re among the best in the world in discipline I’m sure it’s hard to break habitual and muscle memory things when trying something new

[@rubybee2180]

Binging this series, I noticed many athletes who were excellent in their sport, struggled trying the other one. And yeah a lot of it is difficulty unlearning specially if the other sports requires the opposite skill (e.g. snowboarders relying on the front foot and surfers on the back foot)

[@keatoncampbell820]

there's a lot of intuition coded into your spine when you practice any physical activity that long, and especially as you say at the level of a world champion. It's interesting to see the difference in execution due to the difference of the tool. Not any mythical sword worship here, just the difference in both geometry and weight informs a lot about how you use the tool in practice. Rapid, light thrusts with a heavier blade results in greater vulnerability, while chops and cuts with a lighter weapon may not have the inertia to prevent easy counterattack.

[@myfaceismyshield5963]

Im sure many olympians suck at sports and arts they're not familiar with. If they devote their life to one thing, they can't be jacks of all trades

[@Lets.Go.Brandon]

Idk what you guys are talking about, it's just that he's never done this before. You're saying he's "struggling" because he can't do it as well as the experts when it's literally his first time. Just because you do one sword sport doesn't mean you are going to immediately have an innate mastery of all sword styles. Plus, this is really one of those fake martial arts, so the movements are stupid and unnatural because they are not practical in real fights and are mainly performative. So it would make sense that most people would struggle with it at first, the same way you would with some strange new dance move.

[@zlyntudteam2394]

soccer and american football players keeping up with each other would be so fun!! or archers and shooters or table tennis and tennis players could do it too!!

[@SF-lo3ob]

*rugby vs American football. Soccer wayyyy too different.

[@Eltipoquevisteayer]

Football vs Handball would be more fitting

[@shiimeica]

I think tennis players and badminton players would be more fitting

[@bath_foam4576]

football vs football

[@gc0009]

american rugby***** vs american football***** there is no such thing as """soccer""", does not exist. yall are saying all wrong.

[@adeleedyrssen589]

It would be cool to see Archery vs Kyudo Also for some lesser known sports, trick riding vs equestrian vaulting

[@thejapanarchocommunist]

It would depend completely on the ruleset; Kyudo puts far more emphasis on proper form than accuracy, while archery is almost exclusively accuracy-based.

[@hauntedshadowslegacy2826]

1:22 For those who don't know, 'rei' is also used in Japanese classrooms at the start of class. One student leads the others in standing, bowing, and sitting. The verbal command to bow is 'rei'.

[@SelcraigClimbs]

There's so much fun japanese in the video. As a guy just learning the language its pretty cool seeing words I know in other contexts being used in this realm. 気合(kiai) for instance. I'm used to hearing it like "何とか気合をいれた" "I managed to get psyched somehow"

[@levi4979]

@@SelcraigClimbs I started learning Japanese recently and I'm really stoked that I was able to read that!

[@SelcraigClimbs]

@@levi4979 eyyy nice dude! That feeling will never stop. As you progress you'll be able to find, read and understand increasingly complex japanese that you come across in the wild. My favourite thing is forgetting the English word for things 🤣 外国語を勉強するのはすればするほど楽しくなりますよね

[@earthangel7253]

No one asked

[@versenova5531]

@@earthangel7253 "you provided people with information, but im going to insult you because i am ignorant!"

[@matthewdbickel]

The first Kiai in Japanese martial arts is always so special. It is the beginning of a journey to explore part of your spirit that maybe you never knew existed.

[@whinto]

I want a follow-up series where the athletes all have a roundtable discussion about the differences, similarities, and nuance required between both sports.

[@joan-mariacbrooks]

That would be awesome and to see who kept what they learned and combined it in their sport.

[@nickcalingo3309]

Mom has some really great Kiai. Especially if I forget to wash the dishes.

[@david4rancibia34]

what impresess me the most is just how loud and strong they steps are, it echoes just as loud as their screams they have to be quick but at the same time focus so much power when they charge

[@007mattattack]

I really liked the philosophy behind a score-able hit. It cant just be an accident, you have to intentionally swing, call out the shot, and land it before turning around. You cant accidentally score a point in Kendo and I think that matches the purpose of training to fight with a sword. You cant accidentally clip someone, your whole mind body and spirit have to behind the hit for it to count.

[@kiapet286]

This was really cool to watch! At first to my ignorant westerner sensibilities the whole thing looked kind of silly (doing large overhead strikes while yelling out exactly where you're going to hit, then continuing past the person with your back to them?) But then as they started to increase the speed and intensity and to introduce things like counter attacks and dodges, it became clear that this very much is a serious and competitive martial art, just one that uses slashing motions as opposed to fencing's piercing ones. It actually looks really fierce and difficult, not to mention fun, and I'm glad I was able to learn about it through this video.

[@nakynie463]

Agreed! I thought it was quite awkward at first but I came to my senses pretty soon- every basic steps and instructions seem silly until you need them in ever single complicated move you’ll ever need

[@harrynewsome6755]

I practice Kendo. The insight and difference here was interesting. Watching this actually taught me things about my own practice methods that I can bring to my weekly Keiko.

[@ShiceIceDice]

Yeah I think the big difference is probably the difference in weight of the sword/stick used and how they are balanced. I assume fencing sabres are bottom heavy, which makes fast movements easier, while the sticks in kendo (sorry forgot the name :( ) seem to be more center-balanced?

[@harrynewsome6755]

@@ShiceIceDice It actually depends on what kind of Shinai you get. (They’re called shinai btw). I have 2, I’ve got one that has a lighter tip for sparring and competitions because its more nimble and easier to manoeuvre but for heavy striking practice I have another Shinai where the weight is more evenly distributed. The lighter tips are more fragile and more likely to break.

[@ShiceIceDice]

@@harrynewsome6755 THAT was a quick reply! :D Thanks alot of the explanation! :)

[@ddot9566]

I loved Tasha so much! She reminds me of how I was when I first started karate but it took me way longer to feel comfortable with the yelling. She did so good going against the two guys. Kendo seems very intense and deliberate. I loved the different phrases used and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. Well done!

[@TheZGonzales]

Woaaaaah. I'm glad I saw this. I've met all 3 of these people at competition, they're all super nice and strong! :)

[@TheZGonzales]

I should specify the kendo people I've met. I've only ever done fencing once in college lol.

[@NeiCHAMA]

Thank you!! Who is this? 😮

[@pyehrra]

You can definitely see Cody's growth through the video. He seemed a little uncomfortable at first having to not only have a different stance but then also shout the movement. But once it was all applied you could see how confident he was at the end. It seemed like all the parts clicked together

[@SF-lo3ob]

I love how much they'd found their voice by the tournament.

[@purpurr707]

Kyudo x Modern Archery seems like a dope idea. Anyone else?

[@LilithZephirus]

As a former kendo practitioner, that keiko was ✨chaotic✨ you don't really do keiko until a couple months at least, so I get why. This made me feel very nostalgic, I wish I had time to pick it up again.

[@blahblahblah02]

Same! haven't practiced in over 3 years but this made me want to practice again.

[@nunbeam]

Necropost but a question for you, wtf were they saying when striking during the first bout? It just sounded like kiai but then during the second bout everyone was clearly calling out where they were trying to strike.

[@antoinehanako3193]

I returned after 10 years. Never too late to get back. Just a bit of regret I didn't restarted sooner.

[@botjosh5796]

@@nunbeam So the Kiai will involve different parts. You kiai to kind of initiate an attack (and also to intimidate your opponent), then you kiai the name of your target (to show that the hit was intentional).

[@DotAzam]

I always believe kiai is something you do to bring out your primal instinct. It's a scream but also a mental state where you psych yourself up and at the same time, psych your enemy down.

[@DeoSiege]

It's dumb

[@briannadau]

Learned so much about Kendo today! This series continues to be superior

[@julsky14]

And here i am watching people doing Kendo at 2am 🤣 it looks cool and fun to be honest 💪🏻

[@bobbycrofts9241]

Same but 3am

[@sakareeh]

2 years later and same

[@shuchigupta5270]

Please do the kendo trying to keep up with fencers , it would be cool

[@yeracontra]

Loved watching this. I'm an ex Karateka, black belt. So many similarities to Kendo with the kiai, spirit, customs and respect for the opponent. I love how the techniques in the gym translates to making you the best fighter in real life. The fencers picked up seishin so quickly too. Well done to them and osu!

[@ubristanianempire4007]

I've done a bit on HEMA longsword and it's honestly really interesting to me just how similar historical longsword and Kendo are while still having distinct cultural differences

[@fionasabre]

The physics are practical the same tbh I still do HEMA with longsword and saber, but I train with Katana too just for curiosity

[@rafaelcastor2089]

A katana is really just a sword afterall

[@koraegi]

It's cool how the lady at the beginning instantly held the shinai properly without being told

[@avery2957]

You guys should try tennis players keeping up with volleyball players. Both involve getting a ball over a net and moving around the court.

[@rickyly3654]

That is probably where the similarities end. Two totally different sports.

[@shin29534]

U mean badminton lol

[@rockstribute]

@@shin29534 I would say squash is even closer than badminton

[@defectivepikachu4582]

@@rockstribute maybe too close? ithat would be kinda boring

[@laurencelance586]

It's very impressive how quickly the fencers adapted to the new form. I have only a small experience with Kendo, but I"ve worked with senior people and I've spend many decades in Okinawa karate so I have a general understanding of what is being taught here. An experienced Kendo ka is very difficult to deal with. They are very, very fast and very powerful. Even worse, the hakama makes it impossible to see the feet so one never knows where they are going.

[@shadowfire04]

that's the point of the hakama LMAO

[@SpecJack15]

As a kenjutsu trainee, I relate with their learning experience with the shinai and sparring techniques so much. In addition to men, kote, do and tsuki, we also practice striking the ashi (legs) in kenjutsu as it is a recognized hit for a combative sport.

[@thejapanarchocommunist]

It'd be fun for a kenjutsu vs HEMA match

[@furrybproductions]

The response to kiai at 4:05 was a complete shock to me. Having done both kendo and foil fencing, I remember the team screaming a lot for both 🤣🤣🤣

[@bluishblow]

i love this series so much!

[@donhearn2248]

The tall guy...Cody? is just lighting quick. He looks quick compared to even the teachers. I guess that is what Olympic level fencers look like.

[@michaeljprice1097]

The two things that jump out to me as a fencer are tempo and simultaneous hits, I would guess that with simultaneous hits no points are awarded but I couldn't be sure and I'd love to know more. For tempo I'm really curious how Kendo discusses tempo, in fencing the way I would visualize it is an attack would be one tempo, and a parry-reposte would be two tempi. This is pretty much true for most defensive actions in fencing, but there are exceptions like the skyhook in saber. It makes me wonder if Kendo has one tempo defensive actions or if that's even a useful framework in that sport.

[@Verinexa]

I didn't even know about Kendo before this, the video is really interesting and entertaining !

[@isaaclim8645]

I would love to try this especially the shouting part

[@xdragon2k]

The moment your hits even though hit the target but do not score any point is the moment you realized that you have to strike with force and not just touch the target. There is a reason they wear full armor suits. It's a good way to let out all your aggressions.

[@subval]

Oh my gosh I’d be so worried about messing up the etiquette the entire time. Like I’d feel so bad if I messed up a show of respect because these people deserve respect.

[@TheTenguwarrior]

As somebody training in japanese budo: Don't worry, we know if you are a beginner you try your best. As long as you try and show the intention, we will feel respected. But, it's a totally other thing if somebody with trainingexpierence messes up or is sloppy , then it is unrespectfull

[@user-ht1vs7fx8z]

Just be simpler

[@blahblahblah02]

Yes I agree, the dojos are very aware of beginners and will teach you any and all ways to respect and if you have questions they are always willing to delve more into it. I used to practice Kendo and it was so fun learning. I highly recommend some sort of dojo art!

[@taekfute]

The thorough and concise information given in this short episode has really helped me appreciate and enjoy kendo more well done everyone involved

[@laciaty1025]

I struggled for so long to understand this martial art, this finally made me understand basic ideas.

[@nicci2048]

i would love to see an episode like " airrifle shooters, try archery" ore something like this

[@danieljung2810]

OMG Allyson in a KZbin video! This brings back memories of Venice Dojo! The stomp is very important.

[@physicssimulator2656]

Looks like so much fun, hope I'll be able to practice it some day as well.

[@10thmountainvet]

Looks like a blast. I wish it was more accessible in rural USA.

[@turtniz]

very interesting! I didn't know anything about kendo before this

[@MinnanoKendo]

Very fun to watch😊

[@ttssukki3836]

Honestly I didn't knew kendo was this amazing, I'm impressed:0

[@thelmama7085]

Nathan and Zimo are so cute!

[@dawnteta]

I am really enjoying these videos

[@TurfSurf]

It’s like playing snooker, you have to call the pocket!😂

[@jkwinley]

Loved watching this. I practiced fencing for five years and I definitely remember hearing competitors shout after making contact. It really is another expression of spirit, but I think westerners get anxious with the label of kiai even though we do it unconsciously all the time.

[@lillivi1015]

Oh boy, I do foil fencing. I don’t really scream after getting points, but I’m subconsciously slowly screaming more and more when I get winning touches. But, tell me to scream on command and I’ll stare at you awkwardly lol

[@keysmash_roa]

super interesting to see the parallels and differences to karate, which i have done for about 10 years

[@niftymoth723]

As someone who practices german longsword and reads a lot about different fighting styles, kendo seems to me like more of an art form than actual combat. In german longsword, you can switch your front foot, you can get as close as you'd like, and you're expected to do basically everything on the fly. There's no strict "legal" way to do a technique, as long as it's a proven technique that's not endangering anyone. I've seen someone get so close with a longsword that they had to switch to reverse grip to get their point.

[@vix86]

"kendo seems to me like more of an art form than actual combat." - Had to scroll a bit to find someone bringing this up. So many of Japan's sports with martial components, have been boiled down and have a lot of metaphoric "walls" placed in the sport via rules. It creates a lot of distance between itself and many of the original combat skills that you might have seen in actual sword combat. I won't say this is "bad" since that's more up to personal choice, but when I tried Kendo for a bit, those "walls" felt very suffocating. I can't help but look at something like fencing, which does have its own set of "walls" (are people really going to fight/duel in straight lines?😆) but still feels like its based in reality. ie: The techniques and focus of the sport would translate well into reality if you got stuck fighting rapier to rapier with someone else in like 1700 Italy or something.

[@geenz1815]

Great content. Keeping up is an awesome concept, so interesting

[@D_Boone]

As a fencer, that has got to be incredibly hard. Because it is Geary close but different, I think it would be incredibly hard not to fall back into fencing movements instead of the kendo ones.

[@HouseMDaddict]

So cool!

[@duxxck]

I used to practice kendo years ago. This makes me want to take it up again :) So much fun.

[@ismaelhall3990]

Looks fun.

[@mianoriegasearight9005]

Great video!

[@trorisk]

7:45 I did 5 years of fencing in France. We shouted a lot during "touches". Including during competitions.

[@KrakenInAJar]

I like how Cody immediately mimics a beat four when the harai-waza is shown.

[@esotericist]

I was fencing high school champion. Years later I got to learn Kendo in a small dojo in Thailand with a 6th Dan instructor. It's a very different business. One is all about parry riposte (Forte Foible) - defence. Kendo almost has no "defense". I enjoyed both.

[@canetraining]

Very interesting. I think they are all doing pretty good!

[@noahbeem2394]

I wonder if saber fencers would have an easier time than epee? I mean it makes sense, you’re hitting with a cutting edge rather than the point, like kendo. But maybe the fact that there’s no right of way in epee would make it easier for them. I’d be interested to see an Olympian of each weapon do kendo

[@lillivi1015]

Definitely! Sabre is faster than epee as well. It is more aggressive which is good for this!

[@noahbeem2394]

@@lillivi1015 ik i fence it lol

[@kevinkaouthomn]

I love that the Olympic fencer beg discourse with the strikes. Very classical in training.

[@808Unionist]

I would like to see a Sabre fencer againist a Kendokas. The fencing arts are closer.

[@brittakriep2938]

Or someone ,who is trained in german/ italian longsword of HEMA.

[@MorfarZXZ]

Such warriors.....

[@Punchedtoast]

So cool, I had no idea this existed!

[@GH-hs4zq]

The second instructor is super cute and sounds lovely. 🥴

[@jighardy]

This is such a cool demonstration. I wish there was a dojo closer to where I live

[@x9ov0x93]

Where are all the views?? this was amazing

[@patricklastname5646]

Amazing instructors. I was surprised at how fast they transitioned th know.

[@Justin.002]

Heck yeah, kendo coverage.

[@WhosDnisify]

I love kendo, I used to practice it a lot. It's a different breed.

[@vasocreta]

The mindfulness component of Kendo is what I find so fascinating. Although the intense practice and training does, inherently, build muscle memory and fluidity of motion, it seems that every step in every aspect of the engagement is still carefully thought out with exact intention. That is very different to other sports, where so much emphasis in practice is put on making core components automatic and thoughtless (not in a bad way).

[@The_A_r_i_e_s.]

We need more kendo videos!!

[@NamazuRyuSaiken]

Nice video! 👏👏👏

[@IreneWY]

The first time I had to make sounds in Karate practice, I felt so self-conscious. But it actually helped to make my punches stronger and sharper. So, yell you Kyas, people, yell.

[@KatonRyu]

Interesting to see the fencers being confused about the kiai. Most fencers I know are pretty okay with shouting their lungs out in a bout, it's just that in kendo you do it before you hit instead of after the hit.

[@petergustafsson1670]

4:06 - There would be a lot of young female sabre fencers who would have absolutely no problem with the kiai! ;) SOURCE: speaking as a epee referee. Also: refereeing Kendo looks like a whole lot harder than in epee.

[@Nutellla]

I like the warcry at the start of every battle😂

[@realzooflicks]

I think I’ll definitely do kendo

[@chrisellis4400]

For any cricket fans kiai is like appealing to the umpire,

[@09eson38]

As a person with a kendo friend and a fencing friend with other martial arts it is nearly impossible to block or fight something that thrust and there is other ways to block kendo with fencing apparently

[@luzhang2982]

Lol about to say, in reality the kendo practitioners would get stabbed. In historical times they did duels, and thrusting just worked better when styles clashed.

[@stefthorman8548]

@@luzhang2982 it's called an parry, slap the point away, and katana/kendo do stab, in fact it's an able stabber.

[@TalussAthner]

Kendo and fencing are very much both sports would likely both lose if put up against how people would’ve actually historically fought with their lives on the line in the styles that they grew out of.

[@uhohspaghettios4116]

PLEASE DO RYTHMIC GYMNASTS AND ARTISTIC GYMNASTS NEXT

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

3:59 - She's so shocked 🤣!!!

[@tonyschue5665]

よくできました！

[@uhohspaghettios4116]

You guys could also do badminton players and tennis players or ping pong players and badminton players

[@cloosat]

This need to be in the Olympics.

[@blitzy9408]

this has made me want to really try Kendo

[@aussiechris5904]

Really interesting, newly subscribed (as in 5 seconds after finishing the clip). I'd be interested to see how things go if the roles were reversed. As in Kendokas learning foil or whatever.

[@xoxoxo8876]

Y'all gotta do one of these for judo and wrestlers

[@dennis-mariusthieme8128]

I really like the video, thanks for the Input. I'm fencer too and will try some kendo soon. But pls, do never again cut the video when showing the technics. It makes it really hard to understand what is going on.

[@Tabemonoxx]

I love kendo so much, sadly we don't have any here...

[@paolovila7359]

it would be amazing to see how HEMA students and or masters would do in kendo

[@paolovila7359]

I do specifically mean longsword sparring

[@tohrutokota3005]

I feel more motivated to do kendo again XD

[@hansschmidt3144]

26:26 guy moving like this all around made me laugh so hard ;D

[@Bluesonofman]

Kendo is something I really want to learn as a SAO fan

[@zzajizz]

Tai Chi vs Yoga next!

[@sheevthewireless110]

Yeaaah maaan! 🤺

[@TheWorldWarrior]

Learning about history it seems that this sort of transition into main dojos happened when the samurai’s were over in Japan and that guns started to become popular as well as the overall modernization of society.