Roots of Kendo①

We present a special episode on kendo, examining how this modern form of swordsmanship evolved from the samurai discipline of kenjutsu. We explore the differences between kenjutsu and kendo, visiting schools including Jikishinkage Ryu, the original developers of protective equipment, and Tennen Rishin Ryu, a school still using bamboo sword drills from the samurai era. Expert Alex Bennett outlines the key points in kendo's history.

[@percivalconcord9209]

2:56 That zoom in is just XD. I don't know how to describe it.

[@ThePsychoguy]

Tennen rishin ryu looks so badass, I wish there was a dojo near me that taught it, I’d sign up immediately!

[@purpleshadow1100]

I am the man cutting bamboo and practice Jikishinkageryu kendo. If you are interested in our tactics,I am uploading somevideo.

[@ren7a8ero]

I can't help but thinking... interesting how these sports japan videos are totally aimed to ocidental viewers (understandable), to the point that even their kendo specialist is western! Whatever, I like this show! Thanks for sharing!

[@geluurs8235]

If a japanese expert present a show about european knights and warriors of the past, I feel honoured. And Alex Bennett is badass.

[@irasac1]

The video is in English, it's obviously aimed at foreigners, do you think they broadcast this to Japan? You don't know what you're watching

[@legoslicerfilms1028]

I think one of the biggest concerns I’d imagine would be is that all sparring would inevitably devolve into brawling, as that’d be the only certain way to get your opponent to give up (through pain of choking out) Implementing some sort of rule set for winning would be useful, atleast for shiai. If this variant even has Shiai. The strong spirit of the practitioners wouldn’t necessarily encourage them to concede unless forced through tough brawling.

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

le katana est comme une âme..pure et fragile à la fois, la pureté pour la perfection de l'art et de l'arme, et la fragilité pour celui qui le manie.

[@Shroosk]

Excellent

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

the art of the sword depends on who uses it, a sharp mind is enough to sublimate it.

[@schwertschwinger]

8:10 Very interesting. Its a bit like Hema. They should try our gear, and fight with steel swords. At Sigi Forge you can get now good and comparable cheap sparring Katanas I think.

[@mintyfresh4855]

I knew about Tennen Rishin Ryu, but I didn't get the chance to see how they did their 1 on 1. It's Japan's answer to HEMA. Maybe I should send them some HEMA gear that will give them proper protection. And if they get custom made katanas with a blunt tip and flexible blade, they can fight with steel.

[@jaketheasianguy3307]

The problem is steel swords are banned in Japan, even training sword. The only way a steel sword could exist legally in japan is that it needs to be make in traditional way by a certified sword smith. Even western practice sword like Feders are disallowed in Japan so that's why they still have to spar with shinai and bokken

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

la force et le pouvoir va toujours au plus juste car il est le garant de l'unité du japon.

[@daswordofgork9823]

I have to say, both school styles have great ideas of sword combat. First one involves footwork and fighting with different distances. The Second fights and strikes at a safe but dominant distance. But I do wish this was combined otherwise it would really rival HEMA.

[@shushuyu]

Out of curiosity. How do you compare the two styles effectiveness?

[@prabshiro]

Shuyu I agree with da sword .. I practice Kenjutsu and Kendo.. it's difficult to compare with HEMA. and has been discussed to death

[@shushuyu]

Doing kendo and practicing kendo are separate things. If you do kendo like me it's easier to talk to you because you might be familiar with the techniques but if you only practice kendo then it's reasonable for why you think its hard to compare between longsword and kendo.

[@daswordofgork9823]

Shuyu To finally answer this question it is how the style uses the flexibility of their techniques during sparring practice. Like how Kendo is very anal on how you hit someone, Kenjutsu uses and studies the techniques. These variants of Kenjutsu try to look at they techniques and try to apply them in a sparring situation. Sparring is the continuation of your forms and drills but under pressure. This is the real problem for martial arts in general, making many people believe that ONLY doing forms makes you the ultimate fighter when this is not the case.

[@smoothcriminal7232]

Shuyu if kendo is like boxing... kenjutsu is like MMA closer to realistic fights

[@MikeM22]

where's the rest of this?

[@navahotorzs9089]

0:45 music?, soundtrack?

[@richardh.2611]

damn, this guy is an aussie!!

[@Ghidorah96]

Richard H. He's from New Zealand

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

le japon est un coeur entourée de sentiment, mais en lui est née un incompréhensible sentiment que seul moi peu contrôler.

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

entrainer sont esprit empêche de sombrer dans les limbes obscure, "Samourai" veut dire servir, la notion de "Samourai" est révolue à notre époque , et certain oublient que le renforcement de l'esprit faisait partie de leurs obligation envers leurs seigneurs.

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

en toi sonne une cloche d'un blanc pure car elle reflète un sentiment qui s'égare, et un sont infime resonne en toi, pour signifier que tu est toujours là.

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

la voix du sabre est insondable car seul celui qui la pratique c'est ou elle mène.

[@stevemcgee8350]

They should have interviewed someone from hokushin itto ryu.

[@kitsuhakunetsu3002]

je ne comprend l'anglais, mais je sais lire dans les intentions et percevoir le mensonge qui hante l'être altéré par l'avidité.

[@thecomradered]

Why do all of these kendo videos not mention that the samurai made up only a very small portion of the population or that the commoners were denied the right to own swords and so could never practise kenjutsu

[@prabshiro]

thecomradered because it's not relevant to the subject or needed.

[@yaroxkendo3043]

During the Bakumatsu-period, some schools opened their doors for regular citizen.

[@小林佑輔-y2d]

what? 10:20の剣道全然違うんだけど笑 完全に歩み足じゃん

[@ペロペロチンチーノ-l9p]

小林佑輔 梅ヶ谷さんじゃない？

[@こんにちは-u6rhgggg]

TV Hikakin それな

[@yanniskusogaki]

13:19 ...I don't get it. Why is a master holding his sword so blatantly wrong? 13:36 This guy too. Years go by, and I keep seeing this a lot from "masters" but I am still dumbfounded. Why choke both hands tightly up and waste all the leverage and control a long handle offers. I mean I could see it if he only had enough handle to fit 2 hands, but he clearly has almost double that and wasting it.

[@Ianmar1]

Same reason one uses that grip in golf: they are not going for leverage, but speed and follow through.

[@yanniskusogaki]

@@Ianmar1 In that case they would choke both hands down the grip like in golf. There is no proper follow through with that much grip protruding under your follow hand.

[@Ianmar1]

@@yanniskusogaki I suspect that it is to protect the hands, he is doing kenjutsu after all.

[@yanniskusogaki]

​@@Ianmar1 He is worrying about kenjutsu and protecting his hands now...after he gave up most of his control of the sword by holding it wrong? Some weird priorities that "master" has.

[@renchi6989]

WTF !!! man, you did documentary about Japanese martial art but you interview western people. what a shame!!!!

[@sebastiaanvanblokland6473]

lol i'm sorry but just becouse i do kendo does not mean i have to know every 7th dan and up. i only know a few. if you just study other people you wont learn how to do it yourself.

[@smoothcriminal7232]

Korawit S. Maybe, they intended to interview a western sensei so theres no need for translation/subtitles

[@minhchaunguyenvn]

Heber Hernandez-Yoc i thought he was kyoshi nanadan?

[@Relicarious]

Alexander Bennett is not Western, he is Australasian. He also lived over 30 years in Japan, is a professor of Kendo and Japanese culture at the university, member of the international committee of All Japan Kendo, as well as being a prolific writer on the topic and highly graded in several arts, including, obviously, kendo. As such he is supremely well positioned to convey the art in context. But I'll acknowledge that your knee-jerk reaction was of the right impulse, if a bit off the mark. :-)