What Are the Differences Between IAIDO & KENDO? The History of the Two Katana Martial Arts of Japan

I have been a katana trainee for about 5 years now.But when I say “I train how to use the katana”, there are many people who tell me... “Oh so you train in Kendo!”
No, I don’t train in Kendo, but I train in Iaido.They are the two sword related martial arts in Japan, but they are completely different.
But, how are they different really?
So today, as a Iaido trainee I will briefly explain about the history of Iaido and Kendo, and then finally introduce the 3 main differences between them. I have never trained in Kendo before, so I have received advice from my friend who has been training for 25 years.
▼The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Iaido, Kendo, etc.): Tozando▼
tozandoshop.com/letsaskshogo *This is my affiliate link!
Everything I use for my katana training is bought at this shop! I still use the first training katana I bought in 2016, and it is still in good shape!
▼The recommended online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana▼
minikatana.com/SHOGO
*Get 15% OFF off all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link
[Time codes]
0:00 Let's START!
1:08 The history of Iaido
3:49 The history of Kendo
6:18 Let’s organize the information
7:30 The differences of Iaido and Kendo
11:39 Today’s conclusion
13:44 “Omake” talk
▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼
• Self-introduction and ...
▼Related videos in this channel▼
-5 most frequently asked questions about katana swords answered by an iaido trainee in Kyoto, Japan!
• 5 Most Frequently Aske...
-What are tsuba ring, tsuka-maki wrapping, and sageo string meant for? Their purposes then and today
• What Tsuba Ring, Tsuka...
-What are the 3 main differences between katana for samurai & ninja? How Ninjato were actually used!
• The 3 Surprising Diffe...
▼MY DREAM▼
“To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true,
by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in”
I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them.
The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more.
▼Join our Membership▼
/ @letsaskshogo
●Membership benefits
-Limited behind-the-scene videos
-Weekly live stream
-Priority reply to comments
Every single yen we earn from this membership, we will be donating to groups of people who are fighting to solve social problems in Japan, the Japanese schools where foreign students can study, or use it to spread the works of people working with traditional culture in Japan to preserve the arts they are doing.
▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼
/ @shogospodcast
Please subscribe!!
The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores.
Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments.
▼[For YOU traveling to Kyoto] Check out the "Kyoto Hidden Gems" that we introduce▼
• Playlist
▼Instagram▼
/ lets_ask_shogo
*Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠️I do not use e-mail）
♪Music♪
おとわび
otowabi.com/category/material...
H/MIX GALLERY
www.hmix.net/music_gallery/ima...
♪Sound effects♪
効果音ラボ
soundeffect-lab.info/
♪Pictures♪
かわいいフリー素材屋 いらすとや
www.irasutoya.com/
#iaidokendo #whatisiaido #katanatraining #budo #martialarts

[@LetsaskShogo]

▼The BEST online katana shop for martial arts (Iaido, Kendo, etc.): Tozando▼ tozandoshop.com?sca_ref=2893299.hcDMfLw4P2 Everything I use for my katana training is bought at this shop! I still use the first training katana I bought in 2016, and it is still in good shape! ▼The recommended online katana shop for decorations and cosplay: Mini Katana▼ minikatana.com/SHOGO *Get 15% OFF off all their products by purchasing through my affiliate link ▼Who is Shogo? What is this channel about?▼ kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoqyiXeGd7mqeZY ▼Related videos in this channel▼ -5 most frequently asked questions about katana swords answered by an iaido trainee in Kyoto, Japan! kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4m4fayLeJ6ef68 -What are tsuba ring, tsuka-maki wrapping, and sageo string meant for? Their purposes then and today kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6HWfWx3pdieaKM -What are the 3 main differences between katana for samurai & ninja? How Ninjato were actually used! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJWkaoiZpbl0iJI ▼MY DREAM▼ “To make every Japan lovers’ dream come true, by making Japan a more secure, comfortable, and safer place for everyone to visit, study, and live in” I will be using the profit I gain from this channel at restaurants, hotels, and cultural facilities in Kyoto to introduce them. The more you watch the videos on this channel, Kyoto and Japan will become a more exciting place, and you can support your own and others’ dreams in the future even more. ▼Join our Membership▼ kzbin.info/door/n7DCb9ttrcw9h3vh9dfnVwjoin ●Membership benefits -Limited behind-the-scene videos -Weekly live stream -Priority reply to comments Every single yen we earn from this membership, we will be donating to groups of people who are fighting to solve social problems in Japan, the Japanese schools where foreign students can study, or use it to spread the works of people working with traditional culture in Japan to preserve the arts they are doing. ▼[Sub-channel] “Shogo’s Podcast”▼ kzbin.info/door/ZAe1VayWxp5NLO4Net78DA Please subscribe!! The perfect channel to learn about Japanese culture and history in your spare time, during your walk to school or work, and when you are cooking or doing house chores. Not only will I be covering the topics in this main channel, but also some topics that you will only be able to enjoy in the sub-channel, like answering questions I receive, and my opinions towards some of the comments. ▼[For YOU traveling to Kyoto] Check out the "Kyoto Hidden Gems" that we introduce▼ kzbin.info/aero/PLpIWoYf9KNFU2YmZtyfKJi9-MCpycAPWy ▼Instagram▼ instagram.com/lets_ask_shogo/ *Please ask me questions through the DM here!（⚠I do not use e-mail）

[@chrisrafael8617]

My Sensei had an easy way of explaining this, "Iaido is drawing the sword and returning it to the sheath, Kendo is everything in between".

[@shanhavael2640]

Then you could also say that kenjutsu is both together.

[@animatoraoi3672]

Me who know nothing: Ooo new anime sword style

[@aclass1174]

Wow that's pretty cool

[@tantsuya3274]

that's really easy to understand wow thx

[@TheoCynical]

I love it!

[@Kletian999]

The following is a joke inspired by your little graphics. Iaido makes you look like an Anime protagonist, kendo makes you look like the faceless guards being cut down.

[@snipa298]

Though, it seems like it'd be the other way around once you put it into practice.

[@Flo00o4]

@@snipa298 With a bamboo sword?

[@cristhf6981]

@@Flo00o4 Musashi killed his first enemy with a Bokken (which is also used in Kendo) so yeah

[@icspps]

@@snipa298 no... youd still *look* like an anime protagonist. Operative word being, " *look* ." Now, unless you're able to dash 60 feet and execute a dozen lethal precision slashes faster than the blink of an eye, you won't be able to fight like one.

[@KaptainCanuck]

Kendo is samurai cosplay. Iaido is akin to learning the punches (and kicks) for combat. Learn the basics and then learn iaijutsu, the real sword combat, not playtime kendo.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

TRAINEE 1: For 5 years, I've been training in Iaido TRAINEE 2: For 5 years, I've been training in Kendo TRAINEE 3: For 5 years, I've been emptying Bento meals

[@C_Dunham]

ty

[@xdragon2k]

The path of Uncle Ben?

[@Rainbow_Oracle]

More like path of stuffing your face XD

[@Crazzydan2829]

🍱Ah the path of the sumo..🍱

[@juzzag069]

To sum up. If you want to master a katana. You need to perfect both disciplines. One for precision, the other for actual combat

[@Dragoninja35]

Well said buddy

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

Except kendo is 100% sport with too many artbitary rules. You should do kenjutsu for actual combat.

[@dovannik32]

@@SwordWieldingDuck To borrow from Kunst Des Fechtens, all fencing has its origin in wrestling. If you really want to know how to fight, you should know how to go to ground as well - so Judo would be just as important. Pre-war kendo featured takedowns as well!

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

@@dovannik32 yes, i agree. Also wrestling makes it more interesting and fun.

[@jejelerider3278]

Not at all. Kendo is not usefull for actual combat (at least real samurai fight) because you will suicide yourself after doing a light cut. Kendo is now nowere near kenjutsu was. I practice the two. In kenjutsu you can strike wherever you want, a strong cut, and without being touch. In Kendo You have to TOUCH the first, at 3 points (head, torso wirst). If you are "stab 1 sec after you win. with a real katana you died after winning xD Ppl believe a katana is so much sharpen that you can cut in half without effort "manga style". In real life it asks strenght and a lot of technic to cut. So a kendo strike like we see in tournament will not be very effective.

[@Chrisiant]

I was introduced to iaido by Sensei Martin Hermanez, in Kissimmee, FL. Since I am in a wheelchair, he modified some of the strokes to make them possible for me.I truly enjoyed learning, but I am fairly sure I could not compete with my modified forms. I honor Sensei for making the art accessible for me.

[@toupac3195]

Are master swordsmiths and ancient techniques still common?

[@C_Dunham]

yes

[@MCShvabo]

Not common but they do exist and are accessible.

[@samuraijackoff5354]

Many descendants are still alive and some have learned and teach their techniques.

[@richardmartin8998]

Many koryu styles of iaijutsu, battojutsu, and kenjutsu exist today and some are accessible to the wider public. However finding such a school can be hard. Your best option will likely be to find a club that does ZNKR iaido and koryu styles.

[@Crazzydan2829]

Swordsmithing would be the art I would give anything to learn. As I understand the masters of such skill are very few now.

[@katsukikasuyama5765]

You know it's a great day if shogo uploads Can't start my day without watching one

[@JoeyMastropiero]

I can totally relate with the armor in summer being the worst part of Kendo, and the stink that comes with it, especially the Kote. At the end of training my hands smell like feet jajajajaa.

[@faustomadebr]

Hahahaha. I can relate... Imagine this in a country like Brazil.

[@JoeyMastropiero]

@@faustomadebr Buenos Aires is a literal concrete oven in summer, but Brazil is way hotter, can totally relate >.

[@faustomadebr]

@@JoeyMastropiero Oh! You are from Argentina!!! Off course you'd understand me, hermana!!!! :)

[@Dragoninja35]

@@faustomadebr my sensei who taught me kendo was the head sensei for the Brazilian kendo Olympic team 😆

[@faustomadebr]

@@Dragoninja35 Nice. Whats his name?

[@zazugee]

Kendo is no longer about the swords, maybe kenjitsu is about fighting with swords kendo is as much useful for swinging a sword as modern fencing

[@SwordWieldingDuck]

I would argue modern fencing actually more useful. Besides, HEMA exists.

[@thefaramith8876]

@@SwordWieldingDuck fencing is not better than kendo when it comes to usefulness.

[@KieranTong]

@@SwordWieldingDuck Good name for you. That was a salty response. Stay salty.

[@jjs3890]

Look up Gekkiken. It’s an exercise of kenjutsu and is where kendo comes from. It’s basically kendo with less rules and jujitsu blended in when appropriate.

[@RetroSmoo]

You still practice traditional kenjutsu in kendo no kata

[@antoniobautista6718]

I swear every time there's a new vid from Shogo I'm always excited 😁

[@fryderykchopin3974]

Actually, in my dojo (kendo) kata is practiced every training for 30 minutes because my sensei finds it to be important to remember the roots of kendo.

[@nootnewt9323]

Just subscribed! Love your detailed explanations of Japanese culture. Hope you get to 100k subs

[@Bruno-kk3yk]

I'm never tired of watching your videos. Thanks for the good and well planned content!

[@susanroberts7492]

Thank you for such a well organized, simple, yet thorough explanation of the 2 arts! I enrolled in an iaito class early this month to accompany a somewhat modified aikido class (due to Covid restrictions) I absolutely love this wonderful excursion into such a rich culture! I am EAGERLY waiting for the arrival of my first iaito while I train with a bokuto for now. Thanks, again Shgo for your concise and fascinating exploration on iaido and kendo. I am so glad you made this video!

[@namazuryusshugyo5214]

thank you for the easy to understand history provided for both arts! definitely made it easier to visualize how these arts come from!

[@stephenaitcheson6626]

Great explanation Shogo. I've seen Iaido practiced decades ago in Tokyo and always thought of it as an intense 'katana meditation'. I hope popularity increases for it, and I wish to become a student one day.

[@davidl5452]

Wonderful explanation as always. Thank you for the hard work you put into these videos. We appreciate the detailed insight into Japanese culture.

[@jonathanowen9917]

Really helpful contrast between these two sword arts. The follow up discussion on jutsu vs do and iai was enlightening.

[@Kampfender_Krieger]

Shogo: *uploads a video* Me: DAY MADE !!!

[@MateusDrake]

The content of the video is always interesting, but the organization with which it is presented is always perfect. It's so concise.

[@corujariousa]

Thanks for another interesting video! I appreciate the organized approach you use.

[@adaikonen]

I practice Muso shinden ryu style Iaido here in Finland. I just love the traditions of this art

[@thebigcheese3348]

How my sensei describes the differences between the two is that kendo is like paintball and iaido is like range shooting

[@spydkiss]

as always, an amazing video with a superb explanation only shogo can deliver. much love from your fan in the Philippines! ossu!

[@TheL96]

Well summarized👍🏽... Concise and to the point... That's a subscribe in my books... Great work, keep them coming

[@KF1]

Fascinating stuff. Great presentation

[@Titi-zm7gr]

This channel is the best, keep up the awesome work at teaching ppl about such amazing culture!!!

[@marinos9985]

Another informative video! Amazing job shogo!

[@ryannadernejad2814]

I’ve always wants to learn Iaido but when would look for schools in my area. I would only find Kendo schools. I didn’t understand why there were no places where one could learn Iaido but after watching this video it all makes sense. Thank you.

[@hugopetruspons]

I just recently discovered your channel and I'm enjoying each video a ton!! Thanks for the big effort you put in them. As for your goal, we're just starting February and you have already surpassed 60K, so I'de bet my savings you'll achieve it without even breaking a sweat. Keep going! :D

[@montagistreel]

I absolutely love how he structures every video, it's like everything you would want to know at this level and exactly where you have to go to find it

[@mr.s.r.baxleyo.p.8481]

Thanks for this video. It was surprising in many ways. Just a wonderful presentation.

[@daniperez8074]

Hey thank you for this. The way you present info is very easy to retain

[@lanphan3726]

Keep up the good work, Shogo! Your experience growing up in America and Japan is a great insight on the Japanese society for me and many other to understand!

[@daniellopezmendez3849]

The last explanation was very useful.

[@juniorjimenez72]

Loved the video, thank you for explaining it in such a simple way. I'd like to hear more, specifically about kenjutsu.

[@heaveniridescence6993]

0:51 Has anyone else noticed the cartoon Iaido trainee character looks kind of like Shogo?

[@LetsaskShogo]

😮！

[@imuraa]

Watching these videos just makes me wanna train kendo again.. I have been training kendo for 3 years before moving to another state which had no kendo dojos and now training kyokushin karate and boxing/muay Thai

[@vertexlila9384]

Me encanta tu canal. Muchas gracias por la explicación tan clara. Pura vida

[@jkvirus308]

I really love this! Please teach us more about katanas nowadays and also blacksmiths? Can you also talk about crafts in Kyoto?

[@jedsanford7879]

your videos and personality are great I really enjoy them, thank you.

[@alalala4945]

I really enjoy watching your videos!

[@shorteststraw417]

Just found your channel trying to find videos on kendo. I'm about to start training kendo and want to know as much about it as I can. Your presentation and personality are top notch! Subscribed! :)

[@Prometheus_Williams]

Incredible Chanel, so glad to be here.

[@conabraham1653]

Pugay! Thank you very much for granting my request of telling us about Iaido... And more than that, a comprehensive one to tops. Bless your endeavors on your channel.

[@jaspate7132]

Great video. Love love and appreciate you.

[@Blueflamey]

I really like this format, there's a summary/TL;DR (or DW) part. Very informative, thanks! I hope you reach your goal.

[@bigsidable]

Thank for a awesome clarification.

[@kanubeenderman]

great info, thanks!

[@catdaddy8603]

Thank you for sharing that Shogo. While I've read some on the history of Iaido, I really had no clue about Kendo. My former sensei commented that, after WWII, Kendo was called "Shinai Sport" to minimize the combative nature of the art. When I was in that dojo shiai was highly discouraged and we really only trained amongst ourselves. Even our Iai was very insular and we never mixed with other schools. I've moved to a different, more convenient dojo, which is very shiai oriented. At the Honbu dojo they offer Seitei Iai which has some fundamental differences from the koryu that I learned. For Kendo dogu, I spray it down with isopropyl alcohol and fabreeze after every practice and the Men, Do and Tare are still pretty decent after 16 years even though I've gone through many Kote.

[@anutoms3349]

Sensei your video is very informative Thank yo

[@hitorideronin]

The omake talk was grate, I finally understood what Iai means and it makes a lot of sense. Thank you!!!

[@marvintheodore5871]

Well explained. Thank you!

[@stephanb.3342]

How interesting! Thank you.

[@lostinveda]

very informative! thanks

[@pavlosstefanidis7145]

I was thinking of buying a katana and your video made it crystal clear what I should take into account when I decide to do it! ありがとうございました

[@almothaffar6228]

Amazing video as usual

[@Ni999]

Splendid explanations!

[@R.D.S.Productions]

Sweet video! Thanks from Oklahoma!

[@l-b284]

Arigato, Shogo, well done video! I am very interested in learning more about these disciplines. I was born in Japan, and want to know so much more about the culture and arts. Appreciate the omake (BTW your English is great!).

[@SanseriIIDX]

Thanks for your explanation. It gives a lot of insight to those who have neither practiced iaido or kendo. In the back of my mind I’ve questioned the suffixes such as “-jyutsu” and “-do”. Thanks for clarifying that.

[@gagamushin6853]

Arigato sensei for the video ❤️

[@Priestbokmei1]

You’re videos are Shogo! Your voice is very relaxing and the content is very informative. Musashi, as the narrative goes, is reported to have killed nearly half of his 60 or so personal duels with a wooden sword (bokken). This suggests to me that the bokken can be studied as weapon in its own right apart (as is the hanbo) from the katana. Perhaps you could do a video on the bokken and the Quran hanbo in the future.

[@yuhtanizawa7686]

Amazing video!

[@patrician3821]

Hello! Thank you so much for another interesting video. I am training in Kyudo and I would love to seeing a video of yours about it.

[@joelewis3634]

Great video

[@whitefrost8296]

Loved your video! You should make a podcast out of the "Omake " talks because they are so peacefull to listen to ^^

[@ljungan96]

Hah you are amazing! This channel is definitely added as a favorite!

[@TheModernRiot]

I didn't even know there was a difference! 😳 I learned so much!

[@Didgeridoo-Hippie.]

Domo arigato gozai masu for this useful information shogo

[@blakmajk3512]

Thank you, Sensei!

[@CDInvictus]

Fantastic refresher of the basics! Thank you! I am a private Kung Fu teacher but one of my students really wants me to teach him Iai which I studied about 15 years ago. I'll really need to dust off my skills in order to teach! ありがとうございました！

[@anahata8870]

quite a busy may, it seem this channel has grown a little, we like to congratulate.

[@creeperjames2235]

shogo's voice is really relaxing

[@wiryawibisana5888]

Sensei, i love your english its so listenable

[@ramcymendoza2381]

I appreciate the very thorough and detailed information in all of your videos. By the way, there is a small verbal typo at 13:14. The word that was said was "Kendo" but "Iaido" was the text on the presentation. Thank you for your videos!

[@topa1798]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 I never heard Iaido before.thank you for sharing the knowledge 😍

[@justsee333]

thanks mann learned alot

[@vondbee7091]

Love tour enunciation!

[@hunter5822]

2:46 iaido seems like a refinement of more than JUST a sword fighting style. It feels like a refinement of life style, where the samurai would always be ready to fight rather than either needing time to prepare with armor and stuff or carrying his weapon out all the time even when he isn’t under threat. Could also indicate a shift in Japanese culture over all. Valuing the “normally” clothed samurai over the armored one. Eh, I’m just speculating at some things with incomplete puzzle pieces right now, but decisions and cultural things don’t usually happen or change randomly... especially martial arts.

[@brianbushue2997]

another great video

[@arayagarner2291]

I really appreciate your videos on Japan's culture. ❤

[@fulviozuccolin9166]

Kendo for my viewpoint, is much more what you can do with the body. Laidò is much more what you can do as a soul😊

[@philiptruitt]

Thank you!

[@daniellopezeverest]

Awesome video thank you for sharing! :-) I started learning i a i and then I also started learning Kendo they are both great to do and combined especially if you do all the Kendo exercises it will help improve IAAI techniques and sword handling and move faster footwork

[@merveduru]

The meaning of "Iai" is very interesting 🌸 Please make a video about this philosophy 🙏

[@jacobferrell1812]

You speak english very well and i respect you for learning the language. Ty for the history lectures.

[@Underworlddddd]

very well explained

[@temporalinsanity]

very interesting. i studied iaido for about 5yrs also, but in america. we switched it up between an iaito and a bokken. mostly iaito, but sometimes i used a bokken to help make my arms stronger.

[@eryckmedeiros861]

Thank You!

[@dzl8596]

Great video! I'm going to Kyoto next week and hopefully will buy my first iaito.

[@esside8688]

Saya no uchi de katsu. Thank you for this information. It re-instills the lessons I learned. I am a Black belt and teacher in a style of Iaido in USA. Due to a medical issue I am not able to teach anymore. It is one style that I miss being able to do.

[@gyomeihimejima8052]

I was looking for this yay.....

[@TheFrog767]

Extremely interesting 🥂👏👏👏

[@busheerr]

Wow thank you 🙏🏿

[@statesrights01]

Love the Katana, and love the vid. getting a sub

[@JoeSteel1]

great video, I'm in the process of enrollment in liado

[@anaideviveiros6597]

Awesome, very clear! Now I get the difference. Here in Brazil kendo dojos are popular, but I've never seen a iaido one...

[@arvindkrishna7035]

Dude you are gold, Hello from a new subscriber 👋

[@arnoldpelin2516]

Yeh my japanese friend kojiro atsuta from wakayam he was a kendo practitioner when he was a high school and learned karate and now aikido