Kendo, literally “the way of the sword” in Japanese, is the continuation of the ancient samurai way as a modern martial art and sport. As such, it embodies the spirit of budō and practitioners aim to strengthen both their minds and bodies through disciplined training.
Kendoka, or kendo practitioners, train and spar in full armor. Kendo is a full contact and very physical sport, so it is necessary to have protection. This armor, or bogu, mimics both the traditional appearance of samurai armor and serves as targets during competition.
In addition to armored drills and sparring, kendoka practice kata, or form work, with wooden swords. These kata teach kendoka proper technique in a controlled manner and emphasize maintaining correct posture and distance. Kata also build muscle memory for specific techniques and play a role in the testing process, through which kendoka advance through kyu (grades) and dan (degrees, like of black-belt in other martial arts).
Unlike many other martial arts, kendo also offers students the opportunity to test and hone their skills in competition. Kendo tournaments include both individual competitions and five member team competitions. As an international sport, kendo is also growing quickly; in 2016, ESPN featured the kendo world championships for the first time.