Kendo and fencing both originated as combative skills for privileged classes but transformed over time. Kendo developed in Japan from sword techniques and integrated philosophy from Buddhism and Bushido. It uses bamboo swords and standardized scoring areas. Fencing originated across Europe from horseback fighting and different weapons emerged. It has standardized rules and scoring systems. While both are sports today, some fencing practitioners seek a return to its roots as an art form.

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Cultural and
Ideological
Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing

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01 introduction
•Kendo
•Ken (劍) = Sword
•Do (道) = Way of life

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01 introduction
Fencing
• old French “defens”
• “ the way of defending”
• around1200BC
• in a craving in Egypt
• modern fencing/Olympic fencing
• started in early 19th century

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Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing
02
history and
development
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The Heian Period
(794-1185)
> Downfall of the
aristocratic order
and the
emergence of
samurai class
The Kumakura,
Muromachi and
Azuchi-
Momoyama
Period (1185-
1603)
>Invasion from
the Mongols –
Swords versus
bows and
arrows.
The Warring –
States and
Tokugawa
Bakufu (1490-
1868)
> Founding of
kendo schools
> Bushido in
feudalism.
> Modern kendo
took forms.
Modern Period
(1868- )
> Kendo was
standardized
>Transformed
into a sport

5. PowerPoint chart object
02
history and
development
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Kendo
• The Heian Period (平安時代) (794-1185)
Witnessed a shift of power from aristocrats to
warriors.
• The katana (太刀) was influenced by the Chinese
blade (唐刀)

6. PowerPoint chart object
02
history and
development
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Kendo
• Mongols’ invasion in the 13th century of Japan
boosted the development of kendo and other
martial arts.
•Japan has had the world’s best sword
craftsmanship of the time, fighting against bows.
•Kendo changed from individual ritual duels to
military fights.

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Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing
02
history and
development
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• Introduction of muskets by the Portuguese in the
16th century required flexible combat.
• Many famous schools of kendo was founded:
Miyamoto Musashi (宮本武藏) was the founder of
the two-sword kendo.
• Bamboo swords and protective gears was
introduced in the 17th century.

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Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing
02
history and
development
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• During the modern period, kendo was standardized in
terms of points to be hit, costume, equipment.
• During the early Meiji Period, Westernization led to the
abandoning of Japanese sword in favor of Western
saber.
• Kendo was included into school curriculum since
1890s for the sake of promotion of Bushido militarism.
• Kids are nowadays encouraged by parents to learn
kendo for self-discipline.
• Police are required to practice kendo, as well as judo.

9. 02
history and
development
Fencing
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Early period in Egypt,
Greece and Rome
Middle Ages
Renaissance
Modern(19th century)
•Invention of gun power amour s disappeared
•Development of weapon to a lighter and smaller one
•Italian and Spanish way spread through France
•13-14th forbid dueling and school of fencing
•15th : legal to run school of fencing
•16th Letters Patent given
• Demonstration in public and even in theatre
•French school: DuelingDefence
•Modification of rules
•German school: invention of cut fencing
•Codified rules
•Mentality changes
•Nobleswriters and middle class
•Fencer development stress: technique
•From art to sport: trinity of weapons
•Invention of the push button

10. Similarities
• Originated from other
countries.
• Belonged to privileged
class as a combating
skills.
• Transformed due to the
invention of gunpowder.
• Promoted at school in
modern time.
• Developed from skills to
art to sport
Differences
• Some forms of fencing is
originated from fighting
on horseback, while
kendo is basically a
ground combating skills.
• Fencing was spread over
Europe. Kendo was
played in Japan before
contemporary.
• Government sometimes
indirectly encouraged
development of fencing
while kendo was made
into the syllabus
02
history and
development
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Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing
03 Equipments
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Weapons:
• Shinai (竹刀) for Keiko (稽古)
• Bokuken (木刀)for Kata (形)
Costume:
• Dogi (道著)
• Hakama (袴)
Protective gears:
• Men (面)
• Kote (小手)
• Do (胴)
• Tare (垂)

12. Fencing equipments
03 Equipments
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1. Jacket
2. Glove
3. Body wire
4. Épées
5. Breeches
6. Mask
7. Plastron
Epee

13. 03 Equipments
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•Origin
•Weight
•Shape of guard
•Way of scoring
•Method of attack

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Comparison: head gear and weapon

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Comparison of
Kendo and Fencing
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Game rules and
regulations
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• Modern kendo is standardized to hit men (面), kote (
小手), do (胴) and tsuki (突刺) at the throat only.
• Ki-ai (氣合) and zanshin (殘心) are the specials of
kendo an other forms of Japanese martial arts.
• Kendo is allowed of semi-body contact, action called
tsuba-seriai.
• Individual or team matches.
• Played on a square wooden floor ranging 9-11m
square.
• Nito-kendo is an alternative.
• Kata practice remind kendo stems from combating
techniques.

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Comparison of
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Game rules and
regulations
• Different scoring area for different type of fencing:
• Different scoring system: right of way
• Different method of attack:
– Foil and epee: thrusting
– Sabre: thrusting and cutting
• Individual or team matches.
• Played on on a rectangular strip of floor that is 5.9 to
6.6 ft (1.79 to 2.01 m) wide and 46 ft (14.02 m) long
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17. 05
Ideology and
philosophy
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• Kendo has philosophical foundation of Zen Buddhism (禪宗).
• At the time of Tokugawa Shogunate, Confucianism was
extracted to shape Bushido (武士道).
• During Meiji Period, thinker and statesman Nitobe Inazo (新
渡戶稻造) wrote a book on Bushido in English.

18. 05
Ideology and
philosophy
• Chivalry and Nobility during Middle ages
• “the art of hitting without being hit”
• Link with courage
• Olympic sports: sportsmanship
• Search for classical fencing
– Treat fencing as dueling
– Reject electronic scoring
– Following rules of 19th or pre 19th century
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19. Final conclusion
• Both Kendo and fencing  sports
• Kendo: striking for being an event in
Olympics game
• Fencing: some seek its pre-Olympics
model to treat it as art for a lack of
philosophy in modern fencing
Youtube Video: Kendo vs. Fencing

20. The End