Kendo - The Problems I Have with it after 3 years of Practice 

When Japanese martial arts had the purpose of killing they were called "Jutsu" (Kenjutsu, Jujutsu, Iaijutsu, Aikijustu, etc.). The purpose of modern budo (and other gendai budo) is to develop oneself, hence, they are called "Do" or a way of living (Kendo, Judo, Iaido, Aikido, etc.). Many of the comments here miss this fundamental point. Modern Kendo is a "way" and has been restricted from a physical standpoint more to resemble a sport as a matter of practical development (since the chance of meeting someone on the battlefield for a swordfight are slim to none). So we test our skills in competition instead. Kendo enjoys the benefits of being a full-contact sport/martial art like boxing or MMA but has almost none of the risks of injury due to the way the armor and bamboo sword where created. This was the intention of the Samurai when they developed this. So Kendo can be practiced into old age. We can only imagine how much more a man like Muhamed Ali could have developed his skill had he been able to continue boxing into his 70's or 80's? That to me is the hidden gem of Kendo. In Kendo you have an unpredictable opponent coming at you with full force to take off your head off in an unchoreographed setting, and you have to be able to control not only your opponent but yourself as well. This is where spiritual philosophy of budo is still applied, as are the benefits.

Thanks for the video. I've been studying Kendo and Iaido for the last 15+ years, have been to a few seminars that show kendoka/iaidoka introductions to styles like Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu and Itto Ryu Kenjutsu, and have some thoughts on the video: Kata: You talk about kata as being a secondary part of kendo, when in reality it's actually the heart and soul of kendo. The kata not only serve as the connection that kendo has to kenjutsu and actual combat with the katana (and indeed the kendo kata are almost identical to the first 10 kata of other styles like Ono-Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu), they also serve subtly as the complete litany of how you're actually supposed to fight. This gets clearer as you progress through the martial art and it's critical to you moving beyond 2-Dan. If you recognize the kata as central to kendo, then the connection that kendo has to the "Samurai katana combat" (like most kenshi I prefer using the term kobudo/koryu bugei given that a ton of non-soldier/warrior samurai existed due to the term literally meaning noble servant) becomes very clear. And if you don't like kata, well...you're probably in a rude awakening because that's literally *all* of Kenjutsu and Iaijutsu. Stances: I think you have some fundamental misunderstandings of the kamae in Kendo that are contributing to some of the confusion you have on why we focus a lot of chudan and jodan in taikai and keiko. First, we actually use a lot more than just 2 kamae - even at tournaments. If you've been practicing kendo for 3 years even intensively you're probably not yudansha, so you likely haven't faced a ton of jodan players. But when you do fight them you're often taught to take Seigan no Kamae (which is also a stance used in various styles of Itto Ryu Kenjutsu) which allows you to take their wrist faster, sets you up to parry/nuki-dou quickly, or even take tsuki deceptively. As another comment posted, gedan also gets used a lot. It's almost essential when you're fighting against naginataka as well, given that it positions you to ward off them cutting your tsune (shins) which is like their version of men in terms of primacy to their martial art. Chudan and Jodan get used a lot because we're focusing on long sword v. long sword fighting. If you have good chudan no kamae, you're going to ward off something like 80% of all of the cuts your opponent is going to do against you. Having a strong chudan means that they won't be able to get your chest, your wrists, and you're positioned well to attack if they try to stike your head or your the sides of your neck (kesagiri - something that's used all the time in kenjutsu and is still part of kendo but no longer part of keiko). Jodan gets used because we kendoka are fucking insane and like to go HAM. It's an extremely aggressive stance that only makes sense as you move on in the art and get rid of a lot of the fear you face when fighting. It positions you amazingly well to attack but exposes almost all of you to getting cut in away that makes it really hard to parry. Kata 1 and Kata 5 teach this well. You also don't seem to be doing chudan and jodan properly. Chudan requires you to have the pommel of your blade right above your belly button at the center of mass, and you to be facing your opponent square-on. This is to help you defend against tsuki, as well as to help you brace for them rushing you. You also are curving your sword too much in your jodan, and that might be why you have questions about the difference in some styles of kenjutsu's jodan and kendo (which are generally the same thing). Jodan is purely about offense after all and what you're doing is basically "half cocking" your men or kote. If you let the kensen fall too low, you're not going to be as fast on your attack. As for the other stances, we don't use them because they're really only designed for certain situations. You bring up waki-no-kamae here (one of my favoriate kamae btw) as an example of something that's deeply rooted in kenjutsu but isn't used in fighting. Well we don't use waki because the whole point of waki is to hide the length of your blade. You're only supposed to use waki when you have a longer sword than your opponent, and you're trying to lure them into your range to strike. The kata that shows this, Kata 4, is directly sampled from Ni-To Ryu Kenjutsu is and is a callback to Miyamoto Musashi's duel at Ganryu Island where he killed his opponent with a really long boat oar by doing the same thing. In kendo we're fighting with roughly standardized-sized shinai, so waki exposes you a lot for minimal gain. Similar too is hasso-no-kamae. Hasso is meant to be used when you're wearing a helmet (like the traditional kabuto of the bushi) that prohibits you from taking jodan, or when you're indoors where it's similarly hard to raise your blade into jodan. Hopefully neither is in play during keiko for you, otherwise your dojo needs to look into better housing. The issue is not our ability to strike out of any of these styles. Kata 4 is literally all about that topic, and it serves as the guideline for how to attack from both hasso and waki. The issue is that we're sacrifcing a lot of inherent defense in adopting these kamae for minimal benefit given the conditions of your typical keiko. Where we attack: Some of the commentary you said on areas we attack is incorrect. Yes, you can thrust into the torso, as this is part of tsuki and is literally the end of kata 3. It is a valid point in taikai when fighting against jodan players, and even gets called sometimes if you do it wonderfully well in chudan if you have proper ki-ken-tai-ichi. You're right that kesagiri isn't a valid point anymore, and if there's one thing that helps your argument on kendo being detached it's kesagiri's neglect in kendo. That being said, it's actually still part of kendo. We just don't do it anymore because it's super dangerous. The clear reminders that kesagiri is part of our marital art are on your men: they're why there are those big flaps on the side of your head. Said flaps were supposed to block your neck and help with the blow, but a lot of kendoka in the 60's and 70's were getting seriously injured. You said you were studying kendo in Japan. That's actually a great place to see kesagiri, tripping, ripping off your armor and beating up your opponent, and all of the super old school brutality of kendo in action -- just head over to your local police dojo. Footwork and attacks: To just round out a lot of this stuff, you bring up some points on footwork about why we don't move back somtimes in kendo after doing attacks. We definitely do; this is all part of hikki-waza and it's a big part of fighting. We don't cross our legs, as you showed, when we do it because if our opponent is paying attention he/she will trip us then. Kendo also is a very military-focused martial art, and as such we really don't like the idea of giving ground. This is why you're constantly encouraged to be attacking and moving forward, and why until 1-Kyu and 1-Dan you're pushed to just attack relentlessly; they're training you to get into the proper mindset. Cutting: So this is the one I'm actually surprised you didn't talk about. If there's anything that sets kendo apart from kenjutsu, it's the fact that kendoka generally don't practice tameshigiri. All we have on this front is tenouchi, which is critical to kendo but is just kind of left to the kendoka to be known as "that thing that helps you cut." I'd definitely encourage you to explore this a little bit more given that it's absolutely essential to understanding how to cut with a katana and it's conspicuously absent from modern kendo curricula. That being said, it's absent because it was moved to iaido and you're technically supposed to study both. But hey, just trying to go with the spirit of the video. Thanks for the content again, and I definitely encourage you to check out kendo again and learn more about the kata at your local dojo. When you're beginning in kendo it may seem monotonous or a little constrained, but what they're doing is building up your spirit and fitness. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you get past that point and explore the martial art beyond 1-kyu.

I've been doing Kendo for a while now, around the same time as you actually, Mr. Tron. For the most part, I actually agree with your statements, Kendo is by far a traditional martial art, more a modern recreation of a more ancient ancestors, which is adapted to the modern day. The sad reality is martial arts in our modern world, especially something including a sword, is practically worthless. In the terms of practicality, you think of things like Muay Thai, BBJ or even boxing, not particularly kenjutsu or even Taekwondo, which I did ITF (non-olympic) style for almost 13 years. The truth of the matter is Kendo is not really about learning how to use a sword, or how to even kill, but more perfecting your every move, every single action until you land that perfect strike. To me, Kendo is not about fighting, not about winning, but more improvement in yourself. Sure, plenty of people can knock it, call it worthless, call it nothing more then a sport or a waste of time. But, at least to me, I've spent my life doing a bunch of different martial arts, from boxing to Muay Thai, even tried Wushu at one point! The harsh reality of a modern world is that in this day and age, all we can take away from such ancient forms of combat and training is mental balance, strength and discipline. If you want to defend yourself, get a gun, learn MMA, something like karate or even kenjutsu id say won't help when the opponent does not play by the rules, and certainly doesn't care how badly you get hurt. For me, kendo is less fighting and opponent, and fighting myself, as cheesy as that sounds. Its seeing every little mistake you do wrong, accepting what you've done as your own fault, and seeking to improve. I don't do it to be a samurai, or to learn how to use a sword or even because of Japanese interest. Ironically im Korean, but anyone can tell you a solid cross will take someone down before a shinai ever could. I suppose in the end, it is all subjective, if you enjoy kenjutsu, then im very glad. But Kendo still has a purpose, and while lacking the practical ability to take a life, can help steady one, your own, if you commit passion, will and patience into it. Thank you, much love from Naju!

First of before I go deep into my comment. I've been training Kendo for about 14 years. I'm not an expert but I kind of know what I'm talking about. Modern Kendo is a sport first and a martial art second. If you want sword fighting with all the ancient technics that would be effective in a real life and death fight you will be disappointed. But if you want a martial art where you can go all out on your opponent and it's still kind of close to the old thing you will have lots of fun. The spiritual stuff is important but if it gets in the way for you to be an effective swordsman you're doing it wrong. The spiritual stuff is meant to help you keep your focus on the right thing, keep your calm when the opponent get the upper hand so you can turn it around to your advantage and so on. (That was more an answer to some of the other comments than to the video.) The only benefit I know about those stances where you hold back your shinai (waki-gamae) is that you hide the length of your weapon. Or you could fake it if you actually were holding a broomstick or something. But the first thing I thought about is that when you remove your shinai from the front you put yourself in danger. The shinai is your offence and defence, plus attacks are ridiculously fast in Kendo. You need really good reflexes if your opponent charge you at that moment and you will probably use up much of your stamina doing so. Lower your hips gives you a more stable stance but you sacrifice reach. It's logical in a real fight because then you would also use kicks, punches and grabs. But since all those things have been removed from Kenjutsu there's only disadvantages with a low stance. (Those things was removed because during the years the philosophy about Kendo have been that it should only focus on sword techniques. If you also want the grabs and stuff you should practice other martial arts beside Kendo.) About the certain hit point areas it's something that every Kendo practitioner understand. (It's kind of obvious.) Attacks aims where the armor is strong so that we don't hurt each other for real. Everyone knows that it's totally backwards if you would find yourself in a real swordsfight. This is another of the sportification process that Kendo has gone through. I think you explained perfectly fine yourself why the stomach thrust should've been removed. In Kendo there's a philosophy that you won't get a point for just hitting your opponent. The hit must have such power that if it was for real the opponent would be dead. (Thus things like the stomps. The stomps are not for show, they're proof that you actually have weight behind your attack.) If a stomach thrust wouldn't incapitate you immediately the same way as a severed hand or head, why keep that as a valid attack? Hasso kamae is what I've heard a stance for indoor combat. You simply adapt to the fact that you're surrounded by walls and a roof. Since Kendo are usually practiced in training halls there's no need for that stance. Both footwork and which hand is where on your grip is a typical thing people get confused about. They think "this is how you MUST do because sensei said so" when it's actually "this is how you SHOULD do because it's more effective". There's nothing in the rules that sais that the right foot is the one that MUST be in front. But if you change your footplacement you SHOULD also change your grip in the same manner. Otherwise you lose balance, reach and force. If your attack comes from the left you probably wont have time to change your footing, but with training it surely is possible. A tip: It's allowed to go up to jodan and change your footing to the left foot forward. Then tilt your body and use the technique you mentioned where you throw with your right hand the last second. You can also make the footing change while attacking to get great reach which can surprise your opponent. But you will probably never have your opponent on such length that you will have use of that. The "just taking a step back and attack" IS permitted. My own sensei have made several points in competitions that way. It should be hinted that it's easier to do that if you don't let yourself get stopped by your opponent but instead use your opponent to bounce back making such steps. Also worth to mention is that it IS allowed to do simple steps. It's just not a smart thing to do because you get slow. If someone attack in the middle of your step you have to cancel your step, put your foot down wherever it is, and then you can actually find support to do what you want to do but by then your opponent have already hit you. You simply don't have time to place your foot down by one inch. And heck! I've seen people do straight up normal runs in competitions and they still get their points. But that's also about knowing when you should be strict about the footwork and when you can loosen on that thing. If you lose your sword it IS a problem. You get a warning. Two warnings and your opponent gets a point and two points is a match won. And that means you should train how you hold your shinai because if you do it right that shouldn't even be possible. If you let your foot point to the side you can actually hurt yourself so I would recommend not doing that. But it's mainly about propulsion forward, and since Kendo have removed all grabs and stuff those low stances are not needed. It's again part of the sportification of Kendo. By letting your foot point to the side you lose force that you could place in your attack. And if you feel that your balance suffer you should put your feet more apart. Basically about all techniques in Kendo: What matters is the hit itself. All techniques are just recommended ways to get those hits. All explanations that ends with "because sensei said so" is a bad explanation. Not that you should disrespect your sensei but because every technique have it's place and reason. And as long that you understand that it's a sport first and a martial art second nothing is that weird.

The simplification of Kendo is to make it possible to practice really just one aspect of swordsmanship: the 'tachiai' or what happens when you cross swords. Can you read your opponent's intention well enough to a) strike first, b) forestall them, or c) turn their attack against them? That's it. Kendo is a laboratory for testing that hypothesis over and over and over. No melees, no leg strikes, no grappling. No 'realism'. But then again, when, other than in adolescent fantasies, are you ever going to need 'realistic' sword techniques? Kendo is as realistic as a Van Gogh painting of sunflowers is 'realistic'. Is it the same as actual sunflowers? Of course not. Is it a beautiful and immensely valuable imitation? Absolutely. Currently in my fourth decade of learning Kendo and my second decade of learning koryu bujutsu (what some folks call 'kenjutsu'). b

Very interesting experiences. Your views almost exactly mirror my own, though you've had a lot more experience of kendo than I have. It's a shame that there aren't more kenjutsu schools doing sparring, or that the old style of pre-war Gekken has not been revived. I'm fairly certain it will happen though, as Chinese and Japanese martial artists are already starting to look at their martial arts in a similar way to the HEMA movement and I think there will be a lot of changes over the next few decades.

Interesting topic my dear friend. I have practiced Kendo for the last 13 years and as a martial art I see it has become a sport for many people. I like the metaphysical part of kendo. That is which makes it a martial art and not a sport. You must become the sword, control your opponent's mind and fears, play with your opponent's weaknesses and make them work on your behalf. That is easier said that done. You need to pass 4th dan to start having a glimpse of that. You are more Kenjustu oriented and I am glad you decided to turn into it. Enjoy it and study it well it is undoubtedly a wonderful art. Kendo is not a sword fight per se. It is a mind/spirit game. That's why many of the cuts and guards you talk about are irrelevant. Scoring a point is not the goal in Kendo (...although as I have already said most people think so as a sport...) Enjoy!

i practice both kenjutsu and kendo and i wouldn't have it any other way. though if i'm to choose, i'd say i would rather keep kendo. It's a personal reason: i can find more people to relate to in kendo, the opportunity to meet new friends is also greater. Also, since there's a clear basis for winning in kendo, i find it a superior way of testing swordsmanship as you'd have to fight under the boundaries of the rules dictated for the sport. But kenjutsu has helped me a lot in my kendo, i won a lot of fights because of kenjutsu techniques i carried over to kendo, understanding their core idea and adjusting it to fit kendo. besides, i like the idea that we don't really have to kill anymore to prove our skills. but that's just me, different men have different strokes. it's a perspective that i've acquired through a decade of kenjutsu and around 2 years in kendo :)

I once lost first place at a regional tournament to a guy who used gedan against me. Also, upwards kote (strike to the wrist/forearm) is a force to be reckoned. I've seen people be disarmed after an unsuccessful men (strike to the head) in tournaments. They automatically lost the match. Many of your points are extremely valid, but one thing one of my sensei told me is that many of the forms are taught to keep you on a consistent mind set, and only after the basic forms are mastered to a point where it's all automatic, the student can start questioning or adapting them to be more risky, or unorthodox. Check out "Shuhari" and let me know what you think! Also, awesome video! ;) Ganbare!

I am a Ni-Dan and your points are valid. It's like you're only allowed 1/2 the techniques so it is not fluid. Read the Book of Five Rings where musashi discusses the upstroke and the fluidity of the combination. There really is no reason for not having a 'scorable' upstroke with kendo. (kote for example) With Kote, the lower position would make sense... it would also incorporate a part of Kenjutsu (e.g. muscles, motion etc) that is missed in current kendo.

There are some errors that I would like to point out. Hasso opens your left Men for attacks, so while Kote is more proteced you open up another part for attack. At the same time you limit yourself with Hasso since cuts to the left side are far more difficult, you head is simply on the way. This makes Kote and Do harder to strike for you. So there is little benefit of Hasso over Jodan. Of cource you can use it freely there is no stance that isn't permitted. Also your footwork is wrong, you can use left foot in front, for example when doing a Nuki Men to the left side. It is rarely used, but perfectly valid. You claim that in Kendo only Hiki (the jump back) is possible is also wrong, you can use different methods to seperate from your Opponent. The suggested "half" step back with your left foot as you demonstrate will not bring you into proper stike distance. Loosing the sword does not mean the fight is interrupted immediatly, you will always have a short windows to strike until the refs will stop the fight, if you manage to score a valid hit it will count. And finally you point your foot towards the enemy, so your hips are straight and your can easily strike. Turning your foot like you did will turn your hip and will make your strikes to become far less accurate, especially center hits like Men. I always find it a bit strange when people with only basic beginner knowledge make videos like this. Some of your points are certainly valid, Kendo is not fully realistic Swordsmanship. Mostly because the zones you can hit are limited to protect the practioniers from injury which would happen if your go with full force sparring without a full armor. I would also Love to see stikes to the Legs, which would make Gedan more usefull, but I'm not sure how the knees of the practitioners would react to a full hit if a stike to the thigh misses. A lot of your "problems" simply come from errors or misunderstandings. Finally Kendo is not only about spiritual growth, but more about to learn how to deal with an opponent, how to apply pressure and create an opening. Something you will not learn in Iado for example since it is only done in solo Kata.

Metatron, I would like to make some comments: Stances: There is further more not only migi-jodan, but also hidari-jodan. Actually you can stand how every you want. Furthermore you can change hands, if you would like to. Use waki, use hasso, use what ever you want. You could even use two swords. If you read the rules, there is now law how to stand. Tsuki to the heart will be letal for sure, it's not just tipping. Actually it would destroy your spine easily. In regards to footwork: you can "walk" how ever you want. Left foot to the right: Let me give you some propper tai-atari and you will know that it's risky to turn your foot outwards. :) All that said: If you are very far from the "norm" judges and examiners could have difficulties to give points or now dan grades. Good ones will know the rules and will be able to adapt. I know Kendoka with just one arm, with just one leg or even no legs at all - and still they can fight and are treated equally. But still you are right: There are limitations in order to make it a "Sport" and to make it safe. For example we don't hit from behind, we don't hit upwards. Please don't get me wrong: Maybe 3 years are not enough to get a deeper understanding of this very complex Martial Art, or Sport if you like. I practice since 15 yrs now, I'm godan and I wouldn't consider myself to have understood more than the basics - and a little bit more, maybe. Give it a try. Go on with it and you will sooner or later feel the immense efficiency and freedom of the movements. But it takes time. If you find a stance that works for you and let you still win: Tell me where to find you: I would love to fight with you! And you know in our small world of Kendoka this is not a threat, but the honest desire to experience something new and to find a extraordinary challenge. Keep up the good work!

Metatron im so glad that i found ur channel. So amazing content!

I watched a kendo club this year. All I can remind is: MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNN MEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNN TSUKIIIIIII MMEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNN

I have been binging all your kendo/kenjutsu videos the past few days, great stuff metatron.

"In a real fight situation what happens if i lose my sword?" I usually draw my Glock in those situations. Its not a biggie.

I never had the impression that Kendo would bring me closer to being a samurai. I understand it as a sport, perhaps derived from earlier sword arts. But it's a modern sport, like boxing - there is a certain amount of real fight sitations in it, but when it became a sport, their own rules developed.

It's been nearly 8 years now being a Kendo practitioner. I must say it takes a lot of patience and discipline. Then again, most of martial arts do. After all these years of practicing, just recently, instructors around me are saying now I am striking the head effectively in correct terms. Now I accomplished one thing in Kendo and millions more to go. LOL. Think Kendo as a very basic step towards to any sword fight. Some one already said here, all swords fights are components to each other. I think that's one good way to put to explain. Now, some of you may wonder if I will ever study Kenjutsu to extend my swordsmanship any further, to prepare in realistic term? No, I won't. Why bother. I will just use my safeful of guns in reality if any physical force is needed. I am happy with just meditating my body with fast action of bamboo sticks.

I think this is by far your best video. Few cuts and lots of info keep it up :)

I just came across you channel and subscribed. You offer a ton of information, history, and a wealth of sword fight terms. I have been collecting swords and practicing forms and cuts informally in the privacy of my home. I have well over 20 katana and some really nice handmade swords from Nepal. Thank you very much for your insight. I have been wanting to get into Kendo for awhile now, but I think Kenjutsu might be the way to go. I plan on watching all your videos to gather as much of your knowledge as possible. Thanks again for some very insightful and informative videos.

Hello Metatron, I wanted to know what style of Kenjutsu are your training? I am training Katori Shinto Ryu for almost 18 months now. We learn to fight with Bokken, Bo, Naginata, Kodachi and Ryoto (bokken and kodachi). We would alsow learn Yaro but we train i a schools gym and yari's are to big for transport in a car of bick. We alsow learn KSR iaijutsu. I choose this over Kendo because i really wanted to learn how to fight with a katana but alsow for spiritial growth because my sensei alsow teaches this. And KSR is the most complete style that i could find here in the Netherlands. Greetings and loved the video. Jeffry.

Metatron about the back foot rise, in MMA, boxing and kickboxing it is taught that it gives increased stepping/dodging speed and striking power. that's also why the term caught flat footed means caught unprepared.

Thank you, I do not know you, but I value your sharing of your experiences and opinions and it has influenced my understanding of tojutsu. Thank you

I'm glad you made this video. Im currently writing a story where my main character practices kendo so Ive been looking at a lot of books, articles, and videos on it and rarely do I see find anything that talked about the cons of the sport.

Kendo is a form of sport fencing, hence why the restrictions and teaching to compete rather than to fight.

nice video ^_^. i think you expressed your points clearly and demonstrated an appropriate amount of research and respect. keep up the good work!

Love your video. Good critical analysis of your experience and indepth brief overview of Kendo history.

Hi Metatron, thank you for this video. I'm currently thinking about some refreshment and wanted to try Kendo for the first time. To make it clear, I practice Katori Ryu for 5 years now but there are no sparring matches there - mostly because nobody wnat's to be hospitalized even while we use bokuto not shinken. Nevertheless this video makes me think that Kendo wouldn't be a good choice for me. I'm used to perform every single action with an intention to kill and I have to disagree with you about the general understanding of martial arts - no offense please. I understand that modern teachers see various schools of fighting as martial arts simply because there is no use for them today, people are not dying daily in combat with swords, spears, arrows, etc. People die from the bullets and bombs mostly. But the thing is that the teachers want to preserve the teachings of their schools so they transform the deadly art into a martial art - it's more attractive to the students this way and if you add a spiritual element, people may even think that it's useful in their normal life, family life, business, etc. But we have to remember that nobody ever forged a sword centuries ago just for the pleasure of forging a beautiful object. People forge weapons to fight. And kenjutsu - in general - is not a martial art, it's a raw, brutal combat system like nowadays krav-maga or filipino martial arts. Every move, strike, stance was designed to kill. Maybe designed is not a good word, more likely observed. When you stand on the battlefield with mud and blood up to your ankles and look at the corpse of your friend or enemy you don't think about the beauty of the world nor about the glory of warriors death. You think about what you've just seen. About the strike that took down the dead warrior. You try to understand why it was this effective. You carefully consider it, lear it, design a stance or a strike or a kata that may be shown in the dojo, than you teach it to your friends so you would have better chances in the battle to survive. And that's it, there is nothing more to add to kenjutsu. It's a soulless, vicious methodology of killing. All of this spiritual stuff came later and nowadays we have to respect that but we must not forget hundreds of thousands of lives taken to make those fighting styles come to life. I hope it all makes sense more or less. Kind regards.

Competition always denatures the original art...because of rules and safety issues.

You make absolute sense, and I like your analysis! Molto interessante, ho sempre voluto fare Kendo ma non ho mai avuto l'opportunita. Facevo Thai Boxing a Milano, e dopo la nostra lezione di Thai, c'era una lezione di Kendo, mi siedevo per tutta la lezione a osservare, e che all'epoca mi allenavo molto in Kikcboxing e Thai che non avevo il tempo e l'energia per iniziare il Kendo! Grazie per i tuoi video sono molto dettagliati ed altamente informativi!! Buona continuazione!!

i think this is interesting, ive been training kendo for 6 years now and i also like to study kenjutsu on an academic stance more than practical. but i think kendo also makes you effective for combat to an extent, it makes you a perfectionist on hitting vitals, so much that every miss will probably be a serious hit. I have put this to the test with some guys at my local Hema/softcombat schools and with the freedom softcombat give i feel like im wrecking everything. so many of my mistakes are valid when paired with other representations. I agree that kendo is not samurai fighting, but i think it just encourages focusing on having super strong basic cuts, mastered to an extent when you can fight anybody and find a way with them (this comment is so late tho)

Yes I would like to see more videos on Kenjutsu. Oh yes, and It be nice to see some videos of your kenjutsu sparring :)

I have studied aikido for a couple years too, which is a martial art that gets a lot of hate because of its high emphasis on philosofical teachings and how exaggerated and unrealistic the techniques you practise look. I really like it, and I wasn't blind and could understand the body mechanics at work under that fancy jumping around. We had a very good master, who always built knowledge from the base, explaining all reasons and making us demostrate points with the use of all kinds of weapons or even only with balance. I know this peace philosofy is not for everybody. But I also think that a particular mindset is a very important think in a martial art. If you are trying to get closer to an idea of perfection, that idea has to be well defined. People who just want to fight with swords are usually, in my experience, disrespectful aggressive guys or knowitall nerds. Now I have been getting a lot into HEMA, studying source material and reading historical records of the period. It's also another cool part of it - that also isn't for everybody - and allows me to learn more about the history of my country. And I can understand most of the writing! Which from japanese not a lot of things have been translated and most of the knowledge is passed through different schools only. Do you reccomend some source for investigating on kenjutsu, or iaijutsu maybe? I have already read "go rin no sho" and a couple of modern books that are useful and explanatory but not the based-on-the-period source I would like.

kendo makes plenty of sense for modern day applications. it is a sport and a martial art and has very clear rules to regulate winners/ losers of matches. what good is kenjutsu really as a martial art that makes it better than kendo? how often are you walking down the street with your katana and meet an enemy samurai, then proceed to duel? if the answer is "often" then by all means then kenjutsu is right for you. for me i would rather pick kendo for full contact duels with clear rules designed for tournaments. NOTE. i would love to be able to practice BOTH kendo and kenjutsu! there is only kendo in my area. but if i had to choose between one i would pick kendo.

First, I just came across this channel, so much interesting here I'm going to be spending weeks watching stuff as I have time. Second, as someone who used to practice both Kendo and Fencing this video has rather hit on why I moved away from them both over time. Much as I like the sport scoring systems in both as a driver to constant improvement, they reinforce bad habits in relation to historical combat practice. That isn't bad thing per se, but when what you're really interested in is actual historical practice it is very much a problem.

Once again a great video from the Metatron. Personally, I'd love to get to see some content about ancient Kenjutsu.I'm planning on starting to practice HEMA, but I don't practice any japanese martial arts. However, I am quite interested in the historical aspects of Kenjutso, but not so much in the sporty Kendo. It's the same as with european sport fencing; It may be a great sport for some, but the simplified, abstract movements just don't fit my taste. So yeah, Kenjutsu gets my vote.

A friend pointed me towards this video, and though there are some valid points that you make, the main thing I get from your video is that you want to change spaghetti Bolognese by swapping out the pasta for rice and be disappointed to find it's no longer spaghetti Bolognese. You mention the absence of certain techniques and/or the lack of use of certain techniques that would generally be used in kenjutsu. Now, I, as a practitioner of not only kendo, but medieval European martial arts as well, am the last person to deny kendo has changed in this way. But, I don't think it's appropriate to say kendo "lacks" these things, because they are simply not a part of kendo, as they do not directly contribute to the ultimate goal of self-development in kendo. It's not kendo anymore if you add those old medieval techniques. I.e. spaghetti Bolognese is no longer spaghetti Bolognese once you change the spaghetti to rice. So I guess my question really is, what is it that you want people to understand from this video? That you shouldn't start kendo when you believe you're going to learn kenjutsu? If so, why mention an arbitrary number of differences between kendo and an arbitrary number of kenjutsu schools? Then again, if you want to experience the mental struggle samurai went through on the battlefield kendo might actually be one of the greatest ways to experience that. No you might not be using the same techniques as they were, but that's just a superficial part of the martial struggle anyway. You can't experience this at the same level through most other forms of martial arts, especially ones that focus on medieval techniques, because people would actually die from performing them. It really is a shame you have never participated in a tournament, or trained more than once a week. Because if you did, I'm pretty sure this video wouldn't have existed.

Hello and nice to meet you. Want to start by saying the way you introduce your videos is so classy and approachable, and I always enjoy watching. I would usually never do this, but since I have enjoyed your other videos and learned loads of new stuff about our mutual interests from you, it would be great to give something back to you. I've been pursuing Kendo for 11 years now in the United States and several places across Japan, and wanted to offer a few small (but certainly not all-encompassing) experiences that have happened to me personally: I have been hit across the menbuton intentionally many times by sensei in kesagiri. I have been tackled and had my bogu ripped off, and been choked out at least once. I have punched a senshu in the face from tsubazeriai with my tsuba in shiai and not received hansoku I have had my feet swept out from under me intentionally I have headbutted a rokudan sensei with my mengane, right after he did it to me. I have received tsuki in the shoulder from people trying to physically hurt me (so many times), not as a nice thing but to actually harm me in a not friendly way. Have done it back too (much to my shame.) But the keiko never stopped for either me or the other party to talk about what happened or bring up "would either of us be dead." We just kept fighting. Tournaments have rules and so do dojo to keep people safe and coming back, but good teachers know exactly how to do what you're talking about. They just don't because it's not (for better or worse) part of the standardized curriculum anymore. And lastly, doing those things to people with full intent, without stopping to laugh it off or explain the larger purpose of the violence turns people away because it's abusive. I've seen lots of HEMA practices and love the grappling and fighting involved, but whenever that stuff happens to me in Kendo with intent, it isn' t all that fun. They're not trying to teach you, they're trying to hurt you enough to break your spirit. Just my two cents. I really do like your videos, so I hope what I said was at least interesting. Much respect and again, nice to meet you.

I enjoy your videos. Very informative and easy to understand. Arigatou gozaimashita. 😊

If someone stabbed your in your mune in shiai and it was permitted, but you then struck them on the shoulder, that would mean they lacked zanshin, so it wouldn't be a valid point, As for the value of using smaller fewer targets, I always thought this increased one's accuracy. Also, plenty of people do use a torso thrust at 4th dan and above - it isn't a valid point but it does break the other's zanshin, so it is trained for (at the dojos I have been to anyway). Also, the gedan at full knee depth and the use of hasso are in kata so people can use them in keiko - people do it all the time. In kendo, you learn the basics solidly first, so maybe your only having done kendo for a short period is why you didnt get onto these techniques. Or maybe you just had a very sport-style dojo?

3 years is nothing in "budo". They are called "do" for a reason.

Very interesting video about Kendo I certainly feel more educated. I'm primarily a Europeon style martial artist and with that type of fighting striking the limbs is encouraged. The strike points seems a little confusing in Kendo to me, and I agree with keeping the back heel planted down it feels a lot more secure than having it slightly elevated like what you demonstrated in the footwork. Thank you for the videos. I really enjoy watching your channel, and will continue to watch and support your channel.

I have a question, so, I watch a lot of anime, and most of the time, characters who use Kenjutsu will talk shit about Kendo not being real swordsmanship. I know anime's are fiction, but I want to know if that attitude is carried over. Do actual Kenjutsu Practitioners consider Kendo, not real swordsmanship and obsolete? Or is there no actual differences?

A video showing the differences beetween Kenjutsu and Iaijustsu would be great :)

4:42 is when he actually says his peace

Wait, we have to choose? Personally, I would like to learn Kenjutsu most of all, but I want to learn everything I can. I'm part of a Kendo club here in my town and it's pretty awesome, but as you said, it seems way oversimplified. I would really love for you to do the video of all of the Kamae and stances. Also I love your videos. They're so informative and actually your video on the differences between Kenjutsu, Kendo, Iaido, and Iaijutsu was the one that got me interested in these martial arts and that's when I started searching online for any teachers in my area for any of them.

You have encountered the same problem I had when I studied Olympic Saber, Foil, and Epee. Many of the rules limiting targets, foot work, strikes, and stances and the focus on offence only seems to be lacking to me. That is why I switched to historic fencing for rapier and saber. I eventually became enamored with the Spanish and Italian schools for the sword and Sabre as practiced during the 1800s. I found it to be very rich and rewarding. And as I learned more I learned a little about the saber practices from Eastern Europe and Russia. Needles to say I have found it to be very rich and rewarding and it deepened my level of understanding. I believe that once you leave the constraints of Kendo and start walking your own personal path of martial study, you will learn a lot and your understanding will become richer. Good luck!

I wish I could practice, but there are no dojos near me during the week. :(

I'm super interested in Kendo..but i'm 16...so...i'm interested in it because of the mind and stuff like that.

I think a lot of points you make are valid regarding some places where kendo is lacking, but there’s also a great deal of misunderstandings and lack of knowledge. You’ve been doing it for three years which isn’t long at all. I think one of the biggest points that you miss is simply the purpose of kendo. It’s not about winning or losing as in a sport or even a real fight. It’s about strengthening your body and your mind. It’s about cultivating the spirit and mentality required to fight in sword combat. It’s about learning to read and understand your opponent. To understand what they’re going to do before they even know that they’re going to do it, then reacting to it. It’s about pressuring and controlling your opponent in a mental battle. You’ve been doing kendo for three years, so you haven’t even mastered the basic strikes, not even to start speaking about your form in Jodan. Younger kendoka and middle aged kendoka in their 20s, 30s and 40s usually are the fastest and strongest. They have an excellent speed and mastery over the moves, and they move at high speeds in very aggressive plays. Most of the world champions and winners of shiai are that group of kendoka. They are strong, but even they have yet to fully grasp the purpose of kendo. The real kendo comes out with the old guys. The guys who can’t even do a full sonkyo anymore. They move with such slow and relaxed movements. They don’t have the endurance or energy nor do they need it because they don’t waste any movement at all. They move with the bare minimum speed and not anymore than they have to. Do you know why? Because they are fighting with their hearts. They are fighting a mental battle with pressure and openings and strength that only people at their level can sense. That is the level of kendo that is truly the top. And yes, I fully understand your problems with kendo when you compare it to real samurai combat. Mixing arts like iaijutsu, kenjutsu, and kendo are essential if you truly want to come close to mastering the sword as a whole. That is something that you can’t inherently do just because you are a strong kendoka. The point is, the truly strong swordsman of the samurai era were not people who simply trained by swinging a sword around. They were warriors and they fought to the death in duals and wars for years. The ones that became strong were simply the ones who didn’t die, and lived long enough to get that combat experience. Their minds and instincts were sharpened through actual fights to the death. If they lost, they died, and even if they won, they might be missing body parts. Even losing a single finger would severely hamper a swordsman career or end it outright. Replicating this is something that we’re aren’t capable or willing to do now. (At the very least I don’t know anyone willing to die for kendo or any similar hobby/undertaking.) Using blunt swords and armor in fights like kendo are the closest we can come to cultivating that mentality. No flashy moves, no unnecessary actions. Just a very quick bout of movement between two players and the match is already almost decided. We put everything in our heart and mind into each strike, imaging that it’s the only strike we’d ever be able to do. We strike fully with our entire being, prepared to follow through regardless of if we are also struck. We don’t think about the realism, because we can feel it through trial and error. Through literal thousands of fights the movements become second nature. Our reactions become second nature. The limitations on our sword force is to focus on limited parts of the body because we must expect to only be able to strike a single time. We must follow through with everything we have, prepared to die. I know that I’m not able to do that. I’m not prepared to die, and beyond a very very small percentage of people, I doubt any martial artist is. It’s simply the mentality that we strive for and cultivate . The point is that the real warriors of that time, and throughout all time we’re prepared to die. The samurai were prepared to devote their lives to prepare for battle. To expect every single strike to be their last, and put their life behind each strike. If you want realism, that’s it right there. And without actually going to war, it’s the closest we can get to it. (And I know that for certain because the kendoka that I know where fought in actual military conflict and sometimes police as well have a unique pressure that many others are unable to replicate.). Sorry for the long comment, just some ramblings of a weird person who decided to dedicate himself to kendo until the day he dies.

Continuing to love your videos, Metatron. What do you think of Iaido?

You keep saying "in a real fight situation". Yet you know kendo is a sport. No one will ever be in a real sword fight. I'd take Kendo over the others every time. Because at least it actually has a modern day application. 🙂

Kendo is pretty obviously a sport rather than a martial art. You may as well make a video about why boxing isn't effective compared to over fighting styles.

I came across your video when I was searching for kendo training videos. By the title, I thought this was a talk about the problems you continue to have or have developed during your kendo training. I was very interested in hearing about something like that. I feel like I have reached a plateau in my kendo over the last 22 years of training. I like to hear the opinions of people from around the world regarding their kendo training since I feel I can learn something. Most of my training and all my ranks are through Japan. But when I listened, I found myself growing frustrated. This video should be titled "Why I don't like Kendo." I decided to post here just to say that I know kendo is not for everyone, but for those who do it, we remain dedicated. There are so many arts and other activities to chose from. Three years experience is still very limited since there is so much more to kendo as you progress and grow. I have always heard of the arguments of "that would have killed you" and can relate to your thoughts. But the idea can be seen as Kenjutsu is a killing sword and Kendo is a living sword. As you said, there is an idea of self-betterment through the practice, so it sounds a bit naive to compare strikes in kendo to death strikes. Kendo isn't bad or "could be better if..." It is just different. And if it is not your cup of tea, that's cool, I can understand. But kendo is what it is... I felt as if this was bashing kendo in general.

I am in Japan right now and i went to a kendo training, because i want to start some sort of Sword-Martial Arts. But, from just watching the other students practicing, i could already tell that Kendo is not really an option for me. It's just to much sport in it. Your video was great because you said specific things that are limited by the rules, so now i can understand my own observation better. Im looking forward to do iaido now. I hope i can start it soon. Nice video, you got a new subscriber ;)

Of the three martial arts, I would prefer to study Kenjutsu, especially after hearing how limiting kendo techniques and stances can be. I would prefer to keep my options open. My second choice would be Iaido, a stark contrast to Kenjutsu and kendo but it would (in my mind) complement Kenjutsu rather well; similar to how some martial artists practice sport based arts like karate or kickboxing along with the much calmer tai chi. If you wouldn't mind, I would very much like to see a video describing/demonstrating the various kamae, footwork and techniques of Kenjutsu, that has been removed from modern kendo. Also, how did modern kendo settle on a standard length of a blade and grip, which school of Kenjutsu used a katana of identical or similar proportions? I'm glad I came across this channel, I have zero experience in any of these arts, I do however find them fascinating.

Check out Unified Weapons Master, they're developing a suit of armour made for full impact combat sparring. The armour can measure impact strength and location. They're gonna have a competition March this year. Hopefully this will spread and allow for warriors of cultures from all over the world to gather and fight epic duels with more realistic rules.

Hi mate :) Really enjoyed this vid and found it informative and objective. im just beginning my journey into Kendo after 12 previous years of varied martial arts. The Kenjutsu sounds more in tune with the original methods and spirit of the Samurai, but how does it compare if Im actually just really wanting to represent in tournament and have that sense of one on one combat. Kenjutsu is very limited in my country and cannot even find a practitioner in my city. Considering my love for one on one full contact battle, do you feel Kendo would be more suitable for me..? the lack of certain moves and stances is disapointing though.. but I guess ultimately the test of the warrior is to adapt and overcome no matter the situation or resteictions.

i don't care how pretty a style looks if the flashiness comes at the cost of practicality. i mean, i learned Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo. Hapkido and Aikido in middle school. but the Street Brawling i taught myself in elementary school as a response to being bullied, was actually a lot more effective in a real chaotic unscripted fight. i mean sure, i have multiple blue belts, but the techniques were all stuff i already knew how to use and most of it, i had to remove or modify to compensate for flaws like joint strain or lack of hand eye coordination. i always put up a powerful beat down, generally downing larger opponents in seconds. because real fights are decided in seconds, not minutes, hours or episodes. but i admit that i am what RPGs would call a Glass Cannon.

but... but we are the noble ones... hello...

If you are not a expert. That means, you don't no what you are talking about.

I've done Kendo, Muso ikiden Eishin Ryu and Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu since around 2012 now. I can say that kendo was very helpful, for both the physical health benefits (gives you ALOT of stamina), muscle memory, distance, timing and for cultivating zanshin. Hopefully back to it after a period of illness soon. I think it HAS to be paired with a form of kenjutsu or iai, or at least a very solid amount of practice in the kata element of ZNKR indulged in. I feel the kata element of Kendo is not up played enough.

Please do correct me if i'm wrong but it seems to me that in those 3 years in Japan you have been absent in the dojo most of the time, did not REALLY listen to your teachers because like you say yourself; you have "problems" with kendo, and thus your kendo never took off in the first place. In other words you never really committed to begin with. I can simply tell by the way you hold your shinai and your posture and your strikes that your movements are extremely ineffecient and you have never REALLY trained beyond your comfort limit. I think we both know it's true. I also think this is a real shame since you've had 3 years(!) of training in Japan which is the most favorable environment to study kendo by a huge margin and also a privelege some people can only dream of. If this is what you come up with, i am inclined to call it a waste of time. Not YOUR time mind you, i mean the time of the people that have put effort in trying to teach you. I really mean no offence, but i simply have stood in their shoes too often for it not to be personal. Anyway, you argue more or less that Kendo is not realistic, oversimplified and restrictive, and you have quit. I've seen it a hundred times and shrugged it off most of the time, but i really felt like i had to put in my two cents here; Kendo is complex and has more depth beyond your imagination in contrast to your explanation of (your problems with) it, which i find to be rather shallow. This is not how you should be quitting kendo, or quit anything for that matter. Here's why: In my opinion, you either commit or you do not even start at all. It is the only way to get something out of it because only then will you understand what you are quitting. Do not go into anything half-assed. If you commit fully and still decide it is not for you, at least you are quitting for the right reasons. So what about (mental) strength, (mental) endurance, speed, willpower, agility, self improvement by experimenting, finding your own style, how to cope with pressure, never giving up, how to fully commit, and strategical decision making? I am quite sure you would have a "problem" or two with those aswell against any well trained kendo practicioner. If your dojo in Japan was anywhere near moderate level you know this is true. They would dominate you easily in any physical activity let alone in some kind of fictive, hypothetical duel no matter how much "real samurai combat" you practice and no matter how many years you theorize about it. Merely saying that it "makes no sense" or calling it "stupid" and what you find effective sparring with your friends is never going to cut it. Pun intended of course! :D If anyone here is contemplating to practice kendo, please have a thorough look at the following video playlist and you should be able to understand what i am trying to explain. It is part of the All Japan Kendo Federation channel which contains some of the highest level kendo in the world. (Edit) The really good video's are those of the All Japan Kendo Championships and the slowmotion video's thereof. Just scroll down untill you find them. ru-vid.comvideos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=1

Hi! I've been practicing kendo for almost 15 years now and I would like to react a little bit on this video. I understand that Metatron is just expressing his own opinion about why he prefers kenjutsu over kendo. There is a lot that could be said but as a start, I will just say that this is probably typical of outsiders coming to martial arts and not realizing a few important points : 1) Kendo and most of the "-do" martial arts, are very recent forms of combat that have been synthesized during the 20th century. Kendo as we can practice it nowadays has little to do with real swordsmanship of the Bakufu era when using a katana was a vital skill to defend oneself and one's own important ones. Kendo is a mixture, if I may say, of various techniques from various schools of sword, theorized by, mainly, the police forces who are still deciding even now, how kendo should be taught. 2) Comparing Kenjutsu (which school of kenjustu, btw?) and kendo (a unified martial art) is like comparing a knife and cissors : both cut but they are used for different purposes. Kendo is not aimed at making you a fighter but, as Metatron says very correctly, a better person. The many schools of kenjutsu teach a genuine legacy of techniques from the times when killing the opponent efficiently was crucial. Yet, I have a serious doubt as to the importance of such thing as etiquette (reigi) or the emulation and the special relationship that can bind a young kenshi to a master. Overall, I think that the author of the video is showing too little knowledge about the variety of forms that sword fighting has taken in Japan. Swordsmanship in Japan has evolved through a long history and there still are a huge number of schools in Japan that teach these techniques. Kendo must not be considered an art to become a samurai but a path to become a better human being by sharpening your mind and manners through sword fighting. IMO

Wow, as someone who has no formal kendo experience I have to say I feel a bit validated. I was messing around with various strikes and I independently discovered the very technique you were showing where you let go with the rear hand as you strike. I was trying to discover where the power from the strike comes from, thinking that in boxing for example a rear strike is more powerful and therefore I presumed that the rear hand provide the most power, but I discovered that in kendo it seems that the lead hand is more important in terms of power in the strike. I think this changes on certain close range strikes but on a longer strike the rear hand can actually cause resistance to the strike and cause you to lose power/range.

I'd love to see your analysis of each position in historical ken-do/jutsu. I, personally, find this type of video very interesting, and bloßfechten has been my area of study for the past couple of years.

Doing Kendo to be a Samaurai....wrong reason. Kendo to improve your life...right reason.

Five seconds in: *completely discredits himself by holding his shinai like an anime character.*

I may just not be looking hard enough but did you ever produce a video on more of the kenjutsu stances as I found your insight in it intriguing

What school of kenjutsu did you eventually start to study. I train at a dojo that teaches Katori Shinto Ryu out here in Southern California. Reall appreicte the videos too keep them up and disregard the noise.

Hey is there anywhere in the west that teaches actual Kenjutsu? cuz im interested in katana fighting but most places only teach kendo and honestly after 3 years of fencing i´m watching videos of kendo and finding it pretty boring. is there a contact type of kenjutsu with helmets on and stuff? nice channel btw

I believe you are missing the entire purpose of doing Kendo.

dude i belive that martial arts are the truest expression of humanity. you are projecting your will to live, the only interpretation to be realized is your life against another. truly beautiful in the end. so i would love to learn more of kenjutsu

Ciao Metatron! I believe they used to do take downs as well? There maybe an old video footage possible on RU-vid were it should two Kendoka were using 'sweeping' techniques. I'll try and find it!

Kenjutsu sounds more interesting and effective.

3 years of kendo experience doesnot explain anything

I completely agree with you dude. And i do the same thing with people at the Dojo. If it's not an actual tournament we spar with a full body target available including legs as well. I rarely ever sparred with anyone using the actual Kendo fighting rules unless it was for an organized event, practice or a tournament. Also when i sparred with people and my father(he's been practicing way longer then me and he also trains Iaido.) we fought hard, as in slight little taps didnt count where we were armored. Basically when in full gear we sparred trying to simulate as much as possible a real Samurai duel. Little love taps didnt work for us unless we manages to strike the throat or something. We also tried the same thing with a Bokken, don't do that lol. It was a bad idea.

digging the outro music! do you play any of the total war games by any chance?

I know nothing of these martial arts but it sounds like kendo is a very unrealistic combat form. I always go back to what Bruce Lee said, be like water. No form is form. Maybe I'm just too uninformed to know the subtleties.

Seems like you do not understand the difference between cutting (which was simplefied), and attacking (semei, which wasn't at all). And your kamae is pretty bad for a 3 years of practice.

Metatron, (scrivo in italiano, tanto mi capisci😂) io pratico kendo da ormai 3 anni e mi sono accorto che tutto ciò che dici è vero. Dalla posizione dei piedi alla guardia...e penso che sia più che altro una "simulazione" di un combattimento. A me il kendo piace, ma se volessi provare qualcosa di più realistico, cosa mi consigli?

Quite fascinating. I am actually very interested in your progress in this field. Though I am not using a sword, but a bow. I started with a modern Olympic recurve, but had problems with all the pressure of competition. What was I doing, for what (I was 38 years old at the point). Then I saw videos of traditional Japanese Kyudo. I started to try to combine both ideas. I like my bow, and now I can shoot in a much more relaxed manner, I am learning to actually shoot every arrow (not just putting the arrow on the string, pulling,aiming, let go and being done - awful, really). Still a long way to learn to empty my head and exclude everything but the shoot. Target does not matter. And if I do everything right, I hit the center.

Atleast it's less of a disgrace than modern fencing.

your problem is that kendo is something that needs years of hard practice ... you dont need 6 stances and 10 valid cuts... the thing is you have many many options for strikes in kendo ... its just sth you have to study and try... in competition there are no strict rules how to setup your strikes... as long as you perform it properly with the key points being correct what i realize hearing you talk about kendo is the following: - you are a smart person thinking out of the box - you most likely looked into different sword related sports - you most likely are still on a very, very low level my complaints: - you can chose whatever you like to do but you didnt really realize why things are done in a certain way in kendo - you learned and remember the stuff you are told but again you most likely didnt participate in many competitions and most like didnt reach any notable higher level skill --> you dont understand nore master the skills and techniques in kendo

I am a instructor in Kenjutsu, iaijutsu, tantojutsu, jujutsu and Kobudo well as modern military combatives. I am noticing that even the way you grip the sword, stances, footwork and cutting movements are completely different. I respect kendo as a sport providing fitness and I am sure it is a lot of fun. The thing with a lot of kenjutsu and iaijutsu that exist today is that they only do kata...maybe tameshigiri but that's it. There are still some schools, that I was blessed to have become a part of, that deeply study the science of kenjutsu / iaijutsu and applies it to all the other arts such as tantojutsu and jujutsu etc... Samurai were very proficient because they completely eliminated excess movement, maneuvered and cut with juntai ho and this is what enabled them to move very smoothly at what appears to be blinding speed. Few systems practice the drills that enabled samurai to overcome bruit force with soft redirection leading straight into a cut. Also very important is the randori or free movement drill (which is always done very slowly) that helps build intuition and deal with unplanned attacks. These old and nearly lost kenjutsu principals have been making a come back a bit because military, general citizens and law enforcement see the value of them. Are they carrying swords around? Of course not. But when applied to jujutsu or any martial art you can very swiftly and efficiently drop people and decide how much bodily damage you want to deliver based upon the level of threat. It's not at all impressive to watch but it just works so well. Oh, and instead of a sword, I generally carry a flash light, pen and occasionally my folding knife. ;-) Thank you for another informative video!

I would really like it if you were to make, as you said, a separate video to demonstrate the different stances in kenjutsu, and what is their purpose.

I'm sorry but what the hell are you even talking about... You literally are talking nonsense related kendo. There are so many mistakes you made and youre talking about 'advanced techniques' when your basic knowledge of points stances and footwork is has tons of incorrect information. And you're explaining to people who don't know the difference. I questioned how much keiko and sparring you've really done... How have you studied for 3 years... Sorry nothing against you, I appreciate the love of sword sports from everyone but you really should get you facts straight...

train My Sharingan and Kenjutsu and Taijutsu Now i am Going Mangekyou bye.

Hi Metatron, I'd love to see a video on the different kamae in kenjutsu. I was wondering if you could also talk about how you learn kenjutsu, as there seems to be a lack of any dojo that teach it in my country.

Please do continue and analyse the other stances too :D Also, is it my imagination or is the shiai longer than the avarage katana? If that is the case, how come?

I have no interest in Kendo for the reasons stated in the video. I do however have an interested in Kenjutsu...again for the reasons stated in the video. As far as the spiritual aspect of either or both goes; having years of martial arts experience I can tell you that the spiritual development that can and should go along with martial training is not BS or mumbo jumbo. The mind and body are one in that they are two sides of the same coin. When one is overdeveloped in total disregard for the other, then an imbalance or internal conflict is created within the in practitioner. Why is this bad? Well at some point the battle and the war is over and when the warrior returns home he must do so with a calm spirit if he is to gracefully reintegrate back into peaceful society. The lack of recognition of this reality manifests itself today in all forms of combat related cognitive disorders, socialization problems, and high suicide rates among soldiers returning from combat zones. And the opposite is also true. Picture the spiritual man who eschews and ignores all physical martial development. This highly spiritualized individual is poorly equipped for any kind of combat or war situation. He has no inner "metal" to bring to bear in his own defense much less the defense of others and his homeland. He will end among the pacifists who will be the first to die when the tide of war rises around him. Now think about the more "rounder" individual; one who is well trained to survive and be effective in a combat situation AND with sufficient spiritual and personal development to be able to cope with psychological aftermath of having been to war.

Another amateur complaining because he didn't get a participation trophy. XD

I'm impressed. I studied for at least 12 yrs regularly and achieved 1st Dan and I would agree with you. You are very knowledgeable more than others I've seen on youtube. The concepts and basics like timing and precision etc. that can be used no matter what you practice. I fought in full plate and chain and used various weapons and shields fighting in heavy combat in the SCA. Again it is different when you fight in large groups and against a variety of weapons. I did a little olympic style fencing but more SCA style fencing and again the concepts are all different and the targets you can hit are greatly widened. The foot work varies too when you are in a field on uneven surfaces. A lot of fun.

Hey man ;) i love your take on swordsmanship, i am developing my own style based on 3 types.. one is battle meditation like taichi sword form, another is battle acrobatics and the technical precission of shaolin dao, but the rawness and the foundation is the why of the samurai... it is a style that base upon ones individuality, it has 4 root forms, the Mountain, the hurrican, the vulcano and the tasunarmi - but to understand it one must first comprehend and realise both the elemental side and spiritual side of ones soul... its kinda like a religious philosofi when it comes down to it xD but then again, all ways of the warrior is... the mental aspect of the philosofical foundation is to sidede one is honor, accept and respect... the other is dicipline, harmoni and balance ;) hope you like, feel free to ask about it if you want

Silly arbitrary rules is what makes Kendo a sport rather than a martial art.

Before the video I didn't have any idea about such a big differences between this two things. Very interesting. Many thanks, Met.

I'm a Yudunsha in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. I have also studied Ona Ha Itto Ryu, both with the Japanese masters. Why do I mention this? Because what many do not know is that Kendo, came mainly from Itto Ryu. In that style, the downward cut is considered all powerful. That is why they stress it so much. FYI, Kenjustsu is the art of fighting once the sword is drawn, Iaijutsu is the art of fight with a sword sheathed. They are separate arts to the Japanese. There are over 200 different styles of swordsmanship in Japan and yes they are registered. As for Kendo itself, many of the Koryu arts look down on it as a watered down sport.

Would you recommend looking into Kenjutsu rather than Iaido? I ask because we actually have a local Iaido dojo, but I am eager to learn the closest form to actual Samurai swordsmanship.

Hello Metatron! I am a student of Kenjutsu, and we practice Keiko betwen us like in Kendo. But the footwork its different in the high Kyu (or grades). In the firsts Kyu, we learn to move like a kendoka do it, with ashi-sabaki. But in the highs kyu, we learn to move walking. This is because when you move in suri-ashi, okuri-ashi or other form like this, you learn to move through the "Hara". And that its the essential of the movement in real combat. When you learn that, you can move walking through the Hara. I hope that this help to understand this. Thanks for your videos!

I think the style heavily depends on your reason for learning. Is it for self discipline, historical or theatrical skill? I myself would probably be torn between the theatrical & the historical for present day learning.