Game

Kendo is a one-on-one type of competitive sword sport, meaning that there are rules given by the International Kendo Federation which need to be followed. By following these rules, only one victor may emerge. The most difficult part of kendo is winning a match using the shinai swords as you compete with many experienced users that can demonstrate extremely fast strikes.

Usually, a fight is done with a shinai bamboo sword. However, some rules allow the use of two swords, one large and one small shinai, or other weapons using the technique of jutsus. This falls in line with the popular duel-wielded method of Miyamoto Musashi. Matches are executed in dojos or arenas with a 30×36 foot (9×11 meter) boundary marked with white lines.

The game time can be from three to ten minutes, depending on the age and experience of the kendo practitioners. A total of three points can be scored to define a victor, and these are achieved when correctly slashing or thrusting with the top part of the blade into designated targeting point areas while holding the correct posture. The designated strike areas include:

• The top or the sides of the helmet

• The padded areas on the wrists protectors

• The right or left side of the armor protecting the torso area

• In front of the head protector around the throat

Three referees score the match by holding white and red flags in each hand. To declare a point, the referee raises his hand with the color associated with the duelist, red or white. After each strike, the referees agree on whether it will be accepted, and two referees must agree for the point to be counted. The All Japan Kendo Federation sometimes allows kendo matches to end in a draw.