Kendo-pnkf.org
Title
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation
Contact
- MPC Internetworks, Inc.
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- San Bernardino CA
- United States 92412
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- +1.9098885500
Description
Kendo is the sport and art of Japanese sword fencing. Unlike traditional European fencing Kendo is a very offensive full contact sport that consists primarily of slicing cuts with bamboo foils rather than thrusting cuts with metal foils. For more information about the origins of Kendo, please see the History of Kendo information page. Don't forget to check out the FAQ page for answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding Kendo.
In Kendo points are awarded by striking one of four valid areas on the body. The point areas are the forehead, the wrists, the abdomen, or the throat, or as known within Kendo the Men, Kote, Do, or Tsuki respectively. Simply hitting one of the four strike areas does not necessarily entail a point though. For a point to be valid, as a minimum, there must be proper striking form of the sword, proper form and motion of the body as a whole, and a strong spirit, or as it is known in Kendo, Ki, which is normally manifested through a yell.
A standard Kendo match is played between two players in an approximately thirty by thirty foot square. Points are awarded and the match administered by three observing judges, also known as Shimpan. Each player begins the match by stepping into the court, also known as the Shiaijo, and bowing to one another. After taking three large steps into the court each player will then assume the traditional squatting position of Sonkyo with their foils drawn point to point. Once the head judge calls "Hajime" a match is started and each player will spring into the on guard position, ready to fight. If a player steps out of bounds during the course of the match, their opponent is awarded a half point. The first player with two points or the most full points at the end of the match time limit (normally between 3 to five minutes) wins.
