Martial Arts

Kendo

Kendo, Japenese style of fencing derived during the Meiji period in Japan (1968-1912), from the ken (two-handed sword) fighting techniques of the samuri. Today kendo,which means "way of the sword", is practiced with shinai (bamboo swords), and fighters wear protective equipment. The bogu (protective gear) consists of a men (face mask), a do (breastplate), kote (fencing gloves), and the tare, a kind of apron to protect the stinacg and hips. Under the protective gear, kendoka (kendo practicioners) wear a hamaka, or wide split skirt, reaching the ankles. The shinai is made of seasoned bamboo bound by wax cord. Contestants are barefoot and fight on a smooth floor.

The main cuts or thrusts that may be delivered in kendo are limited as follows:

1. oshomen a downward cut aimed at the center of the forehead
2. hidarimen a diagonal cut to the left side of the face mask
3. migimen a diagonal cut to the right side of the face mask
4. migido a diagonal cut to the right side of the breastplate
5. gyakudo a dianogal cut to the left side of the breastplate
6. kote a cut at the right wrist or the lower forearm
7. hidari kote- a cut at the left wrist or the lower forearm
8. tsuki a thrust at the throat

An important part of training is the use of the kiai, which is an explosive sound, a kind of controlled inpersonalized yell intended to inspire courage and determination in the utterer and fear in the opponent, and to upset the concentration of the oponent as a cut or thrust is made.

A shiai (match) is normally known as a "3- point" match, lasting 3-5 minutes. Kendoka bowto the oponent and prepare for the shiai by placing the right foot foward with the right heel sligtly raised. The shinai is raised in both hands with the tip aimed at the oponents throat. When a blow is delivered, the attacker must yell out the type of blow for it to ne evaluated for the judges. The first fighter to score two points is the winner. If a matched tied at the time limit, It is either declared a draw or continued, with the first fighter to take the point of the winner.

Traditionally kendoka were divided into two ranks: student teacher. In modern schools, however, kendoka advance in rank from tenth kyu (student level) to first kyu. Shodan (first degree, expert level) can be achieved in aproxametly 2-3 years.

Judo and Karate

Karate, one of the many martial arts, started in a tiny island that is now part of Japan. It was spread to Japan by a man named Gichin Funakoshi. It spread widely. Now karate is popular all over the world. Judo is another martial art. It started in Japan by Jigor Kano. He named it judo becaise he thought it was a flowing art. Judo means flowing art.

Karate is based on kicking and punching. Judo is based on locks and throws.

Katrina on Karate Pictures of Katrina's Karate Class and Katrina's Personal Experiences with Karate