kendo

[ken-doh]

noun

1. a Japanese form of fencing using bamboo staves, with the contestants wearing head guards and protective garments.

kendo

/ ˈkɛndəʊ /

noun

1. the Japanese art of fencing with pliable bamboo staves or, sometimes, real swords: strict conventions are observed

Other Word Forms

• kendoist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of kendo¹

1920–25; < Japanese kendō, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese jiàn “sword” + dào “way”; Bushido, judo, Tao

Word History and Origins

Origin of kendo¹

from Japanese

Example Sentences

“Ken” means sword, and “do” means way, so kendo is the way of the sword.

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She eventually became a Zen priest herself, and continues to live at the temple today, where she trains in a particularly rigorous form of Japanese swordsmanship called kendo.

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In your time at Chozen-ji you studied kendo — the way of the sword — and chado — the way of tea.

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In our approach to kendo we don’t learn any defensive maneuvers.

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The ideal is that the separation between kendo opponents, between the person and the sword, between the tea host, the utensils and the guest — all those boundaries disappear.

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Related Words

• judo 
• karate 
• wrestling