Kendo

Kendo, the “way of the sword,” is a traditional Japanese fencing art using a two-handed bamboo sword, rooted in samurai swordsmanship. As real combat waned post-1600s, kenjutsu evolved to foster discipline and character, aided by 18th-century innovations like the shinai (bamboo sword) and protective armor for safe, realistic practice. In kendo matches now, competitors target specific areas on the body, announcing each strike as they land it, with the first to score two points winning. Widely practiced in Japan, kendo is also gaining international popularity.