Kendo: A Comprehensive Guide to Japanese Swordsmanship

Kendo holds a special place within the Japanese martial arts as the living embodiment of Japan s rich samurai warrior tradition. Kendo is actively practiced in Japan today and many tens of thousands of non-Japanese also study kendo because it is one of the most physically and mentally challenging martial forms combining a highly spiritual training regimen with strenuous physical activity.

The core of this book is a series of highly detailed instructional sequences demonstrating all the basic kendo stick-fighting techniques. Along the way, the author presents the fundamental principles and philosophy which lie at the heart of kendo and make it as much a training of the mind as of the body. For many adherents, the principal goal in practicing kendo is to achieve a state of mushin (no-mind) as taught by the great Zen Buddhist masters of ancient China and Japan. Beyond that, the book explains what it takes to compete in and win international kendo competitions and how to integrate kendo training into your personal fitness routine.