History UsefulNotes / Kendo

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': Kirito used to practice kendo in school before becoming a video game enthusiast. His younger sister, Suguha, took up kendo in his stead, and her experience in the sport inspires her playstyle in ''Alfheim Online''.

A related art is ''Atarashii Naginata'', which uses similar equipment and rules, but which arms its participants with bamboo [[BladeOnAStick naginatas]] rather than swords. It used to be that kendo was for boys and [[NaginatasAreFeminine Naginata for girls]], but this has broken down since the TurnOfTheMillennium. Naginata adds an additional bit of protective gear, the ''sune-ate'', which covers from the knees to the ankles, and an additional valid attack ("Sune"), to the sune-ate. Kendo and Naginata actually sometimes compete against one another, in matches known as ''isshu jiai.''

* Ray Doyle is shown wielding a bokken in the TitleSequence of ''Series/TheProfessionals'', and in the episode "Wild Justice" as part of a [=CI5=] training course Doyle and Bodie are shown in full kendo gear being instructed by an OldMaster.

* Ray Doyle is shown wielding a bokken in the TitleSequence of ''Series/TheProfessionals'', and in the episode "Wild Justice" Doyle and Bodie are in full kendo gear being instructed by an OldMaster.

* Ray Doyle is shown wielding a bokken in the TitleSequence of ''Series/TheProfessionals'', and Bodie and Doyle are shown in the episode "Wild Justice" in full kendo gear being instructed by an OldMaster.

* The real name of the Martial Arts Hero(-in-training) Battle Fist from ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is Itsuka Kendo. Interestingly, despite her family name, she is a bare-handed fighter rather than a swordswoman.

The basic rules of Kendo are simple: a point (or "ippon") is awarded for a decisive strike to a target zone on the opponent, which the striking contestant must indicate with a shout (or "{{Kiai}}"). A group of three judges will watch over the match, and at least two judges must agree that an ippon is scored for the point to count. Contestants must also possess awareness and focus (also known as "zanshin") throughout the match: allowing one's concentration to waver, or displays of informality, may be penalized. Formal matches continue for ten minutes or until one contestant scores two ippon. In the case of a tie, the judges may either declare a draw, make a decision on who was the better overall fighter, or allow a match to continue into sudden death, where the contestant who scores an ippon first wins.

* TwinkleToesSamurai: Basic Kendo footwork is this, also known as ''Ashi Sabaki''. Its purpose is to make it harder for your opponent to notice that you have begun charging towards him

A related art is ''Atarashii Naginata'', which uses similar equipment and rules, but which arms its participants with bamboo [[BladeOnAStick naginatas]] rather than swords. It used to be that kendo was for boys and Naginata for girls, but this has broken down since the TurnOfTheMillennium. Naginata adds an additional bit of protective gear, the ''sune-ate'', which covers from the knees to the ankles, and an additional valid attack ("Sune"), to the sune-ate. Kendo and Naginata actually sometimes compete against one another, in matches known as ''isshu jiai.''

* The real name of the Martial Arts Hero(-in-training) Battle Fist is Itsuka Kendo. Interestingly, despite her family name, she is a bare-handed fighter rather than a swordswoman.

* The real name of the Martial Arts Hero(-in-training) Battle Fist is Itsuka Kendo, although it is unknown if she practices that particular martial art.

* In ''Series/{{Hex}}'', Jez challenges Leon to a "friendly" kendo match with the clear intention of killing him. Ella turns up instead and beats Jez bloody before strangling him to death.

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: The counterattack called ''men-nuki-do''. In that move your opponent aims his strike on your head. You take a small side-step, avoid the blow, and ''simultaneously'' strike horizontally his right side torso, effectively cutting him in half. ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISCCpURPgc4 Men-nuki-gyaku-do]]'' is the same on your opponent's left.

Kendo is a martial arts sport that ultimately derives from the traditional UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese art of sword fighting, UsefulNotes/{{Kenjutsu}}. Basically, kendo is to ''kenjutsu'' what Olympics rules fencing is to UsefulNotes/HistoricalEuropeanMartialArts.

The modern form of the UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese art of sword fighting, based on the more traditional UsefulNotes/{{Kenjutsu}}.

Kendo is the modern day equivalent of Japanese sword fighting to classical or Olympic fencing.

Practioners of the sport are usually called ''Kendoka'' or ''Kenshi''.

The sport is a very physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial-arts values with sport-like physical elements.

Most schools in Japan typically have a Kendo dojo, and inter-school tournaments are very common in the country. The sport is also practiced in several other countries around the world and governed by the International Kendo Federation. In Korea, the sport is referred to as [[InsistentTerminology Kumdo]] and for [[UsefulNotes/ImperialJapan obvious reasons]] its Japanese origins are downplayed, though there are some minor stylistic difference between Korean Kumdo and its more "orthodox" Japanese cousin. Many schools overseas that trace their orgin to Korean Schools also use the name Kumdo.

* ''Manga/BambooBlade'': The main premise of the series.

Most schools in Japan typically have a Kendo dojo, and inter-school tournaments are very common in the country. The sport is also practiced in several other countries around the world and governed by the International Kendo Federation. In Korea, the sport is referred to as [[InsistentTerminology Kumdo]] and for [[ImperialJapan obvious reasons]] its Japanese origins are downplayed, though there are some minor stylistic difference between Korean Kumdo and its more "orthodox" Japanese cousin. Many schools overseas that trace their orgin to Korean Schools also use the name Kumdo.

The modern form of the UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}ese art of sword fighting, based on the more traditional Kenjutsu.

* Chang in ''Film/{{Moonraker}}'' is kendo practitioner who works for Drax as an enforcer. He uses the style in his fight with Bond which costs him his life.

* {{Kiai}: Related to CallingYourAttacks, and a very important element of proper Kendo technique.