The martial art form known as Kendo has perhaps one of the most well known histories in martial arts today. Starting in Japan during the Kamakura period, Japanese sword fighting became exceedingly prevalent among Samurai warriors and other military peoples. During this time, Kendo was created beneath extremely heavy and powerful Zen Buddhist influences – this is perhaps the reason that the principles and ideology that run within the martial art of Kendo are so strong.

Kendo, which literally means "way of the sword", is the Japanese art of fencing. Kendo was created by the samurai during the Kamakura period (1180-1230) so they could hone their skills without killing each other. It was originally grounded in Zen Buddhism. The teachings of kendo helped the samurai learn to disregard their own lives in the heat of battle. This is one of the main reasons it is considered the way of the sword.

Kendo, like most other martial arts, can only be learned with the help of a qualified sensei (teacher). There are many companies that sell kendo videos and kendo pictures, saying that it will teach a person how to be a samurai. This is completely false, a sensei will point out what is wrong with your technique and kata.

Since kendo is fencing based on the samurai, it requires a katana (samurai sword). However, it is not practical to use a real katana: people would die. Instead, kendoka use shinai A shinai is composed of four flat bamboo pieces. The bamboo is held together with leather and string. The string keeps the two leather pieces together. Shinai can be bought at specialized kendo stores, like E-Bogu. E-bogu is known to be one of the BEST sites to buy shinai and other kendo equiptment from. The majority or kendoka buy their equiptment from E-Bogu.

Kendo is a very physical sport and and its practicioners need lots of protective equiptment. The gear include the kendo bogu (armor), the kendo uniform (worn under the bogu; consists of a hakama and G.I.), and the kendo stick/sword (also known as a shinai).

Bogu can be bought at specialized kendo stores, like E-Bogu. E-bogu is known to be one of the BEST sites to buy bogu and other kendo equiptment from. The majority or kendoka buy their equiptment from E-Bogu.