A Brief History of Kendo

A proven leader, “Kota” Saint Jovite Youngblood has held roles such as general manager and finance director. He currently leads Youngblood Metals Mining as president. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Saint Jovite Youngblood is working toward a black belt in kendo.

Most historians connect kendo to kenjutsu, a sword-wielding method used by samurai warriors in Japan’s feudal times. Records of the sword-wielding art go back to the 8th century, but it was not until around the 14th century that kenjutsu schools began appearing in Japan.

These schools emphasized the spiritual aspects of sword wielding. Students were taught social and moral aspects related to Zen Buddhism and Bushido, the Japanese way of the warrior. Kenjutsu was considered an indispensable part of samurai training, but its popularity declined after 1867 when sword wielding was banned in Japan.

Kenjutsu came back into common use among the country’s police officers in 1877. Shortly after Japanese martial arts organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai was formed in 1895, all existing kenjutsu schools were combined to create a universal form of sword wielding. This combination resulted in the birth of kendo in 1912.

Kendo’s popularity in Japan then grew immensely and officially became part of the country’s physical education programs in primary and secondary schools. Although kendo lost some popularity following World War II, the martial art was soon restored and began spreading around the world.

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