There are some attractive points in Kendo

 

Ken-doh club of Toshiba Komukai blanch.

This picture looks they are asking instructors some tips about their practice with Sensei.

In Doh-Jo, I have been rarely asked to give some comment since I'm not in high grade.

But, I had sometimes become to have to give some comment to young persons.

It's possible to remember and to talk about their practice, motion and fighting, though I've estimated it's hard for me to do it.

I feared not to remember their feature and defects of their movement, at first.

After some fights, training, I could see him / her what revel they are, at least he/she is strong or not than me. From this recognition, I search them to win in a fight.

   

Ken-doh in France

Budo XI is famous Ken-doh Club in Pari.

Sometimes I wonder why French people love Japanese martial arts, Ju-doh, Aiki-doh, Katate-doh and Ken-doh.

There are some assumption in my mind about that why Ken-doh are expanding their population in foreign countries, it's depend on there is some simple rule that easy to judge which side gets  win in a match.

Generally speaking, martial arts has simple rule which side has gotten win though it's not easy to get some skill revel and physical toughness to have a match to others.

It's understandble in Hawaii

There are many person who do practice Ken-doh in Hawaii, USA.
Ken-yu-kai, a name of Ken-doh club has practice at Kenshikan-DoJo in Honolulu.

I can see why Ken-doh had expanded in Hawaii. The reason why was for immigration first 20th  century.
Japan had needed to expand their labors out of county for population explosions inside.
So many people went to foreign countries, for example, North China, East Russia, Brazil, Hawaii, etc.

Hawaii Ken-doh Federation History

  

http://www.hawaiikendo.com/history.html

According to their explanation of Federarion History....
 

The first government-contract immigrants to Hawaii from Japan arrived in 1868, the first year of Meiji Era right after the end of Tokugawa Shogunate's reign.

They brought with them the art of Ken-doh and Su-moh to the islands. The Ken-doists at the time were actual Samurai or students of Samurai instructors, so their technique was more of thrusting and cutting with a real Japanese sword, Katana.

In 1885, the immigrants were reported to have demonstrated these arts for King David Kalakaua. A year after the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, a Ken-doh match was reported to be held on Oahu.

 In 1915, an official Ken-doh instructor for the immigrants came to Hawaii for the first time. Ken-doh became part of the requisite grade school curriculum in Japan in 1911 to help children develop physically and morally.

By 1940, when the Hawaii branch of Dainippon Butoku-Kai (the organization of Ken-doists in Japan) opened, Ken-doh was taught at the many Japanese schools and Do-jo throughout the State.

Ken-doh was banned in Hawaii in1941 at the onset of World War II, but Mikami Do-jo re-opened in Kapahulu soon after the war.

Ken-doh in Poland

 

http://www.eu-japanfest.org/column/80/?preview_id=9994&preview_nonce=cbd31225a2&preview=true

Vice president of Hokkaido Ken-doh association, 8th-dan Hanshi, Yamashiro Sensei(Ken-doh master) instructed young Ken-doh player in Breslau( Wrocław ), Republic of Poland( POLSKA ).
He had visited there for Poland-Japan Ken-doh relationship event, EU-Japan Fest 2010.

He said in his article about this session, they Polish players all not only had gotten win-defeat phase, also had been pursuing Ken-doh right path which are to form a human.  

I don't know why Polish people are fond of Ken-doh, Ju-doh and another Japanese martial arts. May be they had some era when they had needed to protect themselves from some violence in their daily life.

There has been good relationship between Poland and Japan in many fields.
I'd like to visit this beautiful city in POLSKA when it is warm, someday. 

Ouch! Ouch! Kusarigama worrior

Kusarigama, Chain sickle armour is so nice, isn't it?


If I were a warrior in 13 century and I had met an opponent Kusarigama warrior, this is very hard battle for me to win him with a sward.
Kasarigama guy might have broken my skull at first.  
Yes, helmet was essential in those days and is also now.

This is a demonstration at a Kobudo Event held every year in Abeno word(Osaka-city) Japan.
Most participants are members of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai.

Joh-dan, Upper sward style

Joh-dan form, Over head sward stance is very aggressive one.
It is said to be "Hi-no-kamae (Stance of Fire)"
Upper sward style enable to give a quick shot.
But it's risky when he missed hitting since he usually give a shot using only left hand, so after giving a shot, he is very weak against attacking. 
Furthermore, opponent player can hit left hand that is in upper sward style.

Upper versus Upper looks like there are few chance to attack each other.
After attacking, they must repair their form for next shot.  

 

I wonder this match called an attention to people.
I have met two swards style one only a few times. All they were high grade Sensei, Ken-doh master. 

Training Session-Judging

 Photo upper, describing training session of Judging in Katsushika word, Tokyo metropolis.
Instructor was Kyohshi, Hachi(8)-dan, Itoh Sensei.

They say "Good match is carried out by good judging" 

Indicating Hikiwake, end in a draw.
Japan Ken-doh association requests to keep take part in these training session for Judging, Teaching and Form.
After session, there will be held a Keio, an exercise.