How is Kendo played?
Participants in kendo wear bogu or armor consisting of a men (head protector), do (chest plate), kote (gloves with wrist guards), and tare (groin and thigh protector). They wield a bamboo shinai which is a specifically-designed weapon which simulates a sword but prevents injuries by being composed of four staves of flexible bamboo wrapped in a leather handle and bound with leather strings. Matches are typically set for five minutes, with the winner being the first person to score two points within that time period. Sudden-death overtimes are played when time elapses with the players tied. Points can be scored on any of four places: the top of the head (men), the wrist (kote), the abdomen (do), or a thrust to the throat (tsuki). To be valid, a point must be struck along with a visible demonstration of movement and a shout or kiai which shows the player’s spirit. In kendo, it is said that one strives for “ki ken tai ichi” or “spirit, sword, and body as one.” All three elements must be pr
