Is Kendo a Self-Defense Martial Art?
No, unless you plan on carrying a 4 foot stick around with you! Kendo does, however, develop some important skills that can serve as a very real foundation for self defense. Kendo practitioners develop, to a very high degree, the skills of reading an opponents attacks and openings, as well as distancing, timing, strong spirit, confidence, agressiveness, fighting strategies, etc. These also happen to be some of the most important basics of effective self defense. After some Kendo experience, an individual can combine these skills with learning some simple, specific self defense techniques, and can quickly develop effective self defense skills.
