the only real difrence i can see in my school any way is the absence of katas and the grappleing help me out


[This message has been edited by Dabido (edited 01-01-2005).]

As I understand it, Kendo is an amalgamation of techniques from various koryu kenjutsu systems. A kendo guy can talk to this better than I can.

Kenjutsu is a generic term used to describe the older schools of swordsmanship. These were typically regional or family systems that were not taught to outsiders, until sometime this century in many cases. As a result they are very different, one style to the next. Typically koryu systems are somewhat smaller organizations than the kendo behemouth. There is a tendency for koryu schools to not include shinai training as a primary part of their training.

There's really quite a huge difference between the two.

Whatever you're training in, you're training to accomplish an objective, right?

Well the objectives are what this difference stems from:

Kendo: Your objective is to strike several well armored spots on the body of a single opponent to score points and thus win the match. Very modern, very much a sport.

Kenjutsu: Your objective is to disable or kill one or many opponents with a live blade by cutting or puncturing their body. Striking points can be anywhere but generally tend towards common weak points in armor. Ranges from very old to relatively new. Sparring like most traditional Kenjutsu schools teach will almost certainly get you kicked out of a Kendo tournament.

See the difference?

Dose that mean that Kenjutsu is more akin to full contact sparring with out the power? Where the intent is to do your opponent harm vs. score a point? I ask this with minimal weapons training background.

SteveB

Basicaly yes, though I would have phrased it in a different fashion.

Kenjutsu is a classical weapon art used and designed for use with real "live" weapons.

It was used by (more or less) professional warriors to kill the other guy by any means possible.

Kendo, by and large is a sport, specificaly created NOT to get you hurt.

The target areas of kendo are well armored, and would be even better protected by warrors in period armor.

The target areas in kenjutsu are pretty much anywhere you can hit---with blows specificially targeted to where they can do the MOST harm.

The weapon of kendo is a shinai--a split bamboo "weapon" that can cause some nasty brusies but won't crack your skull/break bones like a bokkon--the preferred training weapon of kenjutsu.

Kendo is a fine art, with many benefits.

But kendo and kenjutsu are VERY different things.

thanks for all your answers guys i just wanst sure