What is the difference between Kendo and Kenjutsu?

If you’re looking at Japanese martial arts that involve combat by sword, then Kendo and Kenjutsu are a great place to start. In many ways, these two arts are quite different, but in other ways, they’re very similar. One key thing to note is that Kenjutsu was made as early as 1338, whereas Kendo was founded in 1912. Obviously, that means that the history and styles of the two differ. Because of this, there are a few subtle differences between the two which will be noted below. Hopefully, by the end of this article, your answers will have been questioned in detail.

The goals of Kendo Vs. Kenjutsu

Firstly, it’s important to note the goals that separate the two martial arts and shape them. Kenjutsu is an umbrella term that has lots of sword fighting martial arts underneath it. This differs from Kendo which is a singular martial art and can also be considered as a stand alone sport. Basically, the two are different, although there’s a lot of similarities.

Put another way, the role of Kenjutsu was to use swords in a real life setting with literal life or death implications. Kendo on the other hand, is viewed more sports like and focuses on point fighting and uses lots of armour. To summarise, Kenjutsu involves all sorts of swords and is based on reality, whereas Kendo is one specific longsword that is used in a modern setting. Ultimately, the goal of either martial art is to defeat the opponent with your own sword, but the implications can be very different.

The differences between swords in Kendo Vs. Kenjutsu

As mentioned, the swords are different. Typically (but not always), Kenjutsu uses a katana sword which is the typical ‘Samurai’ sword that most people are familiar with. This differs from the Kendo sword which is named the shinai, and the shape differs from the katana. Often in Kenjutsu, practitioners will spar with the iaito sword, which is like a blunt version of katana. In short, this is used to promote safety and avoid people getting hurt in training.

The shinai is quite different to the iaito though. Instead, it is less bent compared to the katana and is normally longer without such a pronounced bend. You can also hold the katana or iaito in one hand as it’s quite lightweight, whereas the shinai is quite heavy and big, so it needs to be carried with both hands. Another noticeable difference is obviously that the shinai is wooden, whereas both the iaito and katana are made from steel. As you can imagine, the change in material also shapes the way training is done.

Kendo is singular, whereas Kenjutsu is an umbrella term

Many different martial arts using swords can fall under the banner of Kenjutsu, whilst Kendo is its own discipline. Because Kenjutsu often uses katana blades, its techniques differ from those used in Kendo. A good way to think about it is to look at Kung Fu vs Karate. Kung Fu has all sorts of different martial arts and styles under it, although many people naturally think of it as striking.

Karate is an art in its own right and although it has similarities with Kung Fu, it’s also very different in other ways. This is a good way to compare Kenjutsu and Kendo. Although they’re quite similar in some ways, if you train them both then you will notice their own unique differences.

What is more popular, Kendo or Kenjutsu?

These days, most people will be more aware of Kendo as it’s embedded in mainstream culture. Generally, a person is more likely to be able to roughly describe what Kendo is, whereas they would struggle with Kenjutsu. You could argue that Kenjutsu is more popular in terms of covering most forms of swordsmanship. However, in terms of finding a local school near you, Kendo will always prove more popular. That’s not to say that Kendo is particularly better either, it’s just survived longer up until this point.

This may be down to Kendo being more modern which means it may stay relevant for longer. Nonetheless, the result is that Kendo is more popular amongst the masses. This is good news if you plan on training Kendo, however if you want to train Kenjutsu then you may not be able to find a local dojo if you live in a small town due to lack of interest from the general public.

The spiritual implications of Kenjutsu

As Kenjutsu is considered an older martial art than Kendo, it’s also got more of a traditional outlook. Put another way, like many of the older arts, Kenjutsu focuses more on mental strength and growth. Whilst Kendo also focuses on spirituality, its emphasis isn’t as big as Kenjutsu’s. For example, some martial arts are more spiritual compared to others. Aikido is famously spiritual and based on an inner journey, whereas something like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is more casual.

This isn’t a dig at Kendo either, it’s more of an observation. If you want to explore the spiritual side of yourself then Kenjutsu may be a good choice. However, if you want something lighter and more casual, then Kendo is probably a better choice. That’s not saying that Kendo is chaotic either, it’s just less formal than Kenjutsu.

What is better, Kendo or Kenjutsu?

Ultimately, this is a decision that only the individual can make. Fundamentally speaking, the pair both have a lot in common. For example, Kendo is good for longer swords, whereas Kenjutsu is less specific. What should be noted for both though, is that Kendo and Kenjutsu are both not massively relevant in today’s modern society compared to other martial arts. For instance, they are both well over 100 years old (with Kenjutsu literally being hundreds of years old). Both arts were made for their times and where based when sword fighting was more common.

Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll use either in a real life, self defense situation. Never say never, but if you did happen to be carrying a sword then either Kendo or Kenjutsu training would suffice. In short, it’s probably best to try it out for yourself at different dojos. Sadly, these days finding a local Kenjutsu dojo can be a hard ask so the likelihood is that you may have to train Kendo anyway which is more commonly taught.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide distinguishes the key differences and similarities between Kendo and Kenjutsu. In short, Kendo is far newer and has more of a sports-based setting. On the other hand, Kenjutsu is not only much older but also focuses on various differing sword practices. Therefore, comparing the two in the first place can be a bit difficult.

In summary, if you want to start training with swords then you should check out local venues. Alternatively, you can also check out online guides and sites such as Youtube, or focus on literature such as this book.