Is Kendo the same as Samurai? A look into the history of Kenjutsu & the Samurai Spirit

On many levels, Kendo is probably the closest modern-day martial art that is comparable to Samurai. Both have Japanese origins, both involve swords (or sticks mimicking swords) and both have similar-looking armor. However, a common question that is sometimes asked by newcomers to Kendo is that ‘Is Kendo the same as Samurai?’. To answer this question, we have to go back to the origins of each art and what they mean. Below we shall discuss in detail the similarities and differences between Kendo and Samurai to determine whether the two are the same or completely unrelated.

Kenjutsu and the origins of sword fighting in Japan

In traditional Japan, the term Kenjutsu means ‘sword art’ which can be an umbrella term to fit Kendo and Samurai together. Basically, this is one of the obvious things the two have in common, amongst other things. However, where Samurai differs is that it was more of a rounded art, whereas Kendo is specifically geared towards sword fighting. With this said, you could argue that Kendo is an exclusive form of Kenjutsu, whereas Samurai uses Kenjutsu as well as other fighting methods.

To be a Samurai, you would also have to be well trained in archery, swimming, and horse riding. In short, becoming a Samurai wasn’t easy and required various high-level skills. Not only this but being a Samurai was as much a lifestyle as just one specific martial art. This differs massively from Kendo which is focused on sword fighting and nothing else. Typically a Kendo practitioner will not be expected to ride horses, shoot arrows or be good at swimming. This is because the origins of Kendo came hundreds of years after the first Samurai which meant fighting and Japanese culture had changed a lot since then.

What are the differences and similarities between Samurai and Kendo?

The sword and the shinai

As has already been established, the two arts have things in common with each other, whilst also differing in other ways. Perhaps one of the biggest differences is that the Samurai would fight with swords called the katana. This is a sharp blade that was designed to cut and fatally injure opponents on the battlefield. However, this is vastly different from the shinai. The shinai is found in Kendo and is basically a long, wooden stick. This mimicks the sword but is designed with sparring in mind…obviously sparring with real swords in modern-day is not wise due to clear reasons. However, the two aren’t as different as it may seem. The Samurai wouldn’t spar with real katana either, instead they would often use bokken which was shaped as katana, but made out of wood.

This differs from the shinai which is more of a cross between a long staff and sword. Unlike the bokken, it doesn’t have a blade and is more of a dull, circular object. Of course, if modern-day Kendo artists were to use their skills in real combat, they too would use swords like Katana’s however due to the advance in technology and the introduction of guns and other weapons, the art of Kendo is mostly about preservation and fun whereas Samurai was genuinely applied in real life. With this said, yet again Kendo is similar to Samurai in many ways but fundamentally different in others such as its application in real-life events.

Samurai striking vs Kendo striking styles

As you may imagine, Samurai and Kendo are fundamentally similar in terms of using a sword to attack the enemy. However, in modern-Kendo there is one key difference. In most Kendo dojo’s, thrust strikes are not allowed. In some cases, they can be taught but are often done by experienced practitioners. However, this was not the case with Samurai who often practiced thrust strikes.

The reason for this is that the Samurai had to do anything to kill or wound their opponent. If the opponent was defending certain attacks during combat, then a thrust strike may have become available as a result. As previously established, Kendo doesn’t relate to life outside the dojo as much. Because of this, there isn’t the urgency to learn fatal strikes as there is found in Samurai training. For those wondering, the reasons why thrust strikes are mostly banned in Kendo is due to safety. Whilst the Kendo armor may protect against most strikes, it is possible to land a thrusting strike in the neck which could severely injure.

Final Thoughts…so is Kendo the same as Samurai?

As has been laid out, there are a number of similarities and differences between the two martial arts. In brief, the similarities are that they both share similar armor, sword strikes and both derive from Kenjutsu. Mentally speaking, both are centered around a culture of honor and respect. However, both arts differ as Samurai is more diverse in terms of other skills and was used as a practical form of self-defense in battle. This differs from Kendo which doesn’t use real swords and has less of a place in modern society where sword fighting is not nearly as common as it once was in feudal Japan.

With this said, Kendo may have some differences compared to Samurai. However, if you are wanting to learn and train like a Samurai in modern society then Kendo is probably the closest thing that you can train that represents that of a Samurai. Of course, there are other arts that involve blades such as Kali or Eskrima however, as these derive from different cultures they are not as close to Samurai as Kendo is. In summary, if you want a martial art that is close to Samurai, then Kendo is your best bet. Of course, they are not completely the same, but overall they have a lot in common.

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