Kendo: The Way of the SwordCEFR A2
24 May 2025
Adapted from Jo Carter, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Simon Dreher, Unsplash
Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art. It is known as 'the way of the sword.' Practitioners, called kendoka, train with bamboo swords and wear protective gear. Kendo teaches discipline, respect, and mental strength.
The sport has roots in samurai training. It started during the Edo period. Nowadays, kendo is popular worldwide and connects people with Japanese culture.
Difficult words
- martial — related to fighting or war skills
- practitioner — person who trains in a skill or activityPractitioners
- bamboo — a tall grass used for tools and swords
- protective — made to keep someone safe from harm
- discipline — training to control behavior and improve skill
- samurai — a Japanese warrior from the past
- connect — join or bring together people or thingsconnects
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Discussion questions
- Would you like to try kendo? Why or why not?
- Which of these kendo qualities is most important to you: discipline, respect, or mental strength? Explain.
- How can a sport help people learn about another culture?
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