Kendō
/ˈkɛn.doʊ/noun
A Japanese martial art involving bamboo-sword fencing, protective armor, disciplined practice, and formal etiquette.
Did you know?Modern kendō developed from Japan’s samurai sword traditions and was temporarily suppressed after World War II before being reorganized and officially revived in 1952.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Sinitic
劍 / 道
“The roots of the Japanese elements ken—sword—and dō—way or path—entered Japanese through Chinese writing and vocabulary.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
剣 (ken)
“Sword; a bladed weapon, especially in literary and martial contexts.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
道 (dō)
“A road, path, method, or disciplined way of practice.”
Late 19th Century
Japanese
剣道 (kendō)
““The way of the sword,” a modern name adopted as Japanese swordsmanship was systematized into a disciplined martial art.”
20th Century
English
kendo / kendō
“An English loanword for the Japanese martial art practiced with bamboo swords, armor, forms, and ritualized etiquette.”