Kendo
/ˈkɛn.doʊ/noun
A Japanese martial art involving bamboo swords and protective armor, developed from traditional swordsmanship.
Did you know?The word reflects a major shift in Japanese sword culture: after samurai warfare declined, swordsmanship was reframed as moral training rather than battlefield killing.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Middle Chinese
劍
“Sword; the source of Japanese ken”
Ancient China
Middle Chinese
道
“Road, path, way, or method; the source of Japanese dō”
Early Japanese
Japanese
剣 (ken)
“Sword”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
道 (dō)
“Way, path, or disciplined method”
Late 19th Century
Japanese
剣道 (kendō)
“The way or discipline of the sword, formalized as a modern martial art”
Modern English
English
kendo
“A Japanese martial art practiced with bamboo swords and armor”