Kendo translated is "the way of the sword." It is a highly stylized sport derived from the two-handed sword fighting techniques of the samurai (Kenjutsu).

As in Judo, skill and Kendo technique are much more important than one's size or strength. For this reason, men and women can compete against one another without any unfair advantage. The Kendo technique uses a traditional lexicon of about 100 positions.

Training in a Kendo school mostly consists of two-person drills, endurance training and some kata. Fighters learn Kendo with the shinai (bamboo sword), and they wear protective equipment covering sensitive areas: the head, wrists and abdomen. The shinai is approximately four feet in length and is made of four carefully formed bamboo slats bound together to form a hollow cylinder.

Students learn Kendo grips and stances, and are taught the importance of eye contact and vocal release (kiai). Matches are typically set for five minutes, with the winner being the first person to score two points within that time period. Points can be scored on any of four places: the top of the head (men), the wrist (kote), the abdomen (do), or a thrust to the throat (tsuki). Hit points are scored by striking an opponent with the side opposite the cord with the top third of the shinai. Simultaneous strikes nullify each other, so it is not uncommon to see players attack repeatedly without scoring clear points.