DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - How hard is kendo compared to other martial arts?

**JeorgeNoxeref** · 03-11-2011, 06:31 AM

Physically way easier. Sure you can go all out until you vomit, just like any other activity.
That being said, you are less likely to be injured than many other martial arts due to the level of contact and bogu. The strikes are far less painful. You don't get thrown, swept, experience the panic of fighting not to be choked out or submitted. You don't have a 250+lbs guy sitting on your chest so that you can't breathe. Sure in kendo you might feel physical/mental pressure, but you don't have you vision start to dim in competition due to lack of oxygen.

The fact that strikes are subjective does make things a little bit harder to judge than say full contact karate, judo or BJJ where it is clear when you have submitted someone (they pass out or tap out), knocked them to the floor, thrown them or KO'd them. On the other hand you only have to worry about 4 target areas so you don't have to worry about certain angles of attack, protecting certain areas of the body, various ranges of attack etc.

Size, strength and cardio matter less than empty hand arts, so it does negate some natural advantages making it a bit easier.

Mentally, well there is plenty to think about and you shouldn't be mindlessly repeating the actions.

Many people liken BJJ to a game of chess, even at the lower levels of BJJ (1-2 years) you need to be 3 moves ahead of your opponent, and at the higher levels several more moves ahead of your opponent.

In kendo, the curriculum is much smaller. You don't have to learn multiple weapons and empty hand techniques. Likewise, number of waza you have to learn is much more limited than say judo or karate, the kata are fewer (and shorter than karate/kung fu), and initially, the lessons drawn between kata and free sparring is less explicit.

The study of applying seme in kendo is a very challenging subject, but it isn't unique to kendo. It does exist in karate, but does not seem to be studied to the same depth. It exists in grappling as well. Learning how to connect and manipulate your opponents center via shinai on shinai contact is more difficult than BJJ and judo where you have a better connection via two hands and a gi.

Oh and you can get shodan way faster in kendo than you will in most other arts. It is less prestigious though

03-11-2011, 06:31 AM	#3
JeorgeNoxeref Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 369 Senior Member	Physically way easier. Sure you can go all out until you vomit, just like any other activity. That being said, you are less likely to be injured than many other martial arts due to the level of contact and bogu. The strikes are far less painful. You don't get thrown, swept, experience the panic of fighting not to be choked out or submitted. You don't have a 250+lbs guy sitting on your chest so that you can't breathe. Sure in kendo you might feel physical/mental pressure, but you don't have you vision start to dim in competition due to lack of oxygen. The fact that strikes are subjective does make things a little bit harder to judge than say full contact karate, judo or BJJ where it is clear when you have submitted someone (they pass out or tap out), knocked them to the floor, thrown them or KO'd them. On the other hand you only have to worry about 4 target areas so you don't have to worry about certain angles of attack, protecting certain areas of the body, various ranges of attack etc. Size, strength and cardio matter less than empty hand arts, so it does negate some natural advantages making it a bit easier. Mentally, well there is plenty to think about and you shouldn't be mindlessly repeating the actions. Many people liken BJJ to a game of chess, even at the lower levels of BJJ (1-2 years) you need to be 3 moves ahead of your opponent, and at the higher levels several more moves ahead of your opponent. In kendo, the curriculum is much smaller. You don't have to learn multiple weapons and empty hand techniques. Likewise, number of waza you have to learn is much more limited than say judo or karate, the kata are fewer (and shorter than karate/kung fu), and initially, the lessons drawn between kata and free sparring is less explicit. The study of applying seme in kendo is a very challenging subject, but it isn't unique to kendo. It does exist in karate, but does not seem to be studied to the same depth. It exists in grappling as well. Learning how to connect and manipulate your opponents center via shinai on shinai contact is more difficult than BJJ and judo where you have a better connection via two hands and a gi. Oh and you can get shodan way faster in kendo than you will in most other arts. It is less prestigious though
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