Why It’s Important for Kendo Practitioners to Read Books

Kendo is an old martial art that reflects the spirit of the samurai. Unlike other martial arts that focus on specific aspects of samurai swordsmanship, kendo tends to be highly competitive.

In practice, this means that kendo practitioners often engage in one-on-one fights. This naturally leads to a stronger focus on techniques that are effective in actual combat.

An unfortunate consequence of this focus is that practitioners may pay less attention to the meaning and philosophy behind these techniques. If you train at a dojo that makes an effort to explore and explain the depth and true meaning of the techniques, consider yourself lucky. I am one of those fortunate practitioners.

However, your dojo may place little to no emphasis on the meaning and philosophy of kendo techniques. This tendency—focusing on practical skills while partially or completely ignoring deeper meaning—is more common in Western countries than in East Asian ones.

The purpose of this article is not to criticize such approaches, but to suggest effective ways to address this gap.

I am sharing my own experience and what has proven useful to me. While my opinions are subjective, there are also some objective observations that are difficult to dispute. Let’s begin with these:

1. Books provide information.

2. Information can be accurate or inaccurate.

3. Some information may be useful for certain purposes while being useless for others.

   
   

With that in mind, let’s look at how reading books can help you become a better kendo practitioner.

The meaning and philosophy behind kendo techniques can sometimes be straightforward, but at other times difficult to grasp. It is no wonder that such concepts cannot always be explained fully during dojo training—there simply isn’t enough time. For example, it might take an entire book (or more) to explain the meaning and philosophy of the Nihon Kendo Kata alone. How could this be conveyed in a typical training session, especially when students must also practice techniques?

The solution is simple: if you want to understand the deeper meaning behind the techniques you practice, you need to study outside the dojo. One effective way to do this is by reading relevant books.

Unlike dojo training, reading allows you to learn at your own pace. You can read while commuting, waiting in line, or relaxing in a park.

With the right books, you can gradually move from “I know how to do it” to “I know why I do it.” The first kata (ippon-me) becomes more than a sequence of movements—it becomes an expression of the boundary between life and death.

Not all kendo books focus on philosophy. Some explain technique, much like instruction in the dojo. However, those who seek deeper understanding will find books that explore the meaning behind kendo. Here are a few I found particularly enlightening:

• Inoue Yoshihiko – Kendo Kata: Essence and Application

• Jinchi Tokeshi – Kendo: Elements, Rules, and Philosophy

• Alexander C. Bennett – Kendo: Culture of the Sword

There are also books not specifically about kendo that offer valuable insights:

• Yamamoto Tsunetomo – Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai

• Kazumi Tabata – Secret Tactics: Lessons From the Great Masters of Martial Arts

• Carl Long, Masayuki Shimabukuro – Samurai Swordsmanship: The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin-Ryu

Fortunately, there is a wide range of books available that provide insight into the philosophy of kendo. These insights can enhance your development and lead to a more refined expression of technique.

It is always important to remember that success in budo depends on both body and spirit. Take care to develop both.