The art of Kendo derives from sword skills developed by the samurai of the 12th century called Kenjutsu. During the 14th to 16th centuries, accomplished swordsmen opened schools to teach the art of the sword. The more peaceful Edo period (1600-1868) saw the moral and spiritual elements of the practice come to the forefront and the art of Kenjutsu.
Kendo practitioners train using a bamboo sword called a shinai. They wear a helmet and body armor called bogu that allows for full-contact sparring with low risk of injury and gives the practitioner the ability to dynamically adjust to real speed attacks to a limited number of targets in a competitive environment.
John Drakey and his students will demonstrate the martial art of Kendo to viewers of this video. He and his students perform at the Greater Kansas City Festival each year.