To look at it another way, it implies that you are your biggest enemy. Iaido is a word composed of three parts: ee, meaning "to exist"; ai, meaning "harmony" or "unification"; and do, meaning "path" or "way." That is the enemy you have to beat in kendo. In these days, kendo refers to the modern martial art (gendai budo) practiced world-wide under the International Kendo Federation. Now those who do kenjutsu practice for their personal development and discipline not for killing anyone. Kendo only a part of vast kenjutsu techniques. The Benefits of Kendo. Unlike Kenjutsu, Kendo focuses more on sword fighting and sparring. Kenjutsu (剣術) is the umbrella term for all schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration.Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms of kenjutsu in their curriculum. Though it is less focused on, Kenjutsu practices sparring. 1 decade ago. Kenjutsu has old techniques including very dangerous techniques that are not seen in kendo.. More specifically, kenjutsu is to kill opponents and kendo is to make others live. Included among the sword arts are iaido, iaijutsu, kendo, kenjutsu, battojutsu, and battodo. Kendo is fine, but for a more realistic method of sword fighting it needs to be paired with a school of Iaijutsu, or Kenjutsu. Kenjutsu is designed for killing, so often there’s no actual fighting unlike Kendo. Kendo is the way of the sword, a more spiritual path, where as Kenjutsu is sword techniques for killing. In a similar fashion, Judo is the practice of bodily throws and grappling, while jujitsu is the use of those for killing/attacking. It refers to the most widely practiced formal sword styles, usually made up primarily of solo forms, or "waza." Tameshigiri or target cutting is also practiced in Kenjutsu. Answer: Kenjutsu is "the technique of the Sword" and kendo is "the way of the sword". Lv 7. Of course, kendo is not kenjutsu. Kenjutsu is considered a koryu (old art), with a lot of emphasis on learning kata and minimal sparring, if any. > Why is Kendo's footwork different than Hema's or even Kenjutsu's? Taught alongside Kenjutsu is the Iaijutsu. This is the most basic stance in kendo which balances attack and defence. If correctly assumed, the trunk (do) and right wrist (migi-kote) are hidden from the opponent.The throat is visible, but the extended tip of the sword threatens a thrusting enemy with a likely counter-thrust. Also, hitting with shinai is a slightly different than cutting with real sword, which make some kendo techniques not applicable with the real sword. While specific ryuha teaching kenjutsu may have religious or philosophical views, concepts of mushin, fudoshin, and zanshin (all related to the doctrine of Fudo Myo-o) are essential to the practice of Kendo. 3 0. michinoku2001. Kenjutsu is an umbrella term with hundreds of ryu-ha ("streams" or schools). 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