Kendo vs. Fencing video.

[Tarandus]

Dotting around on YouTube I came across this video by chance. It shows a competition, presumably in Japan, between a Kendo swordsman and a fencer. The fencer wins - in this contest. But then again, it's just one hit, not even 'best of three'. Also, of course, there is no indication as to the relative capabilities of the two contestants in their respective sports. I haven't worked out yet how to slow down videos on YouTube and as the picture quality is really grainy, it's hard even to tell what kind of weapon the fencer is using, but I think it's probably a sabre, though it might be an epee (I can't see the hand guard clearly). But it's definitely not a foil. There are numerous comments on this contest posted on Youtube - 9 pages of them, and I just can't be bothered reading through them all. One point I would make though: if the fencer is fighting with an epee, then his strike with the side of the blade would be disallowed, as epee is a point weapon; but if it's a sabre, then his winning strike, to the Kendo swordsman's lower right hip, would be outside the target area (the whole body is a target in epee, but in sabre, only the upper half). Still, I think the video is thought-provoking. Of course, both Kendo and fencing are sports these days, but have different origins. Whereas Kendo developed out of the 'all-in' swordsmanship of the Samurai, Western fencing developed out of duelling, with all its attendant conventions. The Italian school, favouring the rapier, was the first to gain widespread popularity in England, for instance, in the Renaissance. But then the French schools, which concentrated on point weapons, seemed to prove themselves superior, hence the domination of French terms in fencing (as I understand it). Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ST1wRzfgmI

Kind regards, T.
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[yeniseri]

It is the man's speed and his conditioning, regardless of the weapon he uses, that determines the outcome. The Kendo person was slow, and lacked the instinct to go forward to the target and he was always retreating.! Training strategy also figures into the equation!

[jfraser]

In addition,

The kendo "sword" was a bamboo shinnai, not even a wooden one made of oak.

And his mind and behavior reflected this (this is only a stick, not a 5 foot razor sharp blade), and that he was using the kendo sport attitude of hitting, which is asking for it, from a fencer.

James

[Phalanxpursos]

The fencer feinted 3 times, on the 4th he scored a point.

I've seen the video and wanted to reply to that, personally I started practicing self defense when I was 8 and when I was younger people used to compare other martial arts to eachother and estimate which one is the best. But I came to the conclusion that the artist is the deciding factor and not the martial arts and that is based upon a very simple concept, which I will try to explain.

For example:
If you put an experienced pentjak silat fighter versus an unexperienced Boxer then Pentjak Silat would win, but if you place an expert in boxing versus a beginner Pentjak Silat then boxing would win.

So to my opinion it's not about the martial arts but about the martial artist, if you want to be a good martial artist it is the best to learn more about moral values & civic virtues.

Preventing a fight is so much better than ending one.
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Thales of Miletus:
* The wisest, time, for it brings everything to light. *

[christopher1]

What is the best self defense, Kendo or Fencing? I want the best self defense to practice.
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personal safety

[Josh Young]