Kata of Kendo

Kendo is full of kata that are frequently used in the Japanese way of communication: shisei (attitude), kamae (posture), metsuke (censor), maai (timing), tenouchi (skill), taisabaki (maneuver), and kiten (quick-wittedness).

In a kendo practice session (keiko), the senior becomes the receiver (motodachi), and the level of knowledge and experience can be measured by how the motodachi receives the junior’s performance. Within a few seconds of the session, shu-ha-ri appears.

It is important for the juniors to repeatedly copy the seniors’ appearance(sugata) and shape (katachi) properly, and only after they finish practicing shu can they proceed to the next stages of ha and ri.