Kendo Martial art(Budou) or Sport

[Musha]

Hi all, I just wanted to know how many people on this forum think that Kendo is a martial art and how many think it is a sport after my other topic. Hope this works :D.

[chidokan]

I had this discussion with one of my better students...he has a modern approach and came into kendo for fitness and competition so he thinks its kenDO. I came into kendo wanting to improve my swordsmanship, so my emphasis is KENdo...I think of cutting people when I attack, he thinks of scoring a point. We'll both end up around the same standard and come to the same conclusions when we are old, so both are o.k. I suppose. It all depends on how you are taught.

[litige]

you should add both.

Budo/Sport.

but i voted Budo!!

[ACRAWFORD]

I think it is one or the other to some and both to a few. It is all in how you approach it.

[misterkurukuru]

I think if you win a lot in tournaments, then it becomes a sport. Lets face it, if you want to have a real shobu, it would be you and the other person by yourselves in some location that no one else could see( maybe an hour before practice or something or in the woods :wink: ). As we get older (60 and older I guess) the winning becomes less important and the budo side of kendo becomes our focus. I think we should let the young people or the people that win a lot (older people can kick butt too) do their kendo, and the people that like the budo side of kendo do their kendo. I agree with Chidokan anyways; in the end we all end up at the same place. So what ever people do, let them do it.

[Saito]

you should add both.

Budo/Sport.

but i voted Budo!!Yes I agree with this answer I say both.

[Musha]

You can't say both or there would be no point having a poll :D.

[Saito]

You can't say both or there would be no point having a poll :D.Alright then Budou. yes that is my answer. Musha

[hamish]

Try a search, too, this topic has been done more than a few times.

[mystic_kendoka]

hmm.. i would say and think of it as a budo, but the reason i practise it is for fitness(sport) and fun(budo and sport)