Match Kendo and Promotion Examination Kendo

For the concept of budo to spread more widely in the future, it would be neither constructive nor effective to deny the duality between “defined budo” and “conceptual budo.” Rather, the only practical way forward is to develop and refine both aspects together. By allowing both to coexist while distinguishing between them, their differences can be more clearly understood, and as understanding deepens, the conceptual framework of budo itself can expand.

In this respect, the structure of kendo provides a useful example. Within the kendo world, two terms are commonly used today: “match kendo” (shiai-yo kendo) and “promotion examination kendo” (shodan-shinsa-yo kendo). These terms seem to have arisen spontaneously among practitioners rather than through any official designation.

In kendo, the ideal form of a strike is one in which ki (spirit), ken (sword), and tai (body) are perfectly unified. In other words, a successful strike requires the integration of three elements: mental focus and fighting spirit, precise control of the shinai as a sword, and correct posture, footwork, and bodily strength. This ideal, often referred to as a “migotona ippon,” represents the essence of true kendo technique.

Officially, the kendo community consistently teaches that the unification of ki, ken, and tai is equally vital in both matches and promotion examinations. However, in actual judging criteria, the degree to which this unity can be applied inevitably differs between the two. This is because, even in kendo, matches must determine a winner within a limited time. Therefore, some compromise in evaluating the completeness of ki-ken-tai-icchi is unavoidable. From this perspective, match kendo tends to adopt a more sport-like structure: the simple rule that one wins by striking a valid target area before the opponent becomes dominant.

On the other hand, in the tachiai (encounter) of a promotion examination, no compromise is permitted. The standard for ki-ken-tai-icchi is absolute. This is possible precisely because promotion examinations do not determine winners or losers. From the opening bow to the final bow, everything is judged—the etiquette, movements, demeanor, and even attire—much like evaluating the perfection of a kata (form). Within this framework, the strike must demonstrate flawless unification of spirit, sword, and body. Every candidate is evaluated within a set time, and those who fail to meet the criteria are unconditionally rejected. In extreme cases, there may be no successful candidates at all, and this poses no problem for the examination’s operation. In this way, only the pure quality of ki-ken-tai-icchi is examined. Naturally, the higher the rank, the stricter the standard becomes; the current pass rate for the highest promotion level, 8th dan, is said to be below one percent.

These two coexisting forms—match kendo and promotion examination kendo—can be seen as reflecting the difference between “defined budo” and “conceptual budo” discussed earlier. Within the framework of defined budo, there is freedom to pursue conceptual budo, but within conceptual budo, defined budo loses its meaning. It is not uncommon for a men strike that wins a match to be rejected in a promotion examination. Even skilled competitors who have achieved excellent results in matches may fail in examinations, encounter a wall, and thereby enter the world of conceptual budo. Through passing through these two kinds of kendo, practitioners gain the opportunity to experience and understand its profound depth.

In this way, by linking the accessible, easily understood “match kendo” with the demanding and profound “examination kendo,” kendo has established a double standard that allows the concept of budo-based kendo to develop steadily over time.

However, the kendo community has made no official statement acknowledging this double standard. What I have described here is merely my own personal view of the current situation. This dual structure did not arise from a deliberate official system, but rather evolved naturally through the process of holding international competitions and promoting kendo worldwide. Over time, the criteria of “match kendo” became customary, effectively forming a de facto double standard. I believe that it is now necessary to formally systematize this double standard of match kendo and examination kendo.

Although the kendo world has shown a clear intention to promote kendo internationally through competitions, it continues to reject inclusion as an Olympic sport. This cautious approach appears to function as a kind of “slow drive,” intended to prevent the global spread of kendo from losing its foundation in conceptual budo. For now, Japan continues to dominate most international competitions, and as long as Japanese perspectives shape the organization of these events, the budo-based concept of kendo seems to remain intact. But this slow drive cannot be a permanent solution. As stated earlier, matches by nature must determine winners, and thus inevitably prioritize simple, definable elements. As international matches continue to expand under this simple structure, a time may come when Japan no longer holds the championship title.

Even if that happens, if the double standard of match kendo and examination kendo were officially systematized, the conceptual budo aspect of kendo would not vanish. On the contrary, the global spread of match kendo would naturally promote examination kendo—thus promoting kendo as conceptual budo itself. This would, in turn, allow the world to accelerate the promotion of match kendo, potentially even including its recognition as an Olympic sport, without endangering the essence of kendo as budo.