| Martial arts equipment may exist to serve the | | | | kenjutsu. Each of these schools had different |
| different martial art styles in different ways. For | | | | focuses on the application of bladed martial arts |
| instance, some may be geared toward safety, | | | | equipment. For instance, the school of Itto-ryu |
| such as mouth guards or head gear. Other items | | | | emphasized the importance of an original and |
| may emphasize rank. Still other forms of gear are | | | | essential sword cut. The Muto expressed the |
| crucial practice elements for specific martial art | | | | concept that there was no sword outside of the |
| variations. | | | | mind. |
| Perhaps the most well-known of these variations | | | | It was during the Shotoku Era (1711-1715) that |
| is kendo. The term means, the "Way of the | | | | shinai and bogu were introduced to kenjutsu |
| Sword." Kendo is a modern martial art which is | | | | practice. Shinai are bamboo practice swords while |
| based upon traditional Japanese sword arts, or | | | | bogu is the term for the protective armor. |
| Kenjutsu. | | | | Shinai were meant to represent the Katana, also |
| Swordsmanship has been valued in Japan since | | | | called, "the samurai sword." Rather than having |
| before the Kamakura period (1185-1233.) This was | | | | the curved and slender, single-edged sword blade, |
| the first samurai-dominated government. The | | | | a shinai is made up of four bamboo slats. These |
| military clans of that time were also largely | | | | are fastened together with leather. |
| interested in horse riding and archery. | | | | The bogu set consists of a helmet, breastplate, |
| During this same time period within Japan, Zen | | | | faulds and gauntlets. This armor works to protect |
| Buddhism was also growing. Zen philosophies and | | | | specific target areas of the body. In addition to |
| practices had already been introduced to the | | | | this specific protective gear, a jacket will be worn |
| region centuries before through both Taoism and | | | | as well as a skirt-like garment. A cotton towel is |
| the Shinto religion. However, it was not introduced | | | | also often used as extra padding beneath the |
| as a separate school until the 12th century. | | | | stylized helmet, or men. |
| Due to this, Zen Buddhism had a strong influence | | | | These different forms of martial arts equipment |
| on kendo as the martial art developed. For | | | | used in kenjustu were carried into the modern |
| instance, Buddhist philosophy would emphasize the | | | | kendo. The form of kendo as it is known today |
| fluidity of the concepts of life and death. This | | | | began to surface in the late 1700s. The gear |
| worked well with the warrior ideal of holding one's | | | | allows students to practice with full force thrusts |
| own life below the importance of overall victory. | | | | and strikes without any risk of injury. |
| These samurai first established various schools of | | | | |