[Nmoitmzr]

I saw someone with a "kendo vs fencing" picture and it seemed rather interesting to me.

I was wondering who do YOU think would win?

Heres what ive got so far..
Fencing Pros: 1. lighter, more flexible sabre, allowing attack from unexpected angles.
Kendo Pros: 1. More damage potential. 2. heavier shinai wouldnt be blockable with the flimsy sabre.

There was an article online i saw about "Samurai vs. Ranaissance Rapierist" That gave me some more insights into benefits and pitfalls of both sides... your opinions??

[iuopyra]

i think the kendoka could just bust out the nuki waza and get away from the thrusts. but the kendo strikes would be very unfamiliar to a fencer. that is my standpoint.

p.s. do you want a link to that pic?

[rfceicizgm]

The fencer: longer reach, not restricted by the same target rules as kendo, blade has much more flexibility, and last but not least the lunge and thrust, kendoka are just not used to such a move. In truth I believe the two styles are just not comparable. They both have completely different dynamics and properties. I still favor kendo, having practiced both.

[Zenunlild]

yeah i agree its hard to compare the two, when talking about two arts its hard to say completely one is superior over the other. Hey but its kendo vs fencing, of course we would own those bouncing fags, they should join ballet.

[Jon Woodgate]

I don't appreciate your mouth, you should watch your tounge or you will be reported. I don't care if you are joking you come off as an ignorant wretch and it won't go unnoticed.

[GlictStiply]

Hey, lighten up Rich. You just came off as a tight-ass. It might not go unnoticed.

[FelikTen]

chill out dude...

anyways...this debate has been done to death on this forum. Once again the question falls to how do you score? as well as that, what about taiatari? Kendo has more physical contact...

[Daruhuw]

Technically I started fencing before I started kendo. There are some major differences but I think it would be interesting to see the event actually take place. Granted kendo has target limits and fencers are faced sideways taking away half those targets. But I can promise that if a kendoka gets in a "do" on a fencer you won't need to talk about points. You'll need to talk about an ambulence.
The kendo club on my campus is having increasingly bad relations with the fencing team due simply to this issue. We are accused of not knowing how to retreat and the like. Perhaps someday a challenge will come up or perhaps even a fundrasing event where we can test our theories. However, fencers do merit respect. They put in as much time and effort as we do and get hurt and bruised just as much. It isn't an easy sport at all. If you think it is try taking a flick to the back of the head by a foil or saber. It isn't fun.

[EmpaccalGah]

It is truly difficult to compare Fencing and Kendo. They are both Martial Sports but they play by different rules. Kendo by nature has much less stategic development than Fencing. The rules of Kendo do not allow for the development of distance for the purpose of timing techniques such as stop hits, feints, retreating in order to draw your opponent in closer for a quick reversal and attack. On the other hand Kendo has much more technical precision, aggressiveness, body contact. The question is whose set of rules would we play by. Clearly, if by Kendo rules the Fencer wouldn't have a chance. Fencing rules would clearly favor the Fencer. If the Kendoka forgot his perfect Kendo and played a little more like Kenjutsu, not worrying about following through or striking only selected targets, then it could go either way. I believe against a sabre Fencer the Kendoka would be a clear favorite. Against the epee or foil Fencer the Kendoka would be an underdog. An epee or a foil is a very fast point thrust weapon which attack in ways unfamiliar to Kendo. The epee has the hand as one of its prime targets it would be difficult for a Kendoka to protect his hands from attack. To make statements such as 1 DO strike would end it is a bit foolish, wouldn't both participants be wearing proper protection against their opponents weapon. If not, then the Kendoka may be beyond the need of an ambulance when an epee thrust is delivered to his eye straight through the wide grates of his Men. A fencing mask is made to prevent this and the face is a valid target in epee fencing. In many ways this is like asking the old question; Who would win a Wrestler or a Boxer?

[Izzy]

It all depends on who is the better sword fighter. Having done both arts, I know that the fencer is going to have many advantages, as is the kendoka. But, if you put a U rated fencer (USFA ratings) against a 3rd Dan in Kendo, the kendoka is going to win. It also has a lot to do with who knows both weapons, someone trained in both weapons will do much better than a person trained in only one.

[JediReturns84]

I saw someone with a "kendo vs fencing" picture and it seemed rather interesting to me.

I was wondering who do YOU think would win?

Heres what ive got so far..
Fencing Pros: 1. lighter, more flexible sabre, allowing attack from unexpected angles.
Kendo Pros: 1. More damage potential. 2. heavier shinai wouldnt be blockable with the flimsy sabre.

There was an article online i saw about "Samurai vs. Ranaissance Rapierist" That gave me some more insights into benefits and pitfalls of both sides... your opinions??

Mori Torao Sensei was trained in Western Fencing as well as kendo. After returning to the States after WWII he revitalized kendo in this country. He lead a group of kenshi back to Japan in the early 1950s and did a number of exhibits, some of which were sabreur vs. kendoka. I cannot find any video of these bouts.

Others who might have information on this, being highly ranked kenshi and fencers, would be Gordon Warner Sensei and Benjamin Hazard Sensei.

[gueremaisse]

yeah i agree its hard to compare the two, when talking about two arts its hard to say completely one is superior over the other. Hey but its kendo vs fencing, of course we would own those bouncing fags, they should join ballet.

Perfect example of why real names in sigs should be required.

[Pmeidstc]

I saw someone with a "kendo vs fencing" picture and it seemed rather interesting to me.

I was wondering who do YOU think would win?

Heres what ive got so far..
Fencing Pros: 1. lighter, more flexible sabre, allowing attack from unexpected angles.
Kendo Pros: 1. More damage potential. 2. heavier shinai wouldnt be blockable with the flimsy sabre.

There was an article online i saw about "Samurai vs. Ranaissance Rapierist" That gave me some more insights into benefits and pitfalls of both sides... your opinions??

I have tried both sports, and they are both very advanced technically, i do train kendo for now.

Its very much about witch rules you follow.in Fencing rules for example, all parts of the body is viable, but only stabs are valid.

[Immonnaornach]

Kendo by nature has much less stategic development than Fencing. The rules of Kendo do not allow for the development of distance for the purpose of timing techniques such as stop hits, feints, retreating in order to draw your opponent in closer for a quick reversal and attack.

Please explain this statement because I don't understand what you're talking about. There is such a thing as match strategy in kendo. And it is possible to learn during the course of a match, in particular with regards to distance. Furthermore, one does feint, retreat and draw in your opponents in kendo.

I don't understand the distinction that you are trying to make.

[Hujkmlopes]

I have both fenced and I practice kendo. The distinction I am trying to make would be hard to understand by anyone who has not fenced. Kendo of course has nuki waza and uses a lot of timing. Kendo however has very specific rules about how a target should be hit. In fencing points are scored regardless of whether the technique is delivered in good form with all the concerns that kendo has. I will give an example to try to clarify my point. In kendo one never really backs up beyond maybe a step, in fencing you may retreat many steps. This retreat could vary in speed and gait to throw off your opponents timing or sense of distance. This could be used to execute a stop thrust. This ideally is performed in the middle of the beat of your opponents rhythym to strike the opponent in mid step when he can neither attack or defend. Their are many techniques in fencing that utilise this sense of space. Kendo does not utilise space that much.

[CoallyPax]

Kendo does not utilise space that much.

I just returned from what is essentially the Nat'l Kumdo Championships in Denver (250+ participants - The Bong Rim Gi) and I couldn't disagree more. Kendo uses space differently. In kendo, one cannot fleche off the court and lose nothing. In fencing, you cannot stay on the piste and move past your opponent. In most bouts the entire court was used; which is rare, for instance, in an epee bout.

Both arts depend on distance and timing: while the weapons and the rules create variables that defy reasonable comparison.

[QqJamxqP]

Perfect example of why real names in sigs should be required.

whats the point in having names in sigs? so you could find me one day and kill me?

[prowsnobswend]

whats the point in having names in sigs? so you could find me one day and kill me?

So we would know who you are and be able to associate a real person with the things they write. Do you have a problem being associated with what you write?

[lammaredder]

yeah i agree its hard to compare the two, when talking about two arts its hard to say completely one is superior over the other. Hey but its kendo vs fencing, of course we would own those bouncing fags, they should join ballet.

Don't put people down if they like fencing, it's like putting you down for liking kendo.

[Eeaquzyh]

So we would know who you are and be able to associate a real person with the things they write. Do you have a problem being associated with what you write?

I agree Paikea.