Kendo “Way of Sword” is based on traditional kenjutsu. Since earliest samurai government in Japan, during Kamakura period (11851333), sword fighting, horse riding & archery, were martial pursuits of military clans. Kendo developed under strong influence of Zen Buddhism. The samurai could equate disregard for his own life in heat of battle, which was considered necessary for victory in individual combat, to Buddhist concept of illusory nature of distinction between life & death. Colorized
