How Dangerous are Kendo Strikes with a Sharp Katana?

Or to put it differently, would a Kendoka be ready for a zombie apocalypse? Nah, it doesn't always have to be zombies...

Kendo can be seen as a sporterized relative of Kenjutsu, the traditional Japanese art of sword fighting. Sort of like Olympic fencing and historical rapier fencing, although that may not be an entirely accurate comparison. Either way, the focus on speed and comparatively light contact (or so it may seem) makes some people doubt its martial validity.

Personally I don't have a dog in the fight either way, but I was curious to see what a katana might do to a ballistic gel dummy head with one of those quick strikes, and my friend Sindri offered to help with his Kendo experience.
The skulls are anatomically correct and pretty realistic overall, although the gel doesn't simulate flesh and skin very well.

I also tried a lunging thrust with a narrow bladed Spanish rapier, which turned out better than I expected (the second attempt, that is).

And finally he went to town with a large two-handed cutting sword, to finish off the mayhem.

The swords shown here:

Shirasaya / Shikomizue by Hanwei
(affiliate link)

Tizona - 17th century Spanish cup-hilt rapier by LK Chen
(affiliate link)

Battle-ready version of Inosuke's serrated sword from the Demon Slayer anime series

Supreme Cutter Classic by Lancelot Chan

The head analog:

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Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
Used with artist's permission

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#skallagrim #sword #katana #test #kendo

[wsxc]

As you can see, my brain blocked the cut, so I'm pretty sure I'm good and Kendo has been debunked.

[francescogulisano]

Turns out, it doesn't take much to hurt people with a sharp metal object designed to hurt people

[unshackledjester]

"I got him in the jaw muscle, which is pretty rude"-Proceeds to immediately stab him in the eye-

[PasqualItizzz]

The blue blood indicates this was the head of a nobleman or possibly a lobster 🦞

[highlandoutsider]

Can you imagine being the UPS guy reading that email? " I just recently had a head delivered and its neck was broken" 😐😅

[stopkins]

Sloppy left handed lunge it is... Proceeds to make perfect strike on his second attempt

[supremeduckissupremetheduc]

I think people like to over-estimate just how durable we are to any sort of force multiplier. An axe, a sword, a hammer, even just a sturdy stick or branch but be super deadly even with relatively little strength put behind it

[Ramash]

When I was a beginner in kendo I stupidly wanted to see how safe a shinai really was. I asked a friend to hit me VERY weakly in the head with no helmet and it still made my ears ring. Since then I've never really doubted the effects a kendo strike would have with a real sword. I've also never asked someone to hit me with no armor again, what the hell was I thinking?!

[tcuegonbear]

Physical therapists HATE this one simple trick.

[A._is_for]

How much damage can ken do if ken can do kendo?

[comradesoupbeans]

It seems like kendo is a lot like boxing. It has been sporterized and has some blind spots because of it, but it's still very much not something you'd want to face.

[tn]

Sir Rutherford Alcock, British doctor and Consul General to Japan (1809 - 1897) "I have seen many a battlefield, " "but of sabre wounds I never saw any so horrible. One man had his skull shorn clean through from the back and half the head sliced off to the spine, while his limbs only hung together by shreds." "They have attained the climax of dexterity. The sword is always carried at the side, and adepts in the use of it wound the moment it is drawn." "The fatal stroke, upwards, is given in the act of drawing. Hence, placing the hand on the hilt is equivalent to presenting a cocked revolver, and if the assailant is not disabled in the act it is too late for defence."

[calebbraun]

The anime, over serrated katana was a really effective club

[zachariahtaylor]

For the elbow tendinitis
I see the wrap. If you don’t already, get a wrist brace, wear it comfortably to bed (locks out any unnecessary “sleep stretching” on the affected tendons) trust me they will heal faster.

Fresh sliced pineapple, not canned. (vitamin c = good collagen boost)

Had my first tendinitis issue in April earlier this year (bad Olympic lifting technique coupled with the Highland Games and work did). A month went by and it felt like it was only getting worse, until I bought both an elbow wrap (wore that a Lot) and the wrist wrap (went from combined wearing to just wearing at while sleeping.)

I noticed the relief in the mornings, treated it gingerly through the days over the weeks, noticed grip strength was returning (measured using hand grips) and range of motion while gripping tools and sticks (also pain free)

If you read this far, hope this helps, may you have a fast recovery, looking forward to more of your content.

[emiellepotgieter]

Honestly that first cut would probably make them reconsider already, and after that second cut... Yeah, it's probably over.

[dlatrexswords]

Love these demos showcasing how sporting/mid combat strikes still can pack a wallop. We don't need to swing all the way 180 degrees to land a fight ending injury with a strongly cutting sword!

Great thrust by you Skall with that rapier. Always welcome more penetration testing.

[ethandudeman]

4:04 the fifties are calling they want their medical procedure back

[theaikidoka]

At 2:00 - yup, he be dead. That was worryingly fast and light and yet did horrible things to the target. Fighting someone is bad enough when both people are barehanded, but weapons change things totally.

[TheWhiteDragon]

Matt Easton from Scholagladiatora has a whole video dedicated to how quick light little cuts are perfectly valid and even a necessary part of any martial art. Even if it's just a light little flick, if you can cut the tendons in his arm, your opponent can't hold a sword anymore (or anything for that matter).

[crimsonfoxfluxule]

3:30
One of the best rapier pokes I've ever seen. Exactly what was intended, precise and efficient.