Kyoka Hinami dons her protective armor, completing the outfit with an imposing helmet, and picks up her “shinai” sword. She lines up with her opponent, sees in his stance that his left wrist is open for attack, and leaps forward while simultaneously slicing her sword down upon his wrist.

This is the Japanese martial art of Kendo. Hinami, the captain of the UW Kendo Club, meets with about 35 members twice a week at the IMA to train in this ancient sword fighting art.

Kendo is a martial art with a focus on mastering the technique of using a bamboo sword to defeat an opponent who also wields a bamboo sword. Fancy footwork, speed and reacting to nuanced movements of opponents are important aspects of Kendo.

“I think Kendo is one of those things that really focuses on the individual,” Hinami said. “You have to improve yourself to be on par with others and you have to earn your own respect, and it teaches you a lot about yourself.”

The martial art of Kendo originated in feudal Japan at a time when samurai warriors were often engaged in deadly combat with each other. Kendo became a way for these warriors to practice their sword skills.

Today, the sport continues to link its heritage to this violent past through aesthetically similar sword fighting matches. Kendo is played as a match between two opposing “kenshi,” meaning sword fighters. Three judges circle around the kenshi and award points when sword hits are made to the wrists, chest, head and sometimes the throat in matches involving advanced kenshi.

The merit of a point often involves not only the hit, but the technique of the hit and the aggressiveness shown in the fighter’s voice. The matches tend to be noisy because the kenshi vigorously scream when attacking in order to intimidate the opponent.

“You have to scream because it’s the only thing really showing our spirit and how much we want to achieve that point,” Hinami said. “The scream really emphasizes the effort.”

Kenshi spend most of their time improving their skills. They utilize 10 “kata,” which are the essential forms and movements of kendo. These kata are internalized through repetitive practice with another kenshi who use a wooden “bokken” sword and trade off being attacker and defender.

“What we’re really practicing are the different underlying scenarios behind our attacks,” Hinami said. “There’s all sorts of history behind it, but it kind of keeps us connected to that basis of Kendo. The form has not changed.”

Although Kendo and European fencing both involve swords, they’re different.

“I would definitely say it is a lot more violent than Western style fencing,” Hinami said. “It is really physical. As soon as we make a strike, we’re going in there full body, full force.”

Kendo involves armor and a helmet, which is stylized to resemble a samurai’s armor. The usage of armor alleviates the need to be gentle with an opponent—the sword blows are powerful. The armor, however, protects the fighter well.

Elizabeth Marsten, whose brother, father and uncle are all involved in Kendo, has never seen a broken bone in her 20 years of experience. The worst injuries that happen are usually bruises to unarmored areas of the body, she said.

“We all practice knowing that there [are] a little bit of risks involved,” Hinami said. “We haven’t had any major accidents in God knows how long.”

That isn’t to say, however, that Kendo is a sport where being hit can be avoided. Beginners usually practice without armor and do not start full contact kendo until they begin to wear armor. But as soon as the armor is on, hits to the body are to be expected.

Sometimes, people can be intimidated out of the sport by the inherent aggressiveness of the sword fighting.

“People may come in for a week or two and decide it’s not for them and they leave, and that’s okay,” Hinami said. “We understand that it’s not for everybody.”

Kenshi practice together at a dojo and are instructed by a “sensei,” meaning teacher. In the case of the UW Kendo Club, the kenshi are instructed by several senseis.

“I enjoy working with the new students,” said David Yotsuuye, UW alumnus and frequent sensei for the UW Kendo Club. “It’s constantly changing because of the turnover. All the beginners are coming in with no background.”

The club draws in students from various ethnicities and cultures. Freshman Loren Taylor joined at the start of winter quarter because she liked “the fact that it takes a lot of concentration. It’s the most graceful martial art.”

The kenshi there benefit from all being roughly the same age and approximately the same skill level, said Jeff Marsten Jr., Elizabeth Marsten’s brother. Marsten Jr. contrasted this situation with the age and skill gap found at other local community centers where kendo is practiced.

The UW Kendo Club regularly participates in regional matches. Members also sharpen their skills at practices and can eventually appear before a panel of judges to attain a higher rank, which means they have achieved the next level of technical skill.

Members usually buy their own swords, which are normally about $25. The swords, however, must be wrapped up or put in a bag. Marsten said police have confiscated the wooden “bokken” swords used for kata practice.

Since Kendo is a martial art that builds upon past skills, the club usually only accepts beginning students during the first two weeks of every quarter.

The UW Kendo Club has regional ties with many local area kenshi and often has international visitors. Kendo tends to have many regional variants, so visiting sensei or kenshi can often teach or learn from the locals.

“Kendo is really different depending on where you practice it,” Hinami said. “In Japan, the way they teach their students is a lot more aggressive and they practice a lot more frequently than we do in the States.…Every dojo has their own way of doing things.”

Despite regional differences, the martial art of kendo is united through the same underlying concepts. The beauty of the technique, the accuracy of the swordplay and the technical skill of the hit all combine to become what Hinami calls “the spirit, the sword, the body as one.”

[Reach reporter Andrew Doughman at features@thedaily.washington.edu.]