Switzerland
Descent
Kendō did not arise alongside the Koryū but out of them. When Bōgu (armour) and Shinai (bamboo sword) appeared in the 18th and 19th centuries, the schools could for the first time face each other at full force without injuring one another. Schools such as Chiba Shūsaku's Hokushin Ittō-ryū drove this development on and held competitions across school boundaries.
After the Meiji Restoration the rules were unified; out of the contest between many Ryūha came a shared discipline. That is why Kendō stands here: as gendai budō with an immediately Koryū descent.
What is trained
Basics (kihon), partner practice, free fighting (jigeiko) and competition (shiai). Strikes are made to four fixed targets — head, wrist, torso and throat. Only what is carried out with correct posture, cutting line and intent is scored: ki-ken-tai-ichi, spirit, sword and body in one moment.
To this is added the Nihon Kendō Kata with the wooden sword — ten forms that keep the connection to the old Kenjutsu open.
Where training takes place
The federation keeps the club list. It looks after Kendō, Iaidō and Jōdō together and is affiliated to the Zen Nippon Kendō Renmei as well as to the European and international Kendō federations.