Let's look at a number of martial arts from each of these groups. Japanese Text Present-day Budo Kendo Kendo is a competitive sport. Like European fencing, the ancient art of Japanese swordsmanship lives on as a sport today.
Fencers hold the foil in one hand, while in kendo the shinai is generally held in both hands.
Kendo is as popular in Japan as judo, with about two million players. Like judo, it is taught in schools and often practiced as an extracurricular activity. The International Kendo Federation was established in 1970, and about eight million people now practice kendo outside Japan. In 1882, judo was adapted by Kano Jigoro from the ancient art of jujutsu . Judo is a form of unarmed combat that involves overcoming one's opponent by, for example, throwing, pinning or holding him, or locking his joints.