The Japanese sword arts FAQ 14.
Many people practice kendo with little or no tournament experience.
Many sensei discourage focussing on tournaments, and specifically discourage degrading technique to a tournament-oriented style. Having said that, competition is a big part of kendo. Herein is a brief description of tournament rules. A match is held in a square area from 9 to 11 metres a side. Scoring is best two of three points, similar to traditional karate.