[QUOTE]Originally posted by TriBob
[B]Kendo is not really a self defense art. Kendo is the sport version of Kenjutsu just like Judo is the sport version of jujutsu. It is a great workout and will increase agility, timing, and reflexes. Yes, it is hard to find Kendo schools in the US.

WHAT???
Before we go on further here let us define a "martial art." The word martial can be defined as pertaining to war or to the armed services, warlike, military. Art can be defined as skill; a human skill as opposed to nature. Is Kendo a "martial art?" Yes it indeed it is. What is Kendo? The practice of swordplay that was used by the Samurai. Is Kendo used as a sport? Yes it indeed is can it be used as self defense? ABSOLUTELY!!! The teaching of Kendo and one who practices Kendo is equally adept at defending him or herself. It is like any other "martial art". There can be a sport or kata version and there can be a combat version. A true Kendo dojo would be instruction in how to use a sword. If a real sword were placed in the hands of a practitioner of Kendo he or she should be able to utilize that weapon with an amount of proficiency capable of one's own defense.
Last but not least lets define Kendo. Kendo is defined as "the way of the sword." Kenjutsu is defined as "the art of the sword."

http://www.sfn.saskatoon.sk.ca/sports/kendo/about.html
http://www.bl.physik.tu-muenchen.de/...ido/node2.html
http://www.kendo-usa.org/abtken.htm
http://www.bl.physik.tu-muenchen.de/...ido/node4.html
http://www.koryubooks.com/guide/kenjutsu.html
http://www.kazearashiryu.org/armed.htm