| Sword fighting is a popular art in Martial arts. It is | | | | Different types of swords are used in training. |
| considered as a prominent art. | | | | Some of the swords which are by martial artists |
| Students who want to learn sword fighting can | | | | to start sword training: |
| start by enrolling themselves in a Japanese martial | | | | Shinai: This is a wooden sword which is made |
| arts training school where sword training is taught | | | | using long bamboo sticks which are tightly |
| or a school for Japanese sword training. | | | | bounded together with the help of a string. Kendo |
| The training at these schools starts with teaching | | | | uses shinai. |
| different sword arts to the students and the | | | | Bokken: This is another wooden sword which is |
| basics of handling different types of swords. | | | | commonly used for practicing in martial arts. |
| Different types of sword techniques taught at | | | | Typically, it is made up of Asian red oak but |
| the school include: | | | | beginners may use foam sparring bokkens. It is |
| Kenjutsu: It is a general term which is used for all | | | | typically used in kenjutsu but may also be used in |
| sword arts Japanese. In this technique, students | | | | Iaido. |
| are taught combative swordsmanship. | | | | Katana: is a curvy, long, single-edged sword and is |
| Kendo: This is the term used for 'way of sword'. | | | | one of the famous in Japanese sword fighting. |
| This technique teaches discipline. Kendo is very | | | | Unsharpened katanas are used in Iaido. |
| challenging and practiced by wearing traditional | | | | Iaito: This is a replica of real katanas and suitable if |
| styled Japanese clothes, armour for protection | | | | wants to practice katana. Used in Iaido. |
| and shinai. | | | | Shinai is used for sword sparring instead of |
| Iaido/Iaijutsu: This is an art of smoothly drawing | | | | katana or bokken due to safety reasons. |
| katana from sheath in controlled manner, then | | | | Always remember safety is very much |
| using it to get rid of opponent, cleaning blood off | | | | important. Thus, training is started with safe |
| katana and finally placing back in sheath. | | | | weapons. Lots of practice is needed in order to |
| Before a student can actually start fighting with | | | | master a technique before actually working with |
| real blade, training is given using 'wooden swords'. | | | | real, live blade swords. |