Kendo has been empowering women with confidence, strength and community. Discover how it can help you do the same.

The first person to teach me about kendo (traditional Japanese fencing) was ‌a high school girl. She was in her school’s kendo club and even brought in parts of her armor, such as the helmet and chest piece. I was so amazed and in awe of her passion and strength. Later, after meeting my husband and his family, I learned that not only was he in kendo, but his mother and sister practiced kendo. In fact, his mother still practices at a local police station. I discovered a surprisingly large number of women are practicing, and International Women’s Month is the perfect opportunity to delve into its history and encourage others.

A Brief History

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/iStock-2188554389.jpg)Women of the samurai class were also trained to fight

Throughout history, women have often been erased, and Japan is no exception. Most people who think of samurai rarely think of women or the roles they played. However, women of the samurai class were also trained to fight. They were taught to use polearms and tasked with defending their homes against attacks by other factions.

It wasn’t until later in 1952, after World War II, that the All Japan Kendo Federation was established and kendo was reintroduced into schools. Not much longer after that, in 1962, the first All Japan Women’s Kendo Championship took place, with eight competitors participating.

Today, that number has reached nearly 600,000 women among the 2 million registered members, making up nearly 30%. Globally, this figure is slightly below average for sports, but improvements are underway, albeit gradually. Women referees, though lacking, have been growing in numbers and women have also taken positions as teachers.

Why Kendo is Empowering for Women

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/pixta_31863588_M.jpg)A great opportunity to connect with Japanese traditions

Kendo emphasizes timing and posture rather than brute force. Techniques and scoring can be confusing at first, but they level the playing field between men and women. If you’re like me and are terrible at sports, kendo can be a great opportunity to connect with Japanese traditions without having to throw someone larger than you to the ground.

After asking my husband about the point system, he said it isn’t always clear. Getting a point for hitting someone is mostly based on how loudly the person is yelling and the strength of their spirit rather than how hard they are hitting. Kendo is about embodying confidence.

“All of her hard work paid off, and she felt a sense of exhilaration through competition, both in her local ward and throughout Tokyo.”

I asked my mother-in-law what she loved about kendo, and she told me that winning a match left her feeling empowered. All of her hard work paid off, and she felt a sense of exhilaration through competition, both in her local ward and throughout Tokyo.

She first started kendo at 35 after watching her son, my husband, practice for two years. To inspire her daughter to do kendo, they joined the class together. Ever since then, she’s attended kendo lessons nearly every week. She told me that kendo is hard, but anyone can do it if they’re passionate about trying.

Where to Practice Kendo in Japan

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](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/pixta_119292869_M.jpg)There are countless dojo and classes available in Tokyo

Joining a club in a foreign country can raise many questions and concerns. Will the dojo accept foreigners? How much Japanese do I really need? How will my presence as a woman be received? Am I too old to start kendo?

The good news is that there are countless dojo and classes available in Tokyo. Some of them are even run by foreigners, so you know they’ll be open and accepting. As for locally run dojo, many of them are happy to accept anyone who is willing to respect kendo and take the lessons seriously.

Even better, mitorikeiko (learning from observing) is a common practice in martial arts. You can make a request to simply watch a training session to see if the atmosphere, teacher’s methods, and number of students are a good fit for you.

I asked my mother-in-law about what she thought was the best way to find a dojo. Here’s her advice:

• Check your local neighborhood near your house

• A small dojo can be better, providing a tight-knit community

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions to learn more and show interest

• Kendo can be learned by watching and copying, which means a high proficiency in Japanese isn’t a must

KendoJinko offers detailed lists by area. You can check whether the dojo accepts foreigners and whether it offers lessons for students starting from zero.

If you’re still too nervous to go outright, there are foreign-owned dojo in Tokyo. Kendo Spirit and Kyumeikan are aimed at foreigners interested in learning kendo. However, I highly recommend joining a local dojo at some point, as it builds community and helps you improve your Japanese.

What You Need to Get Started

[

](https://cdn.savvytokyo.com/app/uploads/2026/03/iStock-2111819270.jpg)Seeing a kendo lesson in person rather than on TV can feel different.

As a beginner, you might not need a set of armor at the get-go. During your observation visit, you can watch a training session to decide if kendo is something you’re still interested in trying. Seeing a kendo lesson in person rather than on TV can feel different. Plus, mitorikeiko doesn’t cost you anything!

During the start of your training, you won’t be required to buy anything except for a shinai (bamboo sword) and workout clothes. Some dojo might even provide a shinai.

As a beginner advancing forward in your training, you can purchase kendogi (traditional kendo top) and hakama (formal Japanese pants). These typically go under bogu (armor sets) to absorb sweat and help keep the armor clean.

Entire sets of armor can be costly. Here are some well-known shops that specialize in kendo armor and can provide you with everything you need on your learning journey.

• https://alljapanbudogu.world

• https://www.moribudo.co.jp

• https://tsubasabudogu.com

Whether you are younger or older, athletic or simply looking to become healthier, kendo is the perfect way to challenge yourself. Rooted in tradition, kendo offers women in Japan a unique opportunity to strengthen both their bodies and minds.

Have you ever considered trying a traditional Japanese martial art? Let us know by leaving a comment.