Why kendō’s game rules are too complex for the Olympics: moral value and body culture in a game of honor

Abstract

This article explores body culture in kendō, a Japanese sword-fighting martial art, which features a moral framework and subtleties of honor that set it apart from other modern competitive games. As the globalization of jūdō established the precedent of including martial arts in the Olympic games, kendō garnered media attention as the next potential Olympic martial art. Many kendō practitioners reject inclusion in the Olympics, however, arguing that conforming to Olympic standards would undermine the esthetic values and spirit of kendō. Based on one year of fieldwork studying kendō practices in Hong Kong, I use practitioners’ narratives to explain why this is the case. This article explains the dynamics and complexity in judging kendō matches, which marks the sport as a game of honor. I argue that kendō’s judging philosophy operates within a moral framework and that practitioners adopt embodied honor codes to win by earning esteem and respect.