Kendo is a Japanese martial sport in which protagonists dressed in the traditional attire of Hakama (split skirt) and Kendo-gi (training top), use Shinai (bamboo swords) as they compete to strike four specific areas on the opponent’s Bogu (armour).

The International Kendo Federation (FIK) was established in 1970 and the first triennial World Kendo Championships (WKC) was held in the Nippon Budokan in the same year. In May 2015, the 16th WKC was held in Tokyo Japan, in which Kendo practitioners from 56 different countries and regions participated. As of January 2017, 57 countries and regions are FIK affiliates.

The responsibilities of the FIK as the international federation representing Kendo are immense. As Kendo features in the international sports arena, the FIK is tasked with ensuring that Kendo athletes understand the spiritual culture of Kendo while seeking approaches to solidify the competitive aspects, and spread this collective wisdom to all corners of the world