Fitness for Kendo
by Aaron Hendrickson, ISSA-CSCS, CPT, RP CNC
Fitness can be confusing.
As a Sport Nutrition and Strength & Conditioning coach, it’s easy to see that misinformation and misapplication is very common in the fitness industry as a whole. Many people don’t make contact with fitness professionals, but when you do it has the potential to be a total game changer in the way you train, view nutrition, and manage recovery in a way that finally gets you the results you wanted. That’s why I was excited to be a part of this blog!
A few lines from the AJKF’s purpose of kendo is to mold the mind and body, and through correct and rigid training to forever pursue the cultivation of oneself. Most of you reading this are under the correct guidance of your sensei for kendo. But what of your health? Do you really know how to correctly exercise for your specific goal? Do you really know how to use nutrition to support health and performance, or when to relax & recover and when to push hard?
The world of fitness can be overwhelming and confusing for the average person, especially when it comes to specific sports like kendo. With so many training approaches available – from bodybuilding, powerlifting, plyometrics, endurance work, and even CrossFit – it’s easy to feel lost. Questions like “How many reps should I do? What weight should I use?” or “How often should I train?” “Should I be running? Should I be doing 1000 suburi/day?” are common, and the answers aren’t always straightforward. This confusion often stems from a misunderstanding or ignorance of the SAID principle (Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands). This principle states that our bodies adapt specifically to the type of demand we place on them. However, with the multitude of fitness trends and contradicting advice out there, it can be challenging to determine which way to train will best serve your kendo practice. Should you focus on pure strength? Endurance? Explosive power?
While the easiest way is to reach out to a coach like me who can design a plan specific to your level and needs, I understand that’s not always possible for everyone. So I hope to provide practical advice through this blog with a diverse audience in mind, considering:
- Who might benefit from a certain approach
- Who should probably avoid that approach
- How to apply these ideas to enhance your overall health or sport performance
I’ve been around kendo in some capacity since 2017, having the opportunity to train in Nebraska, Kansas, jointly with the Midwest, New Zealand, and Australia. While I’m far from a teacher of kendo and am at best a senpai to the beginners, I do know very well how to train and eat outside the dojo to maximize your ability to perform, and ability to learn new skills during practice from a scientific perspective at all levels from beginners to advanced competitors.