Kendo in Sikkim

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Siasat Daily — Kendo India Federation programme coverage, Kendo India Federation (Facebook), International Kendo Federation (kendo-fik.org)).

Overview

Governing body: All India Kendo Federation
Origin: Feudal Japan
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Kendo is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The All India Kendo Federation oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Kendo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The All India Kendo Federation runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Kendo typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Kendo originated in Feudal Japan, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Kendo, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the All India Kendo Federation, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Kendo is played and developed across India under the All India Kendo Federation, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How kendo evolved globally and took root in India.

Kendo traces its modern origins to Feudal Japan. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and All India Kendo Federation is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, kendo grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under All India Kendo Federation, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Kendo sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Scholarships & Funding

Central, state and private scholarships available for kendo athletes in India.

Khelo India Talent Development Scheme (KISCE)
Monthly stipend (₹10,000 for Khelo India athletes), boarding, coaching and kit at accredited centres for identified kendo talent (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports).
Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
Central government scheme covering training, foreign exposure, equipment and out-of-pocket allowance (up to ₹50,000/month) for medal-prospect kendo athletes; administered by the Mission Olympic Cell.
National Sports Development Fund (NSDF)
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports fund used to sponsor elite kendo athletes' training, foreign coaches and equipment.
Pension for Meritorious Sportspersons
Lifetime monthly pension (₹20,000 for Olympic/World/Asian/CWG medallists; scaled by tier) for retired kendo internationals — Government of India.

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Indian Players

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Rules

Kendo is Japanese fencing practised with a bamboo shinai and protective bogu armour. Bouts (shiai) are usually three to five minutes, and the first competitor to score two valid points (ippon) wins; one point decides it if time expires. A valid strike (yuko-datotsu) requires correct cutting with the striking portion of the shinai, correct posture and spirit (ki-ken-tai-ichi: spirit, sword and body as one), a clear shout (kiai) naming the target, and alert follow-through (zanshin). Legal targets are men (head/side of head), kote (wrist), do (torso side) and tsuki (throat thrust, usually restricted to adults). Three judges (shinpan) each raise flags; two agreeing flags award the point. Grades run through kyu and dan ranks awarded at formal grading examinations.

Authoritative rulebook: All India Kendo Federation. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a kendo squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in kendo at a federation-recognised event.

Shinai — split bamboo sword (bokuto/bokken used for kata)
Men — helmet with faceguard and throat flap
Kote — padded gloves protecting wrists and hands
Do — chest protector
Tare — waist and hip protector
Keikogi jacket and hakama; tenugui headcloth worn under the men
Practised barefoot on a wooden dojo floor

Governing body

National federation

All India Kendo Federation

All India Kendo Federation is the recognised national body for Kendo in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for kendo. State associations under All India Kendo Federation run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: Feudal Japan
Olympic: No
Category: Combat

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the kendo calendar in India.

Kendo in India
Organized around dojos and cultural-exchange programmes rather than a large-scale national championship structure. The Kendo India Federation (Hyderabad) — founded by Prof. Dr. Siddiq Mahmoodi, who has practiced martial arts since the mid-1970s and dedicated himself to kendo since 1999 — was the country's first dedicated kendo centre.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in kendo.

World Kendo Championships
Kendo is governed globally by the International Kendo Federation (FIK, formed 1970, over 60 member countries/regions), which organizes the World Kendo Championships every three years — historically dominated by Japan and South Korea. India's participation at this event could not be confirmed; the sport's presence in India currently centres on grassroots instruction rather than international competition.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for kendo. The national championship under All India Kendo Federation remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised kendo athletes to know outside India.

Mikaela Mayer (USA) / Naoya Inoue (Japan)
World-title boxers headlining the current pro scene.
Islam Makhachev (Russia)
UFC lightweight champion.
Zaur Uguev (Russia)
Two-time Olympic and multiple-time World wrestling champion.
Kim Yu-Jin (South Korea)
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
Uta Abe (Japan)
Olympic and World judo champion.

Records

Where to find India's official kendo record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Kendo is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in kendo are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the All India Kendo Federation.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in kendo are maintained by the All India Kendo Federation.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for kendo and mirrored by All India Kendo Federation.
National record holdersFederation register
All India Kendo Federation publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in kendo — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Kendo's development in India has been driven substantially by individual instructors bridging Japanese and Indian martial culture — Prof. Dr. Siddiq Mahmoodi was awarded honorary citizenship of Miyoshi, Japan (2006) for his services to the sport
Playing pathway currently runs through dojo-level instruction rather than a formalized national competitive ladder; as the sport grows, coaching and cultural-exchange roles are the clearest available pathway

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Related academies

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for kendo athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about kendo in India.

Who governs Kendo in India?▾

All India Kendo Federation is the recognised national federation for Kendo in India. State associations under All India Kendo Federation run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Kendo an Olympic sport?▾

Kendo is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by All India Kendo Federation.

How do I start playing Kendo in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Kendo athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Kendo?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Kendo athletes selected for international events?▾

All India Kendo Federation runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Kendo in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Kendo in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Kendo