Kenjutsu vs Mixed martial arts
Kenjutsu and Mixed martial arts side by side, from the facts recorded for each art.
| Kenjutsu | Mixed martial arts | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan | — |
| Type | bujutsu | combat sport |
| Notable practitioners here | 2 | 2071 |
| Top countries of practitioners | France and Japan | United States, Brazil and Japan |
| Equipment and weapons | — | glove, mouthguard, breeches and helmet |
| Weight classes | — | Yes |
Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu (剣術) is an umbrella term for all (ko-budō) schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Kenjutsu is a martial art that puts more emphasis on various real-life sword combat scenarios, compared with its modern adaptation, kendo, which has evolved into a modern sport with fewer target areas and attack patterns and more rules. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also include modern forms of kenjutsu in their curriculum. Kenjutsu, which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan, means "sword techniques", as opposed to kendo, which means "the way of the sword".
From the Wikipedia article Kenjutsu (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
From the Wikipedia article Mixed martial arts (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Facts from Wikidata (CC0): Q249608, Q114466. Practitioner counts are the people with a profile on this site. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.