Real samurai don't wear makeup (12 photos)

Modern practitioners of kendo continue an ancient tradition begun by samurai warriors.

Unlike their ancient predecessors, they do not wear makeup, says Brian Lampe, who is introducing the time-honoured martial art to the Sault.

Samurai, Lampe says, used to wear makeup to protect their faces from green marks that might transfer from their copper masks.

They needed their faces to look clear and free from fear or weakness if their heads were taken by their enemies.

Today's kendo practitioners have quietly set aside the makeup tradition.

But they do carefully remove their masks and hold them in front of their faces while they wipe away any perspiration before exposing their faces.

Lampe is the instructor to the Algoma Kendo Club and he spoke to SooToday.com during a weekend demonstration.

While members of the local club can expect to keep their cosmetic-free heads firmly attached to their bodies, they can also expect to be well and thoroughly schooled in the samurai way of the sword.

Instead of large, sharp, metal samurai swords, students of kendo usually use bokuto (wooden sword-shaped weapons), katanas (real swords made with a little less edge) and shiani (practise swords made from bamboo, metal and leather).

They train once a week in several different forms of the art and they spar with each other.

Sometimes they also compete.

Winners are determined by the number of points achieved and points are achieved by completing strikes on the target called, with good form and obvious intent, said Lampe.

The Algoma Kendo Club held the demonstration to raise awareness of the sport and its availability in the Sault and to attract new students, he said.

In Japanese culture, kendo holds an honoured place not unlike that of hockey in Canada, but it's somewhat unusual to find a kendo club in Northern Ontario communities.

Lampe hopes to promote his beloved way of the sword to a level that would one day allow the Sault to host a North American kendo tournament, maybe even on an annual basis.

For more information on the Algoma Kendo Club visit its website.