In modern Kendo, there are two types of attacks: strikes and trusts. Strikes are usually allowed to only three points on the body, the top of the head, the right and left of side bodies, and the forearms. Thrusts are usually permitted only to the throat. Unlike Western fencing where the two opponents show each other only their sides, in Kendo the opponents stand face to face and these four striking areas were chosen.

In competitive matches, it is not enough for a shinai (bamboo sword) to just touch the opponent; points are awarded only when the attacks are done properly to the exact target with good control and a yell, or Kiai. The first person to win two points wins the match.

As of 2000, several million people practice Kendo in Japan, including about 1.2 million who have been awarded a rank-Dan in the art. Today about one million practitioners abroad enjoy Kendo.

Kendo is an important part of Japanese school physical education. There are some extracurricular clubs at the elementary school level. At the junior high school and high school levels, Kendo is practiced as a regular physical education class activity and is an optional extracurricular club activity. Kendo is also a regular physical education course elective at the university level and almost every university in Japan has a Kendo club or team that interested students may choose to join as an extracurricular activity. Recent statistics show an increasing number of women who practice Kendo.The International Kendo Federation (IKF) has members in 41 countries (as of 2000). The international championships have been held once every three years since 1970..