Well, Kendo is a competitive sport developed out of the martial arts of the Samurai.
It is more ritualized and the rules center more on a correct hit, on "ki, ken tai ichi", "zanshin" and perfection than on killing somebody.
I suppose the real samurai gave a **** about the perfect unity of kiai, strike, footwork and mind and just gutted their opponent at the first opportunity.
The Katas are more like traditional Swordfighting, but Kendo is a bit like fencing, at least like Fencing before the invention of electric hit counting suits.
Still, you're pretty much handling the Shinai as if it were a sword, like turning the thing while striking sideways in order to hit the enemy with the nonexisting "blade" of the bamboo.
But compared to fencing it is still a lot more agressive, involves a whole lot more movement (field is square, not a planche like in fencing).
There are alternate schools teaching different Kendo stances as well, like a wholly different Kamae.
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