Kendo Kata, another meaning
There are a few general explanations for the meaning of kendo kata, I think there is another meaning for why there similar kame and movements for both attacking and responding opponents and why only countering techniques are used to win. Firstly, the sometimes identical kamae movements of both (opponents) shidachi (attacking) and uchidachi (responding) are the ancient kamae responses to the attacking opponents (uchidachi) initiating kamae, each kamae cancels out the other until one attacks. Secondly, It would have been easy to incorporate a combination of winning attack movements as well as countering movements into kendo kata yet none of the winning attack striking methods are included. Emphasizing counter attacks shows the attitude of the “life giving sword” an attitude of allowing the opponent to attack and to win by another means, that can only be reached by transcending the “death dealing sword” or (destroy the opponent by any means) as described by Yagyu Munenori founder of the “no sword” school of kendo and the book “The book of the Shinkage-Ryu Martial Arts”. The same (three to five) kendo kata is practiced by the lowest ranking kendoka as well as the highest ranking sensei, the lesson and practice is clearly of the “life giving sword”.