Terminology

The following is a listing of some of the more common terms in Kendo.

The list is by no means exhaustive, but it is extensive enough to cover the majority of terms and terminology a Kendoka should require.

When a definition has a term in Bold Font, this term appears in this listing as its own entry. Terms which are in Italics are direct translations from the original Japanese language.

1.1 Counting in Japanese

The following is a list of the English numbers one through ten in their equivalent Japanese. Following that are the Japanese terms to enumerate counting, namely “first”, “second”, and “third”, etc.

Ichi : One
Ni : Two
San : Three
Shi : Four
Go : Five
Roku : Six
Shichi: Seven
Hachi : Eight
Ku : Nine
Ju : Ten
Ipponme : First
Nihonme : Second
Sanbonme : Third
Yonhonme : Fourth
Gohonme : Fifth
Ropponme : Sixth
Nanahonme: Seventh

1.2 Courtesies and Commands

The following is a list of the common courtesies and commands used in a Kendo Dojo.

1.2.1 Courtesies

Arigato Gozaimashita :“Thank You” (for practicing with me)
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita :“Thank You” (very polite context)
Onigaishimasu : “Please” (practice with / teach me)
Otagai ni Rei : “Bow to your peers”
Sensei ni Rei : “Bow to the Sensei”
Shomen ni Rei : “Bow to the Shomen”

1.2.2 Commands

Hajime : Begin / Start
Kamae-To : Assume your Stance.
Men-Tore : Take off Your Men.
Men-Tsuke : Put on Your Your Men.
Mokuso : Meditation
Osame-To : Put away your Weapon.
Seiza : Assume Seiza, the Formal Sitting Position.
Seretsu : Line up.
Sonkyo : Assume Sonkyo, the Formal Crouching Position.
Yame : Stop.
Yasume : Break / Rest Period.

1.3 Common Terms

The following is a list of general Kendo terms.

Ai : (prefix) “Balanced”, (suffix) “Integration”
Aite : Opponent
Ai-Kakari Geiko : Both Kenkoka perform Kakari Geiko simultaneously.
Ashi : Foot
Ashi-Sabaki : Footwork.
Ayumi-Ashi : “Walking” Footwork
Bogu : Kendo Armor. See Men, Kote, Do, and Tare.
Bokuto : Wooden Practice Sword.
Chikama : A distance that is shorter than Issoku Itto
Chisai : Small
Chisai Waza : Small Techniques.
Chudan no Kamae : Mid Level Kamae. The “Kamae of Water”.
Chudan Hanmi no Kamae : A variant of Chudan no Kamae while using the Kodachi.
Daito : The Long Shinai used in Nito no Kamae.
Dan : Step or Level.
Datotsu : Strike or Thrust.
Datotsu Bu : The portion of the Shinai that strikes are made with. (The upper 1/3 above the Nakayui; the Monouchi.)
Datotsu Bui : Portion of the Bogu where one can attempt to land a strike.
De : “Coming out”
Debana Waza : Technique where one strikes as the Aite’s strike is being executed.
Do : Abdomen target / protector
Dojo : “Practice Hall”.
Fumi Komi : Lunging footwork practice.
Gedan no Kamae : Low Level Kamae. The “Kamae of Earth”.
Gedan Hanmi no Kamae : A variant of Gedan no Kamae while using the Kodachi.
Geiko : See Keiko.
Gi : The traditional practice shirt.
Gyaku : “Reversed” or “Opposite”.
Hakama : The traditional practice pants.
HaraiWaza : Waza where one strikes the opponents Shinai to create a Suki.
Hasaki : “Cutting Edge”
Hasso no Kamae : Variant of Jodan no Kamae . “The Kamae of Wood”.
Haya Suburi : Jumping Suburi. Also referred to as Choyaku Suburi.
Hidari : Left (direction).
Hiki Waza : Techniques where ones strikes moving backwards.
Hiraki : verb, “To Open”.
Hiraki Ashi : Circular side steps.
Hirauchi : To Strike with the flat of the Shinai .
Huhree : Korean equivalent of Do.
Ichi Dan Suburi : One Step Suburi
Iri-Mi : The Fundamental Kodachi Kamae: the action of stepping into your Aite’s Maai.
Issoku Itto no Maai : Distance at which one can launch an attack (or evade one) in one step.
JiGeiko : Free sparring practice.
Jin-Bu : Portion of the Shinai below the Monouchi.
Jodan no Kamae : High Level Kamae. The “The Kamae of Fire”
Joge Buri : “Up-Down” Suburi
Kaeshi Waza : Waza where one receives the Aite’s Shinai and then counter attacks.
Kakari Geiko : All out sparring practice.
Kamae : Stance
Katate : “One-Handed”
Katate Waza : One-Handed Waza.
Katsugi Waza : “Shouldering the Sword” technique.
Keiko : “Practice”, “Training”, “Study”. Interchangable with Geiko.
Kendo : “The Way of the Sword”.
Kendoka : Kendo Student.
Kensen : Tip of the Shinai
Ki : “Spirit” or “Mental Energy”.
Kiai : Expression of spirit through your voice. “Energy Integration”
Kigurai : “Noble Presence, Bearing, Pride, Dignity”
Kihaku : “Spirit”
Kihon : “Basic”
Ki Ken Tai no Ichi : “Mind, Sword, and Body as One”
Kiri Kaeshi : Coordinated practice of Shomen, Tai-Atari, and Sayu-Men with an Aite.
Kisei : “Spirit, Vigor”
Kobushi : “Fist”.
Kodachi : The Short Sword used in the Nihon Kendo no Kata.
Kohai : “Junior student”.
Kokoro : “Spirit” or “Mind”, “Mental”.
Kokoro no Kamae : “Spiritual / Mental Stance”; A mindset or attitude.
Kote : “Fore-arm” target, Glove.
Ma : “Space”
Maai : Distance or Forward (direction). “Distance Integration”.
Men : Helmet, head target.
Metsuke : “Point of Observation”. “Enzan no Metsuke”: Fixing your eyes on a distant mountain.
Migi : Right (direction)
Monouchi : See Datotsu Bu
Morote : “Two-Handed”
Morote Waza : Two-Handed Waza
Mu : A prefix indicating the negation in the Japanese Language.
Mune : Chest portion of the Do.
Mushin : “No Mind”. In very basic terms, Mushin is acting on reflex alone; not thinking about what to do or the effects of an action.
Muhree : Korean equivalent of Men.
Nakayui : The leather tie on the Shinai 1/3 the length of the Shinai from the top.
Naname Buri : Joge Suburi with the strikes angled at about 30° to 45°. Sometimes also mixed with Hiraki-Ashi.
Nuki Waza : Waza where one dodges the Aite’s strike and counter attacks
Nidan Suburi : Two step Suburi.
Nidan Waza : Two Step technique.
Nihon Kendo no Kata : “The Japanese Kendo Kata”. A set of formal movements which form the basis of modern Kendo.
Nito no Kamae : A Kamae using two Shinai; the Daito and the Shoto.
Oji Waza : Counter Attacking Waza
Oki : Big.
Oki-Waza Big Techniques.
Okuri-ashi : Sliding step footwork. The standard footwork in Kendo.
Omote : Left side of the Shinai .
Rei : “Bow”
Renzoku : “Continuous”.
Sage-To : Relaxed standing position with the Shinai held at ones side.
Sakigawa : Leather Cup on the end of the Shinai.
San Dan Suburi : Three Step Suburi
Seigan no Kamae : A variant of Chudan no Kamae .
Sempai : “Senior Student”.
Sensei : “Teacher”.
Seme : “Pressure”.
Shiai : A Kendo Match where points are scored.
Shikake Waza : Technique to Initiate a strike.
Shin : “Mind”.
Shinai : Bamboo Practice Sword.
Shoto : The Short Shinai used in Nito no Kamae.
Shomen : (1) The center or front of the Men. (2) The symbolic head of the Dojo.
Son Mok : Korean equivalent of Kote.
Suburi : “Swing / Strike Practice”.
Suki : An opening (in ones defense).
Suri-Ashi : Sliding ones feet as you step.
Sutemi : “All or nothing”. Literally: “Body Abandoning”
Tachi : The Long Sword used in the Nihon Kendo no Kata.
Tai-Atari : “Bodycheck” or “Push”.
Tai-To : Position with the Shinai held at 45° at your hip in preparation to assume Kamae.
Tare : Waist Protector.
Tenegui : Head Towel.
Tenouchi : “Drying a Tea Ceremony Towel”. Balanced strength of hands at the moment you make a Datotsu.
Toma : A distance that is longer than Issoku Itto.
Tsireum : Korean equivalent of Tsuki.
Tsuba : Thumb Guard of the Shinai.
Tsuba-Dome : Rubber stopper that holds Tsuba in place.
Tsubazeriai : The position when two Kendoka are in close proximity during Keiko, Tsuba against Tsuba.
Tsuka : The handle of the Shinai
Tsuka-Gashira : The very bottom of the Tsuka.
Tsuka-Gawa : Leather covering the Tsuka of the Shinai
Tsuki : Throat target.
Tsuki-dare : Throat protector.
Tsuru : String on the top side of the Shinai
Uchi Gomi : Lunging and Striking Practice.
Uchiotoshi Waza : Techniques for Striking the Aite’s Shinai midstrike.
Ura : The Right side of the Shinai
Ushiro : Backward (direction).
Wakigamae : Variant of Gedan no Kamae
Waza : Technique(s)
Yuko Datotsu : “Effective Strike”.
Zanshin : Follow through, Sustained Mental and Physical Alertness.
Zekken : Name tag worn on the Tare.