Glossary

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 Kenshi 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.

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Counting in Japanese
The following is a list of the English numbers one through ten in their equivalent Japanese.
Ichi : One
Ni : Two
San : Three
Shi : Four
Go : Five
Roku : Six
Shichi : Seven
Hachi : Eight
Kyuu : Nine
Juu : Ten

Following that are the Japanese counting words used to enumerate: first, second, etc.
Ipponme : First
Nihonme : Second
Sanbonme : Third
Yonhonme : Fourth
Gohonme : Fifth
Ropponme : Sixth
Nanahonme : Seventh

Courtesies
The following is a list of the common courtesies used in the Dojo:
Arigato Gozaimashita : Thank You (for practicing with me)
Domo Arigato Gozaimashita : Thank You (very polite context)
Onagaishimasu : Please (practice with / teach me)

Commands
The following are a list of common commands used in the Dojo:
Hajime : Begin / Start
Yame : Stop.
Yasume : Break.

Men-wo-Tore : Take off Your Men.
Men-Tsuke : Put on Your Men.
Seretsu : Line up.
Chakuza : Sit.
Seiza : Assume Seiza, the Formal Sitting Position.
Mokuso : Meditation
Rei : Bow.
Kamae-To : Assume Kamae.
Osame-To : Put away your Sword.
Sonkyo : Assume Sonkyo, the Formal Squatting Position.

Common Terms
The following is a list of general Kendo terms.
Ai : (prefix) Balanced, (suffix) Integration
Aite : Opponent
Ashi : Foot
Ashi-Sabaki : Footwork.
Ayumi-Ashi : Walking Footwork

Bogu : Kendo Armor. See Men, Kote, Do, and Tare.
Bokuto : Wooden Sword.

Chikama : A distance that is shorter than Issoku Itto no Maai
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.

Dan : Step or Level.
Datotsu : Strike or Thrust.
Datotsu Bu : The portion of the Shinai that strikes are made with. (The upper ? above the Nakayui; the Monouchi.)
Datotsu Bui : Portion of the Bogu where one can attempt to land a strike.
Debana Waza : Technique where one strikes upon movement of the Aite.
Do : Abdomen target also the chest protector
Dojo : Practice Hall

Fumi-komi : Stomping footwork.
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 : Alternate pronunciation of Keiko.
Gi : The traditional practice top.
Gyaku : Reversed or Opposite.

Hakama : The traditional practice pants.
Harai Waza : 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 : Quick 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.

Iri-Mi : �To Enter�. The fundamental action of stepping into your Aite�s Maai.
Issoku Itto no Maai : Distance at which one can launch an attack in one step.

Ji-Geiko : Free practice.
Jin-Bu : Portion of the Shinai below the Monouchi.
Jodan no Kamae : High Level Kamae. The �The Kamae of Fire�
Joge Buri: Large �Up-Down� Suburi

� Kaeshi Waza : Waza where one receives the Aite�s Shinai and then counter attacks.
� Kakari Geiko : All out attacking practice.
� Kamae : Stance
� Katate : �One-Handed�
� Katate Waza : One-Handed Waza.
� Katsugi Waza : �Shouldering the Sword� technique.
� Keiko : �Practice�, �Training�, �Study�. Interchangeable with Geiko.
� Kendo : �The Way of the Sword�.
� Kenshi : 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.
� 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
� 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.
� Nakayui : The leather tie on the Shinai ? the length of the Shinai from the top.
� Naname Buri : Joge Buri Suburi with the strikes angled at about 30� to 45�.
� Nuki Waza : Waza where one avoids 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.

� 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.
� 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.
Tai-Atari : �Bodycheck� or �Push�.
Tai-To : Position with the Shinai held at your hip in preparation to assume Kamae.
Tare : Waist Protector.
Tenugui : Head Towel.
Tenouchi : Balanced strength of hands at the moment you make a Datotsu.
Toma : A distance that is longer than Issoku Itto.
Tsuba : Guard of the Shinai.
Tsuba-Dome : 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 : Striking Practice.
Uchiotoshi Waza : Techniques for Striking the Aite's Shinai mid-strike.
Ura : The Right side of the Shinai
Ushiro : Backward (direction).

Waki Gamae : 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.

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