Japanese
| English
|
|---|
| Ai-chuudan. 会い中断 | Both players in chuudan no kamae. |
| Aite 相手 | Rival; competitor; opponent or adversary. |
| Aiuchi 相打ち | Action of two opponents in which both score a point in combat; simultaneously. |
| Ashi-sabaki 足裁き | footwork |
| Bogu 防具 | Armor used in Kendo |
| Bokutoo 木刀 | Sword made from very hard wood; usually 1.05-m length. |
| Bokken 木剣 | wooden sword. |
| Budou 武道 | The way of combat |
| Bushi 武士 | Warrior |
| Chigawa 乳革 | Leather loop on either side of the dou. |
| Chika-ma 近間 | Position is much closer than issoku itto no ma. |
| Chuudan 中断 | Mid-level "; at the level of the chest. |
| Chuuken 中堅 | 3rd(Team Tournament Positions) |
| Daimyou 大名 | Feudal lord. |
| Daisho 大小 | Pair of swords used by the Samurai; consisting of a Katana (or O-dachi) and a Wakizashi (or Ko-dachi). |
| Dan 段 | Expert's degree. |
| Datotsu 打とつ | Strike or thrust. |
| Dou 胴 | Protective piece destined to cover the chest and stomach. Hard and rigid; it was made originally out of bamboo pieces; although recently almost exclusively of synthetic materials. |
| Dou ari 胴あり | dou point scored and sto |
| PDojo 道場 | training hall; hall of discipline |
| Doumo arigato gozaimasu どうも有難うございます | Thank you very much (said after you have practiced with someone; especially a senior instructor or sensei) |
| Encho 延長 | extension/overtime |
| Fukusho 副署 | 4th (Team Tournament Positions) |
| Gedan 下段 | Low-level |
| Go 五 | 5 |
| Gohon Me 五本目 | 5th (Counting kata) |
| Gokaku Geiko 互角稽古 | Training between students of similar rank and/or ability. |
| Gyaku Do 逆胴 | The left part of the Do. |
| Hachi 八 | 8 |
| Hai はい | yes |
| Hajime 初め | begin |
| Hakama 袴 | Pleated Japanese trousers. . |
| Hanshi 範師 | Masterful |
| Hansoku 反則 | violation |
| Hansoku- nikai 反則二回 | second violation = one point against you |
| Hansoku-ikkai 反則一回 | first violation |
| Happon Me 八本目 | 8th (Counting kata) |
| Hara 腹 | abdomen; the place where your mental and spiritual strength is centered |
| Hasaki 刃先 | cutting edge |
| Hassou-no-kamae 八相の構え | Position in which the Shinai is maintained vertically with the hands to level of the shoulder of the right or left side. |
| Hatsu-Geiko 初場稽古 | New Year's training. |
| Hidari 左 | Left. |
| Hiki 引き | Evasion. |
| Hiki-Age 引き上げ | Raising the Shinai high after making a cut in preparation for another blow. |
| Hiki-Waza 引き技 | Backward-moving techniques carried out from Tsuba-Zeriai. |
| Hirauchi 平内 | Strike with the flat of the Shinai. |
| Himo 紐 | Cords. |
| Honshitsu 本質 | Essence. |
| Iaido 居合同 | The art of drawing the katana. |
| Ichi 一 | 1 |
| Ippon Me 一本目 | 1st (Counting kata) |
| Ippon Shoubu 一本勝負 | A one-point match. |
| Irimi 入り身 | Fundamental short-sword guard position: stepping into your opponent's maai. |
| Issoku ittoo no ma / Uchima 一速一刀の間合い・内間 | The distance from which one can attack or defend in one single step; the stroke interval. |
| Issoku-Ittoo-No-Maai 一速一刀の間合い | One step; one blow. |
| Ittoo-Ryuu 一刀流 | One sword school |
| Ji-Geiko 自稽古 | Free style combat. |
| Jiho 寺宝 | 2nd (Team Tournament Positions) |
| Joudan 上段 | Upper |
| Juppon Me 十本目 | 10th (Counting kata) |
| Jutsu 術 | Technique based in the traditions and teachings of a school. |
| Juu 十 | 10 |
| Kachi 勝ち | Victory (used usually at Shiai - competitions). |
| Kachinuki 勝ち抜き | Combat; in which a Kendoka takes successive opponents to the point of exhaustion. |
| Kakari-Geiko 係り稽古 | Practice in which the student executes all techniques in his/her repertoir without pause; "all-out attack practice." |
| Kakedameshi 駆け試し | Strong attack. |
| Kamae 構え | Guard or posture. |
| Kamaete 構えて | take kamae (chundan no kamae) |
| Kata 型 | practice where prearranged attacks and counter attacks are used. |
| Katana 刀 | long sword |
| Katana 刀 | Curved single-edged Japanese sword; slightly shorter than a tachi. |
| Katate-Waza 片手ワザ | Wielding the Shinai with one hand. |
| Katsugi 担ぎ | Technique of "shouldering the sword." |
| Keiko 稽古 | Kendo training; the purpose of which is to exceed (Kei) what has been achieved before (Ko). |
| Ken 剣 | Sword. |
| Kendougu 剣道具 | Armor. |
| Kendougi 剣道着 | Training jacket; made from thick cotton. |
| Kendouka 剣道家 | An expert in Kendo-usually more loosely used as a term for Kenshi. |
| Kenjutsu 剣術 | The Art of the Sword. |
| Ki 気 | spirit |
| Ki 気 | Vital energy; life-force. |
| Kiai 気合 | fighting shout; coming form the hara |
| Kiai 気合 | Kiai. |
| Kigurai 気位 | Pride; bearing; dignity. |
| Kihaku 気迫 | Spirit. |
| Kihon 基本 | Basic movements and techniques. |
| Kikentai No Ichi 気剣体の一 | Soul; sword and body are one |
| Kirikaeshi 切返し | Exercise in which the students carry out repetitive alternating cuts to hidari-men and migi-men. |
| Kisei 気勢 | Spirit; vigor. |
| Kobushi 拳 | Fist |
| Kodachi 小太刀 | short wooden sword used in kata |
| Wakizashi 脇差 | Short sword; also know as Wakizashi. |
| Kondansha 金段 | a high ranking kendoist |
| Kote 小手 | Forearm/gauntlets/"wrist point." |
| Kote ari 小手あり | kote point scored and sto |
| PKyotsuke きょおつけ | prepare (for meditation) |
| Kyu 九 | 9 |
| Kyuhon Me 九本目 | 9th (Counting kata) |
| Kyuu 級 | Apprentice's degree. |
| Ma 間 | Global concept that comprises time; space and an interval between two things or two moments. |
| Maai 間合い | distance or space that is created between two individual fencers. |
| Maai 間合い | The spacetime interval between two object or processes. |
| Mae 前 | In front; forward. |
| Make 負け | Defeat. |
| Men 面 | Protective mask. |
| Men ari 面あり | men point scored and sto |
| PMen-buton 面布団 | Cloth part of the men. |
| Men-gane 面がね | Grill part of the men. |
| Men tore 面取れ | take off the men |
| Men tsuke 面着け | put on the men |
| Metsuke 目点け | Point of observation. |
| Migi 右 | Right. |
| Mokusou 黙想 | meditation ("silent thought") |
| Motodachi 本勝ち | receiver in sparring |
| Mudansha 無断者 | someone with no formal rank |
| Musoken 無訴権 | Completely spontaneous movement performed without intervening thought. |
| Nakayui 中結 | Small leather cord that helps bind the Shinai while also demarcating the monouchi. |
| Nakayuwai 中結わい | Distal part of the Shinai; with which all contact must be done during a blow; limited downwards by the Nakayui. |
| Nanahon Me 七本目 | 7th (Counting kata) |
| Nayashi 納谷氏 | Technique in Kendo with which the Shinai of the opponent is lowered to the floor; after which a thrust to the throat is made (tsuki). |
| Ni 二 | 2 |
| Nidan-waza 二段業 | Two-stage technique. |
| Nihon Katana 日本刀 | Two-sword technique; introduced by Miyamoto Musashi. Also called Nito; or Nito Ryu. |
| Nihon Me 二本目 | 2nd (Counting kata) |
| Nitou (Ryu) 二刀流 | A style of Kendo using two Shinai in a combat. |
| Noutoo 嚢刀 | Resheathing the sword. |
| Nuki 抜き | Evasion. |
| Nuki-Waza 抜き業 | Evasion techniques. |
| Odachi お大刀 | Large sword; Katana. |
| Okuri-ashi 送り足 | Sliding step with leading right foot. |
| Omote 面 | Left-side of the shinai. |
| Ouji-waza 応じ業 | Counterattack technique. |
| Onegai shimasu お願いします | please (said before practicing; as you bow) |
| Osame to | Take sonkyo; retract your shinai; stand up; take five steps back and bow. |
| Otagae ni rei おたがえに令 | mutual bow to your partners |
| Otoshi 落とし | Striking down the opponent's Shinai. |
| Rei 令 | Bow; performed from tachi or seiza. |
| Roku 六 | 6 |
| Roppon Me 六本目 | 6th (Counting kata) |
| Ryuu 流 | School or style. I.e..: Nito Ryuu. |
| Sage-too 提げ刀 | Holding the shinai at the left side of the body. |
| Sakigawa 先革 | Small leather tip at the end (kissaki) of the Shinai. |
| Sanbon Shoubu 三本勝負 | three point match |
| San 三 | 3 |
| Sanbon Me 三本目 | 3rd (Counting kata) |
| Sanbon Shobu 三本勝負 | Three-points combat; |
| Saya 鞘 | Scabbard. |
| Seiza 正座 | sit (formally) |
| Seiza 正座 | Formal kneeling/sitting position; literally "correct sitting.". |
| Seme 攻め | Threatening attitude prior to bringing up the Shinai for a cut. |
| Sempo 千歩 | 1st (Team Tournament Positions) |
| Sen Sen No Sen | Win by anticipating the opponent's intention. |
| Sensei 先生 | Instructor. |
| Sensei ni rei 先生に令 | bow to the sensei |
| Shi 四 | 4 |
| Shiai 試合 | match; combat |
| Shichi 七 | 7 |
| Shikake Waza 仕掛業 | Technique in which the Kenshi takes advantage of the low guard of his opponent. |
| Shinai 竹刀 | Bamboo sword. |
| Shinpan 審判 | Judge; referee |
| Shitachi 取立 | receiver (this term is used in kata practice) |
| Shizentai | Natural standing position. |
| Shobu 勝負 | Traditionally refers to a death match. In contemporary Kendo usage; a competition or a match. |
| Shoubu ari 勝負あり | match won |
| Shoumen 正面 | A blow to the center of the Men. |
| Shoumen ni rei 正面に令 | bow to the kamiza;flag or banner of the dojo |
| Sonkyo 蹲踞 | crouch with sword facing your partner/opponent |
| Sonkyo 蹲踞 | Squatting position taken before engagement. |
| Suburi 素振り | Exercises with the Shinai or sword |
| Suri-ashi 摺足 | Sliding ste |
| PSuriage Waza 摺上げ業 | Raising the opponent's Shinai to create an opening and deliver an attack. |
| Sutemi 捨て身 | Self-denial; acting without self-consciousness or lust of result. |
| Taiatari 体当り | Body check. |
| Taisho | 5th (Team Tournament Positions) |
| Taitou 体刀 | holding shinai at waist level |
| Tare 垂 | Waist protector |
| Tenouchi 手の打ち | Balanced tension of the hands at the instantaneous moment of the strike. |
| Tenugui 手拭 | Small linen towel placed on the head; actually a traditional hand towel . |
| To-ma 遠間 | A distance greater than issoku itto no ma from the opponent. |
| Tsuba 鍔 | Sword guard. |
| Tsuba-Zeriai 鍔迫り合い | Situation in which the competitors close enought that their Shinai are in contact at the tsuba. |
| Tsugi-ashi 告ぎ足 | Short ste |
| PTsuka 柄 | Hilt of a Shinai or sword. |
| Tsukagashira 柄頭 | Top of the hilt. |
| Tsuka Gawa 柄革 | The leather piece that covers the handle of the Shinai. |
| Tsuki 衝き | Name given to the direct thrust to the throat; using the tip of the Shinai. |
| Tsuki ari 衝きあり | tsuki point scored and sto |
| PTsuki-dare 衝垂 | Throat protector |
| Tsuru 弦 | Central cord of the shinai. |
| Uchi 打ち | A blow or strike |
| Uchidachi 打ち立ち | attacker (this term is used in kata practice) |
| Uchidachi 打ち立ち | Designates the one who initiates attack in kata. |
| Uchiotoshi-waza 打ち落とし業 | Technique of striking the opponent's shinai in his attack and counterattacking at once. |
| Ura 裏 | Right side of the shinai |
| Wakare 別れ | Command to separate to chudan no kamae without returning to center of the court in preparation for the judge's command to hajime. |
| Wakigamae 脇構え | Lateral guard; with the Shinai in a horizontal position. |
| Wakizashi 脇差 | Short sword. Also Kodachi. |
| Waza 業 | technique |
| Hikiwake 引き分け | tie/draw |
| Yame 止め | sto |
| PYohon Me 四本目 | 4th (Counting kata) |
| Yoi 良い | ready? |
| Yoko 横 | Side / lateral. |
| Yudansha 油断者 | ranking kendoist |
| Yuken | Situation in which the swords of two opponents are crossed. |
| Zanshin 残心 | follow through; sustained awareness; continuing mind |
| Zenkutsu Dachi 前屈立ち | Stance in which the weight is primarily on the lead leg; with the rear leg extended. |
| Zen-Beikoku Kendou Renmei 全米国剣道連盟 | All-America Kendo Federation |
| Zen-Nippon Kendou Renmei 全日本剣道連盟 | All-Japan Kendo Federation |
